The 2023 Formula 1 season has been nothing short of thrilling. Although Max Verstappen has been a step above everyone else and has truly dominated, behind him there has been a thrilling race and worthy winners of the F1 Driver of the Day award.
Almost all of the drivers have delivered remarkable performances in each race. Teams like Aston Martin with Fernando Alonso driving have delighted fans with a remarkable performance. We have seen teams like McLaren and Mercedes start the season in the mid field and steadily improve towards the front of the grid.
Part of the success has been driven from the improvement in the cars performance, and part from stand out driving from stars like Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, George Russel, Calos Sainz and Alex Albon.
These drives are often rewarded with the popular “Driver of the Day” vote. Let’s take a closer look at the standout moments from each Grand Prix, featuring some of the best drivers in the world.
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F1 Driver of the Day: Bahrain Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso
Max Verstappen may have secured a dominant victory in the season opener, but it was Fernando Alonso who captivated fans with a sensational performance.
It earned him the title of Driver of the Day. Alonso, with his 99th career podium, left an indelible mark on the race.
Despite the retirement of Charles Leclerc, Alonso’s spectacular overtakes on Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz in unconventional passing zones wowed spectators and secured him the top spot in the Driver of the Day poll.
F1 Driver of the Day: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen faced adversity in Saudi Arabia, starting from P15 on the grid due to a driveshaft problem in qualifying.
However, his remarkable recovery, aided by a well-timed pit stop during a Safety Car period, propelled him to a well-deserved second-place finish behind his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen’s impressive comeback garnered him the Driver of the Day award for this race.
F1 Driver of the Day: Australian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez delivered an exceptional performance in Melbourne. He climbed from the back of the grid to a remarkable P5 finish.
His aggressive overtaking maneuvers and impressive speed in the RB19 thrilled fans. Following multiple restarts and Carlos Sainz’s late penalty, Perez secured the fifth position.
He maintained his second-place position in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
F1 Driver of the Day: Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez continued to shine, securing his second Driver of the Day award in 2023 after a stunning victory in Baku.
A well-timed Safety Car helped him jump ahead of teammate Max Verstappen. Perez’s relentless pressure on Verstappen before the restart showcased his exceptional skills.
This victory allowed Perez to narrow the gap to Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings.
F1 Driver of the Day: Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
In Miami, Max Verstappen displayed his prowess once again. He earned his second Driver of the Day award in 2023.
Starting from P9 due to Charles Leclerc’s qualifying crash, Verstappen utilized an alternate tire strategy to perfection. He enjoyed a strategic pit stop and a brilliant overtaking move on teammate Sergio Perez.
As a result, Verstappen secured an impressive victory at the Miami International Autodrome.
F1 Driver of the Day: Monaco Grand Prix: Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon’s impressive drive in changing conditions at Monaco secured Alpine’s first podium of the season.
Despite Fernando Alonso’s strong performance, Ocon narrowly won the fan-voted award, becoming the first Frenchman to grace the Monaco podium since 1996.
F1 Driver of the Day: Spanish Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, starting from fourth, put on a remarkable performance at the Spanish Grand Prix. This earned him his first Driver of the Day award in 2023.
Surviving early contact and overtaking competitors, Hamilton secured second place behind Max Verstappen. His performance hinted at Mercedes’ improved form, with George Russell also climbing from P12 to P3.
F1 Driver of the Day: Canadian Grand Prix: Alexander Albon
Alex Albon, driving for Williams, displayed his determination at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite driving a less competitive car, Albon fended off stronger opponents to secure P7 in the final standings. This earned him a well-deserved Driver of the Day award.
F1 Driver of the Day: Austrian Grand Prix: Lando Norris
Lando Norris, armed with a upgraded McLaren, impressed at the Red Bull Ring with a P5 finish.
He showcased his skill by overtaking Lewis Hamilton and challenging Carlos Sainz. Norris’s performance with the upgraded car hinted at even better results for McLaren in the future.
British Grand Prix: Lando Norris Excites Home Fans
Max Verstappen dominated the British Grand Prix. Despite this Lando Norris was the fan favorite, securing his second Driver of the Day award in as many races.
Norris briefly led the race and thrilled fans by battling at the front alongside Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
F1 Driver of the Day: Hungarian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez
While Verstappen dominated in Hungary, his teammate Sergio Perez claimed the Driver of the Day award.
He drove sensationally from P9 to a podium finish. Perez’s performance provided a much-needed confidence boost, amid rumors of his potential departure from Red Bull.
