The 2023 Formula 1 season is officially upon us. It may have felt like an eternity for fans, but racing action resumes at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. Depending on when you read this, the first official practice session may have already taken place. Before the lights go out on Sunday, we asked three of our writers to make their 2023 F1 season predictions.

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Nicholas Pillay

The 2023 cars have evolved from last year, but I don’t expect the pecking order to change dramatically. Red Bull will remain the team to beat, with Ferrari close behind. The Ferrari power unit may be the biggest upgrade on the grid, which will allow them to fight for regular wins. 

Mercedes has solved their biggest issue from last year but it seems the team is still around six months behind the frontrunners teams in development time. I predict that Sir Lewis Hamilton will snag a win or two this year, but will pose no real title challenge. 

Aston Martin seems as though it may ascend to fight Alpine for the ‘best of the rest’ title. McLaren, Haas, and Alfa Romeo are expected to squabble over the remaining places, while Williams and AlphaTauri close off the bottom of the grid.

However, the real title fight may end up being between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Red Bull lost some wind tunnel time and Ferrari is bringing an upgraded PU. Therefore, I predict Ferrari will put all its weight behind Charles Leclerc. This should be enough to see him clinch his first-ever World Drivers’ Championship while Red Bull will claim the Constructors’ Championship.

Kyle Kock

Man, I don’t know why I do this every year, only to get egg in my face when it all goes awry. Anyway, this year I’m positive because my prediction last year was looking pretty decent. Charles Leclerc led the charge for the Scuderia against Red Bull and Max Verstappen until shoddy strategy put the red cars on the back foot even when they seemed to have races in the bag.

I’m really developing a dislike for Verstappen and the way he speaks to his team over the radio during a race when everything isn’t going absolutely perfect for him. But I am really looking forward to seeing what his compatriot and F1 rookie, but seasoned Formula racer Nyck De Vries can pull out of his hat at the junior Red Bull outfit Alpha Tauri. Two other newbies in American Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri will look to shake up the order at Williams and McLaren respectively.

I’m sad to see one of the last real characters of the grid, Daniel Ricciardo, absent this year. At least old man Alonso is still around to keep the whippersnappers in shape. I hope his Aston Martin is quick, because he’s managed to keep the young guns at bay in slow cars.

A total of six sprint races this year on top of a mammoth 23-race calendar will also be quite valuable for a total points haul. I sure want to see teams go all-out for victory in these quick events even if they don’t quite have the legs for a full grand prix.

It’s the biggest season yet, and all we can ask for is that the racing lives up to the hype. Let’s get that eighth title, Lewis!

Sudhir Matai

A new season always brings new hope for anyone whose team didn’t excel last year. But if there is one thing F1 teaches us, is that there is seldom (Brawn aside) a major change in the pecking order.

Red Bull seems to be the team to beat in 2023, if testing is anything to go by. However, I suspect that both Ferrari and Mercedes need to remove some sandbags form their cars before the start of qualifying. The Scuderia is rumoured to have a much more powerful engine. Meanwhile, the ‘Silver’ Arrows have retained the same aero concept that saw them struggling to get onto the podium last year. I hope they lock out the front row from the very start of the season.

Aston Martin has found something special in the off-season. With Fernando Alonso on board the green cars could be nibbling at the heels of the leading trio. I’d like to see Alfa in it as well. As for the rest, I foresee Alpine, and maybe others, jumping McLaren in the standings.

As much as I want Lewis to win title eight, I think Charles Leclerc will take it this year. More than anything, I want to see a multi-team and multi-driver battle for the lead during races and for the title. I cannot wait for the famous words on Sunday… “It’s lights out, and away we go…”