The 2023 Formula 1 season highs and lows

The Abu Dhabi GP marked the end of the F1 2023 season, leaving behind some great racing moments and some horrifying accidents. Let's take a look back at some of the most memorable highs and lows from the season.

Max Verstappen won the season-opening race back at the Bahrain GP, little did we know the 'Flying Dutchman' would go on and snatch 19 victories through the season! There was just one non-Red Bull win all season.

Verstappen is arguably one of the best drivers in the paddock but his RB19 is also one of the finest-engineered cars the Formula 1 has ever seen.

Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin caused a lot of commotion at the start of the season, and have been a big surprise in both the constructors and drivers championships. The veteran Spanish driver showed he meant business, with two stunning wheel-to-wheel moments that earned him a podium at Bahrain.

The three-time world champion still has enough gas in his tank to amaze F1 fans with his masterclass driving. The Alonso-Hamilton rivalry has resurfaced with both drivers battling for points through every single race this season.

The Aston man went on to claim a total of six podiums through the season. Sadly, the team fell behind in the car development, which dropped him off the podiums for a while.

A chaotic race took place at Albert Park, where two safety car periods were implemented following the disastrous accidents on the tarmac. First, the race was stopped for six laps due to Albon's barrier collision. This was followed by Magnussen's slip which caused another red flag.

Once the race resumed, Alonso and Sainz collided right after the restart. Both Spanish drivers ram into each other and end off track. The Alpine team had a horrible day at the office after Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon had to retire both of their cars! A total of 12 cars re-started the race behind the safety car.

During the Monaco GP, Alpine secured their first podium since 2021 thanks to a great performance by Ocon. It was a hectic race, followed by harsh weather and multiple barrier bahing. Nevertheless, the French driver found himself on the podium!

Hamilton and Mercedes got back on the same page and managed to secure a pole finish in Hungary in 2021, ending his longest barren spell since 2007.

The British driver managed to secure his 9th ever pole in Hungary making him the most victorious driver at the Hungaroring race track.

While Red Bull might have the top two spots secured, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin have put on a show throughout the season. Great racing from each team which made the mid-table battles extremely interesting. Seeing Hamilton and Alonso fight for 5th place as if it were a podium really gets F1 fans buzzing!

Verstappen pulled off a great home performance during the Dutch Grand Prix. A performance that amazed Christian Horner, who declared Max as "untouchable" and the best F1 driver in the world.

Verstappen dropped to 13th place while also sustaining a double downpour. Track conditions were not great, but the Dutch driver pushed onwards. He lapped two seconds faster than the rest of the field, which saw him climb to the very front of the pack.

Oscar Piatri has been a major discovery during his rookie season. Although outscored by his teammate, Lando Norris (195-89), the young Australian has proven many of the pundits wrong.

Piatri has done well holding his ground during the sprints and the qualifiers. The young Australian driver has the talent, it is just a matter of refining his techniques to turn him into a world-class driver.

We saw a lot of movement over at the Alpha Tauri paddock. They started their season with Tsunoda and De Vries but following some very questionable tactics from the former Formula E champions, Alpha Tauri subbed in Daniel Riccardo.

Liam Lawson, another season rookie, completed a great couple of races during Riccardo's wrist injury. The New Zealander performed better than expected which might earn him a seat somewhere next year.

Disaster struck at the Las Vegas GP after Sainz's Ferrari ran over a water cover valve during Q1, which completely destroyed his car.

The incident disrupted the entire schedule and delayed the qualifiers. Fans were also kicked out of the event due to safety reasons. The F1 now faces a billion-dollar lawsuit!

Now with the season over and the cars back in their garages, fans eagerly wait for the 2024 season to start! Will Red Bull manage to keep their podium hegemony or will McLaren or Aston Martin have a shot at some podiums? One thing is for sure, we will be looking forward to more Alonso-Hamilton action!