Belgian Grand Prix: Verstappen’s Spa Masterclass
Max Verstappen showcased his mastery at Spa-Francorchamps. This secured him another Driver of the Day award.
Starting from P6, Verstappen quickly rose to the front and won the race by a significant margin. Charles Leclerc provided stern competition for the award with a strong third-place finish.
F1 Driver of the Day: Dutch Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso’s P2 finish behind Max Verstappen at Zandvoort earned him the Driver of the Day award.
Despite fierce competition from Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly, Alonso’s exceptional drive stood out in a chaotic race.
F1 Driver of the Day: Italian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz
Max Verstappen extended his record-breaking race wins. Despite this Carlos Sainz impressed fans with a remarkable defensive display.
Sainz held off Verstappen for 15 laps after securing pole position and maintained a well-deserved podium spot in a thrilling battle with teammate Charles Leclerc.
F1 Driver of the Day: Singapore Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz
The Ferrari driver might have led right from the start, and early in the race, it seemed as though he would be able to cruise to victory. However, the complications stemming from the safety car meant that Lando Norris and the two Mercedes behind him left him little room for error.
The results was his second career win and his first for the Italian team. As Russell demonstrated with his late crash, there are no straightforward races when your tires start to wear down.
The Spaniard relied on all his experience to remain on the track despite increasing pressure. Slowing down his pace to bring Norris within the DRS range, thus giving the McLaren more speed to fend off the Mercedes cars, was a brilliant move.
F1 Driver of the Day: Japanese Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri
What a weekend for Oscar Piastri. First, the McLaren rookie secures his first front-row grid spot with a spectacular qualifying performance. Then, the Australian follows it up with his inaugural F1 podium after a calm and composed drive to P3 at Suzuka. Here’s how the voting played out…
Oscar Piastri – 28.2% Lando Norris – 15.8% Max Verstappen – 14.4% Charles Leclerc – 7.5% Lewis Hamilton – 6.8%
F1 Driver of the Day: Qatar Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri
If there were any skeptics questioning McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri’s talent, the Qatar weekend surely silenced them. He first clinched the Sprint win, and then rose from sixth place to secure his back-to-back Grand Prix podium with a second-place finish in Lusail. Truly remarkable. Here’s the breakdown of the votes:
Oscar Piastri – 27.9% George Russell – 17.3% Lando Norris – 16.4% Max Verstappen – 11.4% Charles Leclerc – 4.6%
F1 Driver of the Day: US Grand Prix: Lando Norris
Starting from the second position, he impressively took the lead at Turn 1 in Austin and seemed like a potential winner for most of the day. In the end, Lando Norris settled for third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but he still delivered an outstanding performance in the McLaren. Here’s the breakdown of the votes:
Lando Norris – 26% Lewis Hamilton – 23.3% Max Verstappen – 14.4% Sergio Perez – 7.5% Fernando Alonso – 6.8%
F1 Driver of the Day: Mexican Grand Prix: Lando Norris
Starting from 17th place on the grid and finishing in 7th place earned Lando Norris the Mexican GP driver of the day award. Here’s the breakdown of the votes:
Lando Norris – 29.5%, Daniel Ricciardo – 21.6%, Lewis Hamilton – 12.2%, Sergio Perez – 8.3%, Max Verstappen – 7.5%
F1 Driver of the Day: Brazilian Grand Prix: Lando Norris
Lando’s magnificent challenge against Max Verstappen earned him his third driver of the day on a row.
Here’s a breakdown of the votes
Lando Norris – 26.1%, Fernando Alonso – 24.7%, Sergio Perez – 15.8%, Max Verstappen – 6%, Yuki Tsunoda – 4%
F1 Driver of the Day: Las Vegas Grand Prix: Charkes Leclerc
Charles Leclerc certainly pushed Red Bull all the way in Las Vegas, leading much of the race and then splitting their drivers with a last gasp pass on Sergio Perez on the final lap to seize P2 for Ferrari
Then breakdown of the votes
Charles Leclerc – 21.6%, Sergio Perez – 19.1%, Oscar Piastri – 13.4%, Max Verstappen – 13%, Lewis Hamilton – 6.2%
Conclusion
The 2023 Formula 1 season has seen drivers deliver exceptional performances, showcasing their skills and determination on the track. From thrilling comebacks to defensive masterclasses, each Grand Prix has offered unforgettable moments that have left fans eagerly anticipating the next race.
