Coulthard expects long three-way battle in 2023: 'Closest ever WC'

David Coulthard thinks Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and Mercedes will be close in terms of qualities next season. He says this in conversation with The Independent. He therefore expects Formula 1 to get ready for a blood-curdling year.

Last season, it was still Max Verstappen who managed to become world champion by force. The Dutchman had a difficult start and saw Charles Leclerc take a lead, but Ferrari did not follow that line and then could not keep up with Verstappen.

According to Coulthard, Red Bull will carry the confidence into the new calendar year, but must take serious account of the competition. "I think Red Bull have got to be the favourites because they have just dominated the last season," the former Formula 1 driver analysed.

"But the regulations are not changing so much going into next year so the teams will continue to develop what they have got. That was the case anyway as Mercedes took all year to develop back into a winning car. Ferrari had a very fast car but they just didn’t manage to get strategy and reliability right."

Exciting title race in F1 predicted

Coulthard believes that all teams will continue the developments and therefore the formations will not be much apart. "So on paper this could be the closest ever world championship in 2023," his prediction reads. Frederic Vasseur, who will start working as Ferrari team boss from 2023, will sign for the scenario.