F1 in 2023 | Who will be champion and some wild predictions!

The 2023 Formula 1 season is coming up and so it's time for a prediction. We asked the editors of all editions of GPblog for their predictions: who will be Drivers' World Champion, who will be Constructors' Champion, and a 'bold prediction'? Let us know in the comments how you would answer the three questions.

Camille Stocker Cassiède - French edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Charles Leclerc
Constructors' champion: Red Bull
Bold prediction: Hamilton retires for the first time

The choice of driver champion is surely also a bold prediction. But Charles has all the talent and potential to win the famous trophy and restore the prancing horse’s reputation. Red Bull are still the favourites, so it seems logical that they should continue their ascent. For my bold prediction, Lewis Hamilton will struggle once again. The Briton has just turned 38 and his contract is up at the end of the season. It seems like a good time for a first retirement.

Paola Bonini - German edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Lewis Hamilton
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Vettel's return

Although 2022 was the first season without any race wins, the seventh-time F1  champion will not let this loss get to him and, instead, the failures of this past season might push him to work harder with Mercedes in 2023. They are expected to provide more reliable cars and therefore fight more in 2023 to revenge their lost titles. Additionally, their main rival Red Bull might be at disadvantage in the upcoming season due to a cost-cup breach.  At age 35, Vettel is quite young and could give F1 another go. Could a prospect of racing alongside Mick Schumacher, who recently signed a contract as a reserve driver for Mercedes, make the four-time world champion return to F1?

Simone Tommasi - Italian edition of GPblog

Driver's champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Red Bull
Bold prediction: Aston Martin finishes last

I think Red Bull and Max Verstappen can confirm themselves in 2023, although the fight at the top of the standings will be tighter with Mercedes and Ferrari giving them a hard time. Regarding my bold prediction instead, maybe it is a bit daring, but I believe that Aston Martin may have a difficult season despite the arrival of a champion like Alonso. Perhaps the very presence of Alonso could bring some problems to the team, and the renewed competitiveness of rivals will certainly not help.

Andrea Bassini - Italian edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Lando Norris in the top five

I think Verstappen is still too superior to the rest of the grid not to win again next year. However, I see upsets behind him, with Mercedes taking advantage of the changes in leadership at Ferrari and the difficulties Red Bull will encounter during the season. In this turmoil I see Lando Norris, author of an excellent 2022 and on the rise, emerging. Who knows, maybe he will be able to capture a top 5 spot at the end of the year.

Nicole Mulder - Dutch edition of GPblog

Driver's champion: Max Verstappen

Constructors' champion: Red Bull Racing

Bold prediction: Norris wins his first Grand Prix

After the landslide win in both drivers and constructors, there is no doubt that Red Bull Racing - and Max Verstappen specifically - are the benchmark for the upcoming F1 season. Verstappen drove at a different level in 2022 and should be able to capture his third title in a row, equipment permitting. Red Bull just need to continue what they are doing and, for now, have the best chances to win the constructors' title in 2023 as well. It is up to Ferrari and Mercedes to bridge the gap, but that will not be an easy task. Surprise of the season: Lando Norris wins his first GP and Fernando Alonso is on the podium with Aston Martin.

Toby McLuskie - English (International) edition of GPblog 

Drivers' champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Piastri finishes on the podium

We’ve entered the dominant era for Red Bull I believe so it’s silly not to realise how high the chances are that the Dutchman completes back-to-back-to-back Championships. However, I think it will be closer this year. I think George Russell and Lewis Hamilton Brits help Mercedes push to the top with consistent performances, however, a consistently fast car must be handed to them from the first race and throughout. McLaren’s car looked good in some races last year. I believe it is possible for Oscar Piastri to outperform his teammate at certain tracks and, if things fall his way, can even find his way onto the podium on multiple occasions.

