There’s never a dull moment in Formula 1, as the news cycle keeps on churning even if the 2023 season just concluded a few weeks ago, which ultimately saw Max Verstappen successfully defend his crown for the second consecutive year.
There’s no “silly season” for now since all 20 driver seats are secured, but it’s never too early for all 10 constructors to sort out their future plans.
Ferrari will have to make a major decision regarding their current drivers’ futures, while Mercedes and McLaren are back on the drawing board, looking for ways to improve their performance for next year.
Without further ado, continue reading below, as SBOTOP is here to share some of the biggest Formula 1 2023 updates.
Leclerc and Sainz in extension talks
There are three notable drivers whose current deals will expire at the end of the 2024 season, namely Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Checo, amid internal pressure after Daniel Ricciardo made his return to the paddock, is said to be assured for at least until 2025 if reports are to be believed, and that leaves us with Leclerc and Sainz Jr.
Leclerc is entering the final year of his staggering five-year deal that saw his wages triple in what was the longest-ever contract in team history, while Sainz Jr. is also in the final year of his two-year deal, which he signed after an impressive debut campaign with the squad.
The pair showed a ton of promise, but they ultimately failed to meet their lofty expectations last season, mostly self-inflicted. In the 22 races that they’ve competed in, they only managed to win one race, which was when Carlos Sainz Jr. won the Singapore Grand Prix.
Reports from Italy claim that Charles Leclerc has reached an agreement with Ferrari for a new five-year extension with a starting salary of €25 million.
However, that’s not the case for Sainz Jr., who is more interested in a two-year extension after being offered only a one-year deal. It is said that both parties are still some way apart in the negotiations, as Ferrari are said to be keeping tabs on Lando Norris.
Norris rewarded as his quest of getting elusive win continues
Speaking of Norris, the 24-year-old is under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2025 campaign. And by the time he becomes a free agent, for sure, rival teams are going to line up for his services, assuming he maintains his current career trajectory.
Following in the footsteps of former world champions Nigel Mansell, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, and Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris was just voted Autosport’s British Competition Driver of the Year.
It is well-deserved since he was the reason why McLaren defied the Formula 1 2023 odds and recovered from dead last to P4 in the constructors’ standings. After an ugly start to the season, Norris was able to make it to the podium seven times, while teammate Oscar Piastri did so two times.
As of this writing, Norris now has 13 career podium appearances but is still yet to secure that first victory, tying Nick Heidfeld’s ignominious record for having the most podiums without a single win.
Which is why the young Brit is determined to do much better at the start of next season, and with McLaren showing the capability of giving him an improved car, Norris believes that 2024 will be the year in which he finally stands on top of the food chain.
Hamilton and Russell licking their wounds after rollercoaster campaign
Despite finishing P2 behind Red Bull in the constructors’ title, Mercedes fell short of expectations of mounting a significant title challenge since their drivers weren’t able to secure a single race win.
Hamilton almost broke Mercedes’ duck with a couple of P2 finishes in Australia, Spain, and Mexico. But actually, the closest he has ever been was in the US Grand Prix, in which he was eventually disqualified due to running an illegal floor.
His teammate George Russell, meanwhile, could only muster two podium finishes (both P3) in Spain and Abu Dhabi.
Their campaign was so bad to the point that Hamilton admitted to doubting himself at certain points of the season, while Russell ultimately described 2023 as a “strange” year.
And to add credence to what Russell said, their bosses Toto and Susie Wolff were recently embroiled in controversy as they were implicated in the FIA’s probe of a potential conflict of interest due to an apparent disclosure of confidential information, which was then shelved yesterday.
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