The Formula 1 grid in 2023: four entrances, two team changes and several farewells

The game of the chair Formula 1 It concluded before the end of the last date of the 2022 season but there was news until a few days before Christmas. The driver grid for the next championship has been defined four admissions, two team changes and several byesalthough some, halfway, like the continuity of Mick Schumacher as a reserve at Mercedes.

Only four teams kept their pairs. The Champions Red Bull they had already confirmed Max Verstappen Y Sergius Czech perezwho in May renewed his contract until 2024, but they added Daniel Ricciardo as a test driver in an interesting move when the Australian was left without a seat at McLaren.

Ferrari hasn’t changed its insured parts since last year: charles leclerc Y Charles Sainz They will continue as a couple next season, just like Lewis Hamilton Y George Russell in Mercedes.

The other continuity occurred in Alfa Romeoon which he once again bets Valtteri Bottasarrived this year from the German team, and from the Chinese guanyu zhou.

While Sebastian Vettel left F1 by choice When he retired at 35, the same did not happen with the other German on the 2022 grid. Mick Schumacherwho Haas did not renew the contract.

However, the son of the legendary seven-time champion Michael managed to stay in Maxima. This Thursday, Mercedes announced it as reserve pilot. “I take it as a new beginning and I’m grateful to Toto Wolff and to all those who have placed their trust in me,” said Mick, who has racked up 12 points in 43 Grands Prix, all in the last season.

Germany, likewise, will not be without a driver in 2023 because the team of American Gene Haas has defined that the teammate of Kevin Magnussen to be Nico Hulkenbergwhich was in reserve Aston Martin.

One of two team changes took place in Lawrence Stroll’s team, where his son Lance races: Fernando Alonso to allow Alpine after dealing with the foreman, otmar szafnauerand with problems on track with Esteban Ocon and took over from Vettel. The French team, meanwhile, was Pierre Gasley from Alpha Tauruswith which the gala team will have a 100% local duo.

In Alpha TaurusMeanwhile there will be one of the newcomers of next season: nyck devries. The Dutchman who unexpectedly contested his first Grand Prix williamswhen it was replaced Alex Albon in Monza he will have a great opportunity in the Red Bull subsidiary team, which has kept the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda.

At Williams, Albon will have another rookie, the American, as his new partner Sergeant Loganwho obtained the necessary points to have his super license in Abu Dhabi with testing in F1 and Formula 2 races and thus replace Nicholas Latifiwho left the category.

The other pilot with large projection that will be incorporated in 2023 will be Oscar Piastrichampion of Formula 3 in 2020 and Formula 2 in 2021 and who signed a pre-contract before Alpine publicly announced that the Australian would replace Alonso.

However, the one represented by Mark Webber and a member of the French academy of young drivers has broken with the pre-established schemes and will be the partner of Lando Norris in McLaren.

With the last postseason tests concluded almost a month ago at the Yas Marina circuit on Tuesday 22 November, all we have to do is wait for time to pass for the first round – the Bahrain GP – of a record 24-race calendar to take place on 5 March.

Also, there will be changes in the technical rules. Among these modifications there are some that the FIA ​​considers essential to implement reduce the bouncing of the cars and the impact on the drivers head.

Which? The edges of the floor will be raised by 15 mm; the height of the throat of the diffuser must be high, taking care to avoid any impact on the designs of the mechanical components of the equipment; the stiffness of the edge of the speaker will increase; and the installation of an additional sensor will be ordered to monitor the phenomenon more effectively.