The 2023 F1 grid has a host of changes, including three new rookies. The LWOS staff deliver their F1 predictions for Rookie of the Year.
As we count down the days, and hours, until Free Practice 1 in Bahrain, we continue our F1 predictions series. So far the team here at LWOS has given their picks for the drivers and teams who will either see the biggest improvement over 2022 or which will struggle. Now we turn our attention to the three rookies on the 2023 Formula 1 grid and which one will be most impressive in their debut season.
F1 Predictions:
- Which Driver & Team will make the biggest improvement?
- Which Driver & Team will be the most disappointing in 2023?
Rookie of the Year
- Arturo – Logan Sargeant
- Cameron – Nyck de Vries
- Fatima – Oscar Piastri
- Gabe – Oscar Piastri
- Jack – Logan Sargeant
- Justin – Nyck de Vries
- Nathan – Nyck de Vries
- Nelson – Oscar Piastri
- Patricia – Nyck de Vries
- Thomas – Oscar Piastri
- Vincent – Oscar Piastri
- Yara – Oscar Piastri
Ctrl R ↻#F1 pic.twitter.com/k4bedYYVbf
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2023
All three of 2023’s rookies enter the year with different stories. First, Nyck de Vries joins AlphaTauri who made the surprise departure from selecting a Red Bull Junior Academy driver. De Vries is a former F2 and Formula E champion who has been the reserve driver for Mercedes for the past few seasons. While technically in his first full F1 season, he will be expected to produce from the start given his experience.
Oscar Piastri won three consecutive champions – the Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula 3, and Formula 2. In 2022 he was Alpine’s reserve driver before last year’s controversial departure to join McLaren. Piastri will be under the microscope both due to his past success in the junior categories, and also the manner in which he joined his new team. With McLaren struggling during pre-season testing, will he be in for a difficult start to his F1 career?
Logan Sargeant saw a remarkable turnaround during the 2022 season. He finished 7th in the 2021 F3 season joining the Williams academy before moving up to F2 in 2022 for his rookie year. Back-to-back Feature Race wins in the summer catapulted Sargeant into the Championship battle before getting the shock selection to replace the departing Nicholas Latifi at Williams. The expectations will be limited for the American driver who joins a Williams team trying to climb back into the midfield.
Now it’s time to hear your prediction. Let us know which of the three drivers you think will finish top by signing up for the LWOS comment system below.
