How has the replacement of three drivers changed the color of the Formula 1 field this year?
The 2023 F1 drivers are from 15 countries and have more than 50 motorsport championships between them. Here’s how they break down the numbers.
It starts
Two of Formula 1’s most experienced drivers bowed out at the end of last season – Sebastian Vettel was one race shy of his 300th start and Daniel Ricciardo another member of the two-century club. With three newcomers making their full-time driver debuts, the 2023 class overall has slightly less field experience than last year.
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Ages
Unsurprisingly, it’s a slightly younger field, though not by much, with the average age of drivers being 28.2 years, down 0.2 from 12 months ago.
That’s because Nick de Vries, one of the three newcomers, has already been in more than half of the field, including the two-time world champion. De Vries was promoted after winning the Formula 2 title four years ago, and Andretti’s IndyCar driver Colton Herta was Alfatauri’s first choice for the seat, but he didn’t have enough SuperLeague points to break into F1.
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He wins the Grand Prix
Vettel is the third most successful F1 driver in terms of wins, and the departure of multi-grand prix winner Ricciardo means the current grid’s total number of races won is down significantly from 232 this time last year. up to 193.
However, with Jorge Russell and Carlos Sainz Jr failing to score their first wins before the start of last season, the total number of drivers on the grid is unchanged. Half of the 20 drivers have taken preliminary prix wins, although a couple and Alpine’s new duo are one-off winners.
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Countries
Hertha may not get the break, but the United States has its first full-time F1 driver in 16 years in the form of Logan Sarge. The USA is one of 15 different countries represented on the grid this year, only four of which have more than one driver. These are the UK (three), France, Spain and the Netherlands (two each).
Championship (All Series)
Only two drivers in the 20-strong field have not won a championship above karting level and both drive for the same team: Alexander Albon and his new Williams team-mate Sergeant.
The remaining 18 drivers have collected 54 titles between the F1 and Motorsport Junior categories.
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DriverChampionshipYear/sLewis HamiltonBritish Formula Renault2003Formula 3 Euroseries2005GP22006Formula 12008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020Lando NorrisBritish Formula 42015Eurocup Formula Renault 2.02016Northern European Formula Renault2016Toyota Racing Series2016Formula 3 European Championship2017Fernando AlonsoEuro Open by Nissan1999Formula 12005, 2006World Endurance Championship2018-19Nico HulkenbergGerman Formula BMW2005A1 Grand Prix2007Formula 3 Euroseries2008GP22009Nyck de VriesFormula Renault 2.0 Eurocup2014Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS2014Formula 22019Formula E2021Valtteri BottasFormula Renault 2.0 Eurocup2008Formula Renault NEC2008GP32011Lance StrollItalian Formula 42014Toyota Racing Series2015Formula 3 European Championship2016Oscar PiastriFormula Renault Eurocup2019Formula 32020Formula 22021George RussellBRDC British Formula 42014GP32017Formula 22018Max VerstappenFormula 12021, 2022Charles LeclercGP32016Formula 22017Carlos Sainz JnrFormula Renault NEC2011Formula Renault 3.5 In the year
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Days since last win (all series)
Lewis Hamilton enters the new F1 season for the first time in a successful career to end a victory drought that lasted more than a year.
Others should look further back at their recent victories at any level. Especially the Aston Martin duo, Lance Stroll and his new teammate Fernando Alonso, who haven’t won in the 2020s. Indeed, Alonso will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his last victory in F1 this May.
But returning driver Nico Hulkenberg has the longest winless drought. Like Alonso, his most recent victory came at the Le Mans 24 Hours, in his case with a Porsche.
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2023 F1 season
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