Ida Gorecka - Polish edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Lewis Hamilton
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Sergio Perez 's contract will be terminated before the end of the season

Lewis Hamilton will utilise his years of experience and finish the season with an eighth world championship before quitting F1. He'll need Mercedes to significantly improve in order to compete with Red Bull, but Mercedes did advance last season from a team stuck in the midfield to a serious threat. Throughout 2022, Mercedes made enormous progress. Red Bull's superiority will be notably diminished as the cost cap penalty takes effect. Brazil's performance last season will be the tipping point that leads to Perez's early contract termination in Red Bull's increasingly aggressive atmosphere.

Jędrek Morzyk - Polish edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Red Bull Racing
Bold prediction: Yuki Tsunoda leaves Alpha Tauri and F1

Red Bull are working hard to prepare for upcoming season, even despite aerodynamic tunnel time limit. They have very talented engineers who made the team and Verstappen win in 2022. The Dutchman is now in his prime and he certainly doesn't want to waste it, so his effort will be enormous. Tsunoda's future is not that promising. He had 2 seasons to prove himself and didn't manage to do it. Considering that Helmut Marko isn't the most patient man, Tsunoda must deliver good results.

Jacobine van den Berg - Dutch edition of GPblog

Driver's champion: Max Verstappen

Constructors' champion: Red Bull Racing

Bold prediction: McLaren or Aston Martin wins a race in 2023

Ahead of the 2023 season, I think Verstappen will prolong his world title and thus win a third championship. Verstappen owes his second championship in 2022 to the strong car that was built and the RB18 had few reliability issues. Not much can be changed about it anymore, which is precisely why I think Red Bull Racing will build on the 2022 car for this season. Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari will again be the main contenders for wins in 2023, but I certainly do not rule out other teams on the podium due to a fluke in a chaotic race. Perhaps McLaren can compete again, as can Alpine who had their last win in 2021. Aston Martin also has a good chance, especially with Alonso entering the car.

Marcos Gil - Brazilian (Portuguese) edition of GPblog

Driver champion: Max Verstappen
Constructor champions: Red Bull
Bold prediction: Alpine will win a Grand Prix

Red Bull and Verstappen already start the season ahead of their rivals. The punishment for going over the budget in 2021 will hurt them in the second half of the season, but it won't be enough to take the title from then. Meanwhile, I believe Alpine are ready to make a step forward this season and, with Gasly being the leader, the team will return to winning ways.

Rafael Díaz Lehmann - English edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Logan Sargeant outperforms Alex Albon

Mercedes showed massive improvement throughout the 2022 season, culminating in George Russell’s first victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix. With a stronger car, I believe both Russell and Lewis Hamilton can take the fight to Red Bull and Verstappen, and will win on the constructor’s front, but not the drivers. And no, I do not believe that Ferrari will make a title bid in 2023.

Vicente Soella - Brazilian (Portugese) edition of GPblog

Drivers' champion: Max Verstappen
Constructors' champion: Mercedes
Bold prediction: Perez will be replaced at the end of the season

I don’t know how each team will perform this year, but I am looking forward to seeing Ferrari and Mercedes up there to face Red Bull through all the season. Considering we will have three teams fighting for the championship, I believe Verstappen is going to win his third world title in 2023 (not so easy) while Mercedes are going to take the top prize n the constructors’ championship. The German team have the best duo of the grid, they only need a strong car. Perez will fail again and De Vries takes his seat at the end of the season.

Femke Notermans - Dutch edition of GPblog

Driver's champion: Lewis Hamilton

Constructors' champion: Mercedes

Bold prediction: we will see Daniel Ricciardo back in an F1 car in 2023

After the mediocre 2022 season, I believe Mercedes will come back strong next year. We could already see last season how the team managed to further develop the W13 and I expect Mercedes to have an advantage in this next season. As we know, car development is not Ferrari's strong point, while Red Bull will be hit by the budget cap penalty. Hamilton is more motivated than ever after losing 2021 and the disappointing 2022 season, so I think he will take his eighth world title. Finally, my 'bold prediction' is that we will see Daniel Ricciardo back in the Red Bull car in 2023 as the relationship between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez only gets worse. It would not be the first time the team has changed drivers mid-season, and Red Bull will need a strong duo that can work well together if Ferrari and Mercedes are both in the title race.