Verstappen top favourite: 'I think the fight behind is more interesting'

Although it is widely proclaimed that teams and drivers do not show the back of their tongues during winter tests and although every team is still coming up with improvements, Max Verstappen with Red Bull Racing already seems to be top favourite for the 2023 title. Karun Chandhok thinks the fight behind the Dutchman will be more exciting.

Fight at the front not even interesting anymore?

That's how confident the Sky Sports analyst seems to be that Verstappen and Red Bull are the team to beat this year. At Sky Sports F1 begins the Brit: "It's the first year Max heads into the season as a clear favourite. Last year we had so many unknowns with the regulations. He's now a double world champion, he drove superbly last year with a new degree of maturity and experience. They will be hard to beat. For me, the battles behind are interesting."

And in the battles behind that, Chandhok is watching Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso. The team was already identified by Red Bull chief engineer Adrian Newey as a serious challenger in 2023. Chandhok: "When it comes to Sunday and you've stood in the commentary box and said 'that is the guy you want'. Fernando's consistency. The value he is bringing to Aston isn't just in the cockpit, it's the overall presence he has got. Set-up direction and development direction. For me they are the dark horse, the ones to watch,"