Why the battle for second in the F1 World Championship is crucial
F1 News
Let's be honest. Max Verstappen already has one hand on the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship. The Dutchman has a 53-point advantage over his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez in P2. He can, therefore, already afford to retire from two races and remain in the lead of the World Championship. Even if others close the gap in terms of performance, something would have to go wrong at Red Bull for them to drop backwards.
Of course, it's always crucial for Formula 1 to have a title battle. 2021 became the perfect example. But it's not always possible, and luckily the sport carries enough storylines to keep everyone tuned in. One of the biggest reasons is the fight for P2 in the World Championship. As the odds suggest, Sergio Perez is the favourite for that position, and it's almost essential for the Mexican to do so. But it won't be easy.
P2 in the World Championship
Drivers Championship winner without Verstappen from CasinoSite.nl.
Sergio Perez 1/3
Lewis Hamilton 3/1
Fernando Alonso 8/1
Charles Leclerc 100/1
George Russell 250/1
Adrian Newey and the rest of the Red Bull team have designed a superior car. The RB18 was significantly quicker than the rest of the field, and 12 months on the team have found further improvements to push them forward, whilst others didn't make a good enough step over the winter. Should Perez not be able to secure P2 in the Championship, then serious questions will be asked about the Mexican's future at Red Bull. He didn't get P2 in 2022, and missing out again could hamper his chances of a new deal.
Mercedes have been the team making noises with upgrades. After seemingly making a U-turn after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes launched upgrades in Monaco and proved their value in the Spanish Grand Prix. So much so that George Russell started behind Perez and finished ahead of him. Track conditions and temperatures likely helped Mercedes, but their race pace has never been their most significant problem with these new rules and regulations. The five races leading up to the summer break will confirm or deny, but it seems like Mercedes are on the rise. They are not back because they cannot yet consistently challenge Verstappen for race wins, but they will try to pressure Perez.
One of the most eye-catching parts of the list above is the difference between George Russell and Hamilton. There's certaintly not that much difference between the two British drivers on the track or in the World Championship. Russell will have to negotiate Hamilton, Alonso and his 52-point deficit to Checo, but if you're confident Mercedes will become more and more competitive with these upgrades, then it's not a bad bet. Charles Leclerc is a further 23 points back in the World Championship, and his upgrades didn't work as well in Spain.
Fernando Alonso has been among the most consistent performers in the 2023 Formula 1 season. The Aston Martin driver has been maximising his car's potential and will embed himself in the battle with the other drivers. The soon-to-be 42-year-old will be relishing his chances for a rare fight at the front compared to his recent seasons.