Palmer picks best F1 driver of 2023: 'That was most impressive'

It was a Formula 1 season in which Max Verstappen claimed the spotlight almost continuously along with Red Bull Racing. Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer therefore believes there should be no doubt that Verstappen was by far the best driver of 2023.

Palmer full of praise for Verstappen and Red Bull

In his analysis on F1.com, looking back on last season, Palmer puts Verstappen's performance in an overwhelmingly first place. "There is no doubt about this one. What a season from Verstappen, it has been absolutely impeccable. He’s flattened the opposition to the point nobody even thinks it’s worth fighting him anymore," said the former Renault driver.

He continued: "Verstappen displayed incredible skill and consistency and the most impressive thing was how he managed so many difficult situations with aplomb. Being quick in the rain in Monaco and Zandvoort on slick tyres, managing hectic and difficult wet qualifying sessions, like Montreal. His winning runs could have derailed so easily, but with Max you never felt it would."

Red Bull can also count on praise from Palmer, who also confidently proclaims Christian Horner's team as the best of the year. "There's no doubt about this one either. This is the easiest of picks as Red Bull have been absolutely relentless this season. Yes they have the best driver, but they were also the only team to have bulletproof reliability on Sundays," the F1TV analyst continued.

"They rarely miss a beat on strategy and their pitstops are still the best in the business as a season average. Mix this with the dominant beast that is the RB19 and it’s no wonder they almost completed the perfect season. Simply staggering," Palmer said.