Reaching the top of F1 is the universal goal that every team has in common, but what exactly do they need to do to get there?
There is never one sole reason that can definitively pinpoint the success or failure of a team. F1 is an endlessly dynamic sport that demands constant innovation and ingenuity from each team in order to remain at the top. Even with Red Bull’s record-breaking season, no one team is completely safe from the overarching weaknesses that have made their way onto the grid in 2023.
Driver Pairings
The biggest point of contention for teams such as Williams, Red Bull and Aston Martin have been the driver pairings.
The teams that find themselves amongst the midfield rely on every single point to solidify their position in the Constructors Standings. Williams perhaps offer the most drastic example of having a second driver limit their success in F1 this year. Albon has scored all 21 points for the team whilst their closest competitors have had two drivers who’ve been able to score points come the race weekend. This essentially confines teams such as Williams to competing with one hand tied behind their back.
On the other hand, Red Bull have been somewhat protected from feeling the impact of a subpar second driver in 2023. Verstappen’s dominance has carried the team miles ahead of everyone else. However, as the gap between the teams begin to close and the competition tightens up, the need to secure two reliable drivers will become of paramount importance.
A lack of competition within the teams is not the only problem that some of the driver pairings have caused. This past weekend in Japan we saw what could happen when two closely matched drivers come together on track. Hamilton and Russell went wheel to wheel in what felt like an unnecessary battle. Although it’s always great to see intense battles on track, it could’ve been detrimental to the team as both drivers lost time to Sainz who was quickly closing the gap behind them.
Mercedes ⚔️ Mercedes
😮#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/ZfZRj5niJ1
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 25, 2023
We’ve seen this pattern repeat over at Ferrari, most recently at Monza, with both drivers gunning for the top spot within the team. This could soon become a burden on the teams as the competition closes in.
Stability
When thinking of stability in F1, or the lack thereof, the first team that comes to mind is Alpine. The recent turnover in senior personnel and drivers has raised some red flags over at the team. Their latest decision to get rid of former Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer, after the Belgian Grand Prix further exasperated the idea that not all is well over at the French outfit.
Alpine are not the only ones to suffer from instability within F1 as Alfa Romeo also stand out as a team without any clear direction. The balance between preparing for the future and prioritizing the present has not worked well for Alfa Romeo as they have faded into the background this year without making any real strides forward.
A switch of positions left Pierre Gasly feeling frustrated despite Alpine’s double points finish at Suzuka#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/Qq2boi5tpx
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 25, 2023
The lack of leadership within F1 teams is a surefire way to guarantee that their progress will stagnate, preventing them from moving any closer to the top of the grid.
Another key area that significantly contributes to the stability of the team is an assured driver lineup. In 2023 there has not been much movement amongst the drivers on the grid as everyone has been quite content to stay where they are. Whilst this year was a quiet one, the next couple of years may not be as harmonious.
A sizeable amount of the drivers are set to be out of contract in 2024 and rumors have already started swirling regarding possible driver changes that could be on the cards.
One of the most intriguing rumors to make its way into the world of F1 is the potential move of Lando Norris to Red Bull. Although this is nothing more than speculation at the moment, it does put pressure on teams to ensure that they don’t lose their drivers to any of their rivals.
Reliability
Faults in reliability are to be expected considering that we are still quite early into a new regulation change, however, most of the teams have held up pretty well this year.
Despite the solid start from most of the grid, we’ve seen several teams such as the Alpha Tauri, Alpine, and Haas begin to rack up engine issues.
Nooooo Yuki!
Tsunoda pulls over at the end of the formation lap with a mechanical issue, and will not feature in the race 😭
The grid will do another formation lap#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/O5ove02N6R
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
In Monza, Tsunoda couldn’t even start the race as his power unit failed before he had the chance to complete the formation lap. These inconsistencies will continue to hamper the progress of the teams if they continue, as those around them have been relatively strong when it comes to reliability.
As we close out the 2023 season, each team have their own weaknesses to focus on in 2024 as they try and move closer to the top of Formula 1.
