Saudi Arabian GP 2023
F1 2023 season started a week ago and both championships seem to be already decided. Red Bull and Max Verstappen look unbeatable and it’s hard to predict anyone else winning the trophies this year. The interesting thing is that we are going to have a three-way battle for the 2nd best car. Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin will fight for this position since the latter’s pre-season testing form was translated to a podium finish in Bahrain. Alonso (my personal favorite driver) might well get a chance for his first race victory since 2013. Hamilton will have to wait at least one more season for his 9th – oh sorry, 8th – world championship while Ferrari should just be targeting the 2nd best place.
The battle in the midfield is strong with McLaren seemingly taking a step back since 2022. All other teams, possibly except for Haas, will be fighting for those two last point-winning positions at every race. If I could make a prediction for the 5th position in the constructors’ championship at the end of the season, that team would be the all-French Alpine.
In terms of predictions for the Saudi Arabian GP, Red Bull is expected to make the one-two with Max taking the pole and the race victory. Behind them, the model predicts Leclerc will finish way back due to his bad result in Bahrain but I think he will make it to the podium. I believe the Aston Martin of Fernando will finish ahead of both Mercedes. I also hope that Oscar Piastri has a chance to show his talent to the F1 world.
Leclerc got a 10-place grid penalty and will start 12th.
You can access the power predictions here.
Driver | Qualifying Prediction | Actual Qualifying Result | Race Prediction | Actual Race Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Perez | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Verstappen | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
Alonso | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Russell | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Hamilton | 3 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
Sainz | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Leclerc | 5 | 12 | 6 | 7 |
Ocon | 12 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
Gasly | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Magnussen | 15 | 13 | 16 | 10 |
Tsunoda | 14 | 16 | 15 | 11 |
Hulkenberg | 17 | 10 | 14 | 12 |
Zhou | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 |
de Vries | 16 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
Piastri | 20 | 8 | 13 | 15 |
Sargeant | 19 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
Norris | 10 | 19 | 17 | 17 |
Bottas | 4 | 14 | 12 | 18 |
Albon | 18 | 17 | 18 | R |
Stroll | 9 | 5 | 7 | R |