Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Formula One Drivers Of 2023
The groundbreaking, pulse-pounding, hair-raising world of Formula One has seen an incredible upswing in some of the most talented drivers the sport has ever seen. From remarkable rookies, veteran sensations, and one of the greatest drivers of all time, the wide world of F1 driving and their intense competitions are as electric as it has ever been, thanks, especially to the best formula one drivers of 2023 revolutionizing the sport and bringing in an entirely new generation of fandom.
Rising up-and-comers like Lando Norris and George Russell are battling to become the next great F1 driver while the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are showing the world that the vets still have what it takes to compete against the youngsters. Of course, there is the once-in-a-generation talent in Max Verstappen who is undoubtedly one of the greatest Formula One racers to ever get behind a wheel. There is an incredible amount of talent in the league, and with each passing year, they only appear to be getting better and better.
Vote up who you believe is the best formula one driver of 2023 to leave your mark in racing history, and be sure to check out The Best NASCAR Drivers of 2023 to get a full rundown of all racing-related sports athletes in the new year!
Arguably the greatest racer Formula One has ever seen, Max Verstappen masterfully mixed skill with the machine, using the fastest car of 2022 to utterly dominate his opponents, while using his brains to outsmart them on the course. Setting a new record for wins in a season in 2022 and only looking to get better, Verstappen continues to rarely make any sort of mistakes, and is yet again head and shoulders above his competition in 2023.
Fernando Alonso had the best season and most troublesome season of his esteemed career in 2022. While during the first half he was a man on a mission, arguably being the best driver in all of F1, during the latter half, his cinderella year came to an end. When he left Apline for Aston Martin, his brash decision rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and his teammates in Aston Martin believed he was only racing for himself, and not the team. Alonso is still an incredible driver, but in order to reach his full potential, he is going to have to become a better teammate in Aston Martin.
The golden boy of Ferrari, Charles Leclerc started off the 2022 season on fire, dominating drivers and holding a massive lead over his opponents. As the season progressed, however, Ferrari and their car began to let Leclerc down, providing him with less than stellar support and slowly succumbing to manufacturing issues. Ferrari was in the midst of a massive resurgence with Leclerc behind the wheel, and with a taste of glory, 2023 may be the year the Italian company races back to the top of the leaderboards with Leclerc at the helm.
Consistency is key for Lando Norris, and while it would be incredibly easy to take the last half-decade of his career for granted, there is no doubt that he is on the upswing for the greatest stretch of his career. Despite only having the fifth fastest car in 2022, Norris still managed to finish in the top 7 in 22 of the races throughout the season, and with the team, an McLaren revving up to give the young man a more complete package, he is one of the brightest up and comers in F1.
2022 was a nightmare in terms of production for Lewis Hamilton, and yet he is still widely regarded as a top 5 racer in all of Formula One. The man is that good. The seven-time world champion had an uphill battle from the start with the team at Mercedes providing a less-than-stellar car and announcing the ride issues hampered Hamilton throughout the season. With zero wins to his name in 2022, Hamilton and the team at Mercedes will be looking to strike back with a vengeance in 2023.
Carlos Sainz Jr. had arguably the highest highs and the lowest lows of his career in 2022, and in 2023, he is looking to show the F1 world that he is one of the best drivers in the league. Playing for a phenomenal squad in Ferrari, Sainz Jr. has all the talent and teamwork in the world backing him up, and his flashes of brilliance throughout the season gave the team a huge boost of confidence in him. Consistency is key for Sainz, as he could easily become a top racer in the league if he gains some.
