2023: The Top Five Teams

Red Bull Racing soared to new heights in 2023, claiming their second consecutive Constructors Championship and a plethora of other accolades along the way. After taking the record for the most consecutive wins, eclipsing McLaren's 1988 record, the team collected the highest win percentage in a season, most points in a season, and most laps led in a season. Their relentless pursuit of excellence, led by Team Principal Christian Horner, propelled them to a 1-2 finish in the Drivers' Championship for the first time, with Max Verstappen securing his third title after an unparalleled season.  

The extent of Red Bull's dominance is evident in the Constructors' Championship standings. Despite finishing second, Mercedes' tally of 409 points was less than half of Red Bull’s astronomical 860.  

After facing a challenging season, Mercedes did well to overcome their setbacks and clinch second place, narrowly beating Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton assisted the team to second after picking up six podiums finishes and achieving third in the Drivers’ standings. Now with a two-year contract extension and Team Principal Toto Wolff’s promises of a new chapter, Hamilton and Mercedes will be resolute in their pursuit of reclaiming the top step on the podium in 2024.  

Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s duel for second place came down to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. While Ferrari were the sole team besides Red Bull to win a race, they missed out on the second spot in the Constructors’ by a mere 3 points.  

Under the new leadership of Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari’s season had flashes of brilliance, exemplified by the excellent drive which granted Carlos Sainz victory in Singapore, but they struggled with inconsistencies throughout the year. In the face of these challenges, Charles Leclerc finished fifth in the Drivers’ standings, only 1 point away from fourth. These results instill optimism, and a robust winter development plan could see Ferrari closing the gap and challenging the frontrunners in the upcoming season. 

McLaren experienced a remarkable transformation, overcoming a dismal start to secure fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. They began the season knowing they were lacking compared to other teams. After revamping their design, their dynamic duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ascended from the back of the grid to consistent podium contention.  

Accumulating seven podium finishes, Norris emerged as a standout performer of 2023. Meanwhile, rookie teammate Piastri had a sensational debut season, securing a sprint race win in Qatar which contributed to him being named Rookie of the Year at the 2023 Autosport Awards. If McLaren's season had started as positively as it ended, they may have been able to overtake Mercedes in the Championship by some margin.  

McLaren’s season stands in direct juxtaposition to that of Aston Martin’s. While Aston Martin had an excellent start to the season, their progress waned as 2023 progressed.  

In the first eight races, Fernando Alonso had secured six podium finishes and, by the midpoint, contributed to 73.5% of the team’s total points. Though Aston Martin were unable to keep up with the cycle of upgrades and developments, Alonso managed to maintain his lead to claim an impressive fourth place in the Drivers’ standings. 

As the checkered flag falls on the 2023 season, the teams will be gearing up for the challenges awaiting in 2024 as fans anticipate another season of unparalleled racing.