Coming to the end of 2023, it may not be a year that many Formula 1 fans will necessarily look back on as an all-time classic.
As stunning a job as Max Verstappen and Red Bull did over the most dominant season ever seen in the sport, the lack of a championship battle meant there were few of those magical moments that will live long in the memory for years to come.
However, there were plenty of other moments that will. For the final Round Table of the year, RaceFans’ writers look back at what they will remember most from 2023.
Street tracks, Spa and Alonso at his best
I wouldn’t like to see F1 put on 24 Las Vegas Grands Prix per year, but I do want it to be successful. While the hype was excessive the backlash was predictable and often premature. So I was genuinely pleased the event turned out to be largely successful.
Speaking of new races, IndyCar’s return to downtown Detroit looked like a terrible idea on paper, and I won’t pretend to be a fan of the angular circuit, but there’s no denying this race proved better than many – myself included – expected.
Early in the year we picked what we most wanted to see from the 2023 F1 season. I’m pleased to note mine came true: Spa-Francorchamps’ deal to host the Belgian Grand Prix was extended.
Among the drives I enjoyed most this year was Frederik Vesti’s performance in the Formula 2 season finale in Abu Dhabi. His hopes of beating Theo Pourchaire always looked slim, but he gave it everything with two battling drives, and kept his cool when Zane Maloney nearly took him out on the final lap.
Luke Browning’s controlled performance in the Macau Grand Prix was one to savour, too. But what I enjoyed most about that weekend was F3 cars returning to the Guia circuit (hopefully next year someone has the sense to switch off the Drag Reduction System which is especially unnecessary on the huge run to Lisboa).
Finally, when Fernando Alonso returned to Formula 1 as a near-40-year-old in 2021, I found a lot of what was written about his age lazy and presumptuous. What a joy it was to see him revelling in a competitive machine, putting clear daylight between himself and his much younger team mate, and demonstrating in no uncertain terms that he has many competitive years left in him.
Any suggestion I’m biased in favour of a fellow forty-something is… undeniably accurate.
Keith Collantine
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