The top 10 Formula 1 moments in 2023

Another Formula 1 season has reached a conclusion, and while 19 of the 22 races were won by Max Verstappen, this season was far from a complete snooze-fest.

Max Verstappen donuts via F1 / Youtube

Therefore, it is appropriate to compile the ten greatest moments from this season, some of which feel like a distant memory with the length of the season. There are some harsh exclusions, but the top ten all have significant importance.

10. Lewis Hamilton Hungary Pole

This is now the second season in a row that the seven time world champion hasn’t won due to the weakness of the W14 this season, but there was one prominent Hamilton highlight.

While other drivers took pole this year in equally great fashion, Hamilton’s pole at the Hungaroring felt like a subtle reminder that he is far from finished, while gifting a sense of nostalgia to his glory days.

He has always been a master in Budapest, but this lap was on the rails, and absolutely superb to outperform Max Verstappen, making it a memorable moment. That start however, is not worth adding to this moment.

9. Lando Norris leading in Silverstone

From a British point of view, this was not the greatest seasons. The anthem was not heard once on the top step, but that unique British roar when Norris overtook Verstappen at the first corner in Silverstone felt too important to give a miss.

The McLaren came from nowhere that weekend right to the front, and Norris was absolutely fantastic to hold of Verstappen, and then Hamilton after the restart to maintain second place in the race.

It is an injustice that Norris is having to wait this long for a race win, but it is surely right around the corner when he has performances like this.

8. Ferrari’s in Monza

With a proven successful low-downforce package in the likes of Baku, the Tifosi had hopes for a strong result at their home race, and were not disappointed.

Ferrari took a 1-2 in scintillating fashion, and while their tyre wear was not enough to hold off the inevitable Verstappen, the brave and fantastic defence both drivers offered was a pleasure to watch.

The end of the race was something to behold. Both Ferrari’s were furiously fighting for the last podium spot, attacking at full aggression to beat out each other, which was scintillating to watch. The pair finished just under two tenths apart, astonishingly.

7. Oscar Piastri performances in Qatar & Japan

Piastri winning Qatar Sprint via F1 / Youtube

Limelight and recognition is necessary for the fantastic rookie season which Piastri has had. The Australian has had the best of which since Hamilton himself in 2007 for a first-timer, and displayed great performances and potential along the way.

The McLaren driver earned himself a fantastic sprint race victory in Qatar, which seemed so unlikely due to the unstoppable Red Bull, but he was utterly composed and calm to grab a version of a Formula 1 win.

His management and quality was further displayed in Japan, the following race, where he was convincingly on the podium behind teammate Norris, while making some impressive overtaking. Piastri is unquestionably world champion material.

6. Las Vegas Grand Prix

Max Verstappen is booing somewhere right now. Every racing fan was skeptical of the Las Vegas race, particularly with the layout and cold temperatures. It felt like a show more than a race beforehand.

There’s no questioning we were all pleasantly surprised by the race. There was a great handful of overtaking and changing of positions, particularly at the front with Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc fighting all race long.

The climax was on the last lap, with Leclerc overtaking Perez at the last opportunity on the race in spectacular fashion to take second. I think we are all excited to see Vegas on the calendar after that one.

5. Australian Grand Prix red flag & restart

A clumsy Kevin Magnussen crash brought a red flag late on down under at the Australian Grand Prix seven months ago, and chaos ensued at the restart.

Obviously there was a count back on the lap, so technically that restart did not count, but it does not discount the fact it was absolutely thrilling!

Here was the sequence of events; Sainz takes out Alonso at turn 1, Perez goes straight on, De Vries makes contact with Sargeant, both go in the gravel and out of the race, Gasly & Ocon crash into the wall, Stroll goes straight on at turn 3. Wow.

The moment I would like to fixate on is if that restart counted, Sainz would have likely received a five second penalty for taking out Alonso, which would have promoted Nico Hulkenberg to his first podium in F1. So close.

4. Fernando Alonso Brazil Podium

It would be easier to just say Fernando Alonso for this one, because it has a pleasure to watch a legend perform at such a high level at his age this season.

He is as foxy as he was when he started, and as smart as ever. His strategical know-how and brave approach to racing makes him one of the most entertaining to watch.

The holding off of Sergio Perez at Interlagos was thrilling however. To earn a podium after the Aston Martin went off the boil in the second half of the season is extremely underrated, and the defence was an extremely exciting watch.

3. Max Verstappen sector 3 in Monaco

Unfortunately for the world champion, most moments on this list are because of him faltering. He has been remarkably consistent, and watching him perform at a high-level so often is amazing.

His standout moment was that sector 3 in Monte-Carlo. He was 0.204 tenths down heading into the final sector and pulled out a remarkably quick time to finish on pole.

He was inches away from the wall on multiple occasions, and displayed his raw talent in such a special way as he completed that lap which led to victory.

2. Max Verstappen 10 wins in a row

Most thought the most unbeatable record in the sport was Sebastian Vettel’s nine victories in a row in 2013, but Verstappen’s amazing form this season saw him achieve that in Monza.

He officially has had the most dominant season in Formula 1 history, and is unbelievably talented and consistent, and an athlete performing at a level as high as that at the pinnacle deserves the upmost respect.

1. Carlos Sainz win in Singapore

Sainz after winning the Singapore GP, Via F1 / Youtube

The one weekend where Red Bull decided to not turn up was in Singapore, which provided the best race of the season by quite some distance.

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris were in good control of the race before a shock Mercedes pit-stop which saw them hunt down the pair. It was edge of the seat stuff.

“I’m doing it deliberately” exclaimed Sainz when his engineer told him that Norris was in DRS as the Mercedes furiously closed in on the leading pair.

The last lap saw George Russell dramatically crash out before Sainz took a scintillating victory ahead of Norris and Hamilton, the only win of which was not by a Red Bull driver this season.

To label the season as boring is far from the truth, and while most want a championship battle, this sport is still enjoyable, furiously quick and impressive, and for that the days are already being counted down until Bahrain in 2024.