2023 F1 mid-season review: which drivers have outperformed their teammates?

Amidst the lengthy summer break that will accompany us until the end of August 2023, it’s time to evaluate the performances of the F1 drivers. Who among them has gained the upper hand over their teammates?

Charles Leclerc vs Carlos Sainz
The gap between the two Ferrari drivers is minimal: Charles Leclerc, boosted by the podium finish at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, accumulates 99 points, outperforming his teammate Carlos Sainz by 7 points (Sainz stands at 92, following the DNF in the last race). Yet, the difference lies in the Monegasque’s favor: all three of Ferrari’s podiums this year have been secured by him. The Spaniard managed a single third-place finish in the Austrian sprint race.

Max Verstappen vs Sergio Pérez
The biggest gap exists between the two Red Bull aces. With victories in 10 out of the 12 races of the first half of the season, Max Verstappen has extended his dominance to 314 points, leaving his teammate, Sergio Pérez, trailing by 125 points (with 189 points).

The comparison between them is stark. While the Dutchman has soared since the Miami GP, winning all subsequent races, the Mexican has even struggled to pass Q1 in qualifying.

Fernando Alonso vs Lance Stroll
The second largest gap is seen between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll at Aston Martin. The two-time world champion Alonso began the 2023 F1 season by securing third place in the driver’s standings. However, Lawrence Stroll’s son has not fared as well in the comparison.

It’s true that the British team is currently facing difficulties, but Alonso maintains his position in third with 149 points. In contrast, Stroll is much further down the ranks: trailing by 102 points, he’s ninth in the driver’s standings.

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Lewis Hamilton vs George Russell
While rookie George Russell managed to surpass Lewis Hamilton in the rankings last year, the tables have turned in 2023. And the gap is evident on the track.

The seven-time world champion (ready to renew with Toto Wolff’s team) holds fourth place in the driver’s championship with 148 points – just a point behind Fernando Alonso. George Russell, on the other hand, has faced struggles this year, particularly in the recent races. With a deficit of 49 points, he holds 99 points, on par with Charles Leclerc.

Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri
With a rejuvenated McLaren post-Silverstone, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are gradually gaining ground in the driver’s standings. A gap of 35 points separates them: the former has 69 points, the latter 34.

This shouldn’t discourage the young Piastri: in his Formula 1 debut, the 22-year-old Australian has shown the determination needed to challenge a world champion like Max Verstappen.

Esteban Ocon vs Pierre Gasly
At Alpine, it’s a French driver rivalry. The departure of a name like Fernando Alonso seems to have had some impact on the team’s performance, as it struggles this year after an impressive fourth-place finish in the 2022 championship.

Esteban Ocon sits tenth in the driver’s standings with 35 points (thanks to a podium this year), 13 more than his teammate Pierre Gasly (with 22 points).

Alexander Albon vs Logan Sargeant
The difference between the two Williams teammates is minimal, yet the track speaks volumes. Thanks to effective updates, Alexander Albon is more comfortable than Logan Sargeant: there’s an 11-point gap between them, all in favor of the Thai driver. The American, a rookie in the 2023 season, remains at zero points.

Niko Hulkenberg vs Kevin Magnussen
While Kevin Magnussen stood out last year at Haas, even securing a super pole position, this year has been more challenging. Niko Hulkenberg is 14th in the driver’s standings with 9 points. His teammate fares worse: Magnussen sits 18th with 2 points. It’s worth noting that the Dane hadn’t driven a Formula 1 car since 2020!

Yuki Tsunoda vs Daniel Ricciardo
Called upon to replace Nyck De Vries after a disappointing first half of the season, Daniel Ricciardo has struggled a bit, failing to score points in the last two races. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is performing better: the 3 points secured by AlphaTauri this year are all his.

Valtteri Bottas vs Guanyu Zhou
It’s not an easy year for Alfa Romeo, as evident in both the driver’s and constructor’s standings. With only 9 points, divided between the two teammates, the team ranks second-to-last in the constructor’s championship. Just a single point separates Valtteri Bottas (15th with 5 points) from Guanyu Zhou (16th with 4 points).”