The first grand prix weekend of the 2023 was not the most eventful, with drivers once again benefiting from three full days of testing the week before the grand prix.
As such, drivers were so familiar with the Bahrain circuit and the way its grip levels fluctuated between the day time and the night that there was little in the way of major mistakes or poor performances from the 20 drivers in the field.
However, some distinguished themselves comfortably above their peers during the first race weekend of the season.
With the season now one race down, here is the first round of RaceFans driver ratings for 2023.
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend driver ratings
Max Verstappen – 7
Qualified: Pole (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.138s)
Start: 1st (-)
Strategy: Two-stop (S-S-H)
Finished: Winner (+1 place ahead of team mate)
- Took pole position ahead of team mate
- Led from the start, making use of early stints on softs to pull away
- Maintained a steady pace out front under no pressure
- Won by just over ten seconds
A strong start to the season: Pole, led off the line and won by ten seconds. There are no easy wins in Formula 1, but Verstappen had little to worry about after turn one. A strong start to his second title defence, but unquestionably aided by the clear best car on the grid.
Sergio Perez – 6
Qualified: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate, +0.138s)
Start: 3rd (-1)
Strategy: Two-stop (S-S-H)
Finished: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate)
- Quickest in first practice
- Secured front row start a tenth behind team mate
- Lost out to Leclerc at the start but used a second set of softs to catch and pass the Ferrari
- Matched pace with team mate ahead over the second half of the race, finishing ten seconds behind
With Red Bull the class of the field, second on the grid was the minimum and Perez easily satisfied that requirement. Lost P2 off the line to Leclerc’s fresh softs but was strategic about when he would push to reclaim it. Did not allow the gap to team mate to balloon to the levels it too often did in 2022.
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Charles Leclerc – 7
Qualified: 3rd (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.154s)
Start: 2nd (+1)
Strategy: Two-stop (S-H-H)
Finished: Retired (Power unit – L40)
- Ahead of team mate in every practice session
- Used new Soft tyres to leap ahead of Perez into second
- Passed by Perez on Softs after switching to Hards to fall to third
- Looked set to complete the podium before…
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