Fernando Alonso Triumphs in Wheel-to-Wheel Battle

What a thrilling start to the 2023 Formula 1 season it has been! Fernando Alonso, the two-time world champion, made an impressive comeback by securing victory in the opening race held in Bahrain. This win marked his first triumph since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

In an unexpected turn of events, Aston Martin’s sporting director, Andy Stevenson, successfully protested a penalty that would have hindered Alonso’s success in Saudi Arabia. The team’s winter recovery was remarkable, considering they finished seventh in the constructors’ standings last year.

However, Lewis Hamilton quickly countered Alonso’s dominance by emerging unscathed from a chaotic race down under. His skillful maneuvering aboard his capricious W14 car signaled that a blockbuster title fight may be on the horizon between these former McLaren teammates.

The Hypothetical World Without Red Bull:

If we delve into a hypothetical world where Red Bull does not compete in Formula 1 this season, the narrative would have taken an intriguing twist. Eliminating Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez from all races produces only a two-dimensional picture of what could have been.

For instance, Esteban Ocon’s chances at scoring points during the Qatar sprint race were thwarted by a multi-car collision involving Nico Hulkenberg and Perez. Removing the Red Bull cars also fails to alter Lando Norris’ strategic decisions in Brazil, where burning through his Pirelli tires would no longer be futile if Verstappen was not in contention.

Nonetheless, this exercise allows us to appreciate how closely matched the field was behind the dominant Red Bull team. Theoretically speaking, without Red Bull’s presence, we could have witnessed six different race winners (Alonso, Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz, Norris and Oscar Piastri), rather than the actual count of three (Verstappen, Perez and Sainz). The drivers’ championship battle would have been decided by just 17 points instead of the significant gap between Verstappen and Perez with Hamilton trailing further behind by 51 points. Furthermore,the constructors’ title would have seen a nail-biting finish with only seven points separating the top contenders.

Aston Martin’s Struggles Continue:

In reality though,Aston Martin faced challenges during the second half of thier season as their overly flexible wing got outlawed. Moreover,the team mistakenly diverted their development towards running 2024-spec components.This begs us to question whether Aston Martin’s experimental nature is solely attributed to Red Bull being absent from competition or if they are genuinely competing for titles

The Final Showdown:

As we reach the Abu Dhabi finale,it becomes clear that Fernando Alonso needs an extraordinary performance coupled with Hamilton’s failure to score any points in order to secure his third title.However,his valiant efforts fall short as he manages only a four-point lead over Hamilton,resulting in confirmation of yet another championship win for Lewis.The Spaniard rues this missed opportunity,yet remains a formidable competitor who has come tantalizingly close to achieving his sixth championship title.

Impressive Performances Across the Field:

In addition to Alonso and Hamilton’s fierce rivalry, it is worth noting that Charles Leclerc secured third place in the drivers’ championship, trailing 25 points behind Hamilton. Ferrari also ended their season on a high note after winning the final two races in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. Lando Norris finds himself sandwiched between the Ferraris with an impressive total of 287 points, closely followed by Leclerc with 289 points and Sainz with 283.

George Russell may be adrift from the top contenders, but his solid performance throughout the season earned him a respectable total of 248 points. It is important to recognize these exceptional performances amidst all the uncertainties caused by Red Bull’s absence.

The Constructors’ Battle:

Thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s outstanding contributions on track, Mercedes regains its position at the top of the constructors’ standings.This achievement places them alongside Williams as second highest winners in Formula One history, both teams securing nine titles.Conversely,Ferrari misses out on clinching yet another constructors’ crown due to some setbacks along their journey.