The four teammate pairings likely to give us drama in F1 2023

With the 2023 F1 season fast approaching, mahbx.com looks at the four teammate pairings likely to give us drama this year.
Race winner George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with second placed team mate Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 in parc
Race winner George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with second placed team mate Lewis Hamilton …

Red Bull

Before the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, it’s unlikely Red Bull’s pairing of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez would ever be considered for such a list.

Given the vast performance disparity between the pair, Red Bull have 🌌a clear hierarchy in the team.

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However, Perez’s impressive early season form,ꦚ when Verstappen struggled to get to grips with the overweight RB18, did cause some drama which ultimately came out in the latter stages of the year.

With Perez embroiled in a tight fight for second in the drivers’ championship against 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc, he needed as many points as possible.

Verstappen - who had already secured the title in Japan - was running ahea꧋d of Perez in the closing laps of the Sao Paulo GP after overtaking his teammate short൩ly after the Safety Car.

Red Bull had ordered Verstappen to🀅 let Perez through for sixth-place, but refused to do so.

(L to R): Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing in the post qualifying FIA Press
(L to R): Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing in the…

It was petty from Verstappen, given it was only over two championship points, however, the reason be♔hind his refusal to assist Perez soon transpired, tracing back to his crash in Q3 in Monaco.

Both drivers have made it clear that they have moved on from what happened, but in F1 2023, if Verstappen needs Perez’s support, will he be willing to h♔elp? And vice versa.

Mercedes

In most people’s opinions, including mine, Me♉rcedes have the best driver line𝔍-up on the grid.

Seven-time world champion 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton continues to perform close to his best despite his winless 2022 campaign, while 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell confirmed he has all the credentials to be a title contender in the right ma🎶chinery.

Due to Mercedes’ lack of compe👍titiveness in 2022, Hamilton and Russell were forced to work collaboratively to help cure the W13’s host of issues, pa🀅rticularly with porpoising.

There’s no doubt the dynamic w🍷ould have been different had the W13 been a title-contending car.

(L to R): second placed Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 and race winner George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 on the
(L to R): second placed Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 and race winner George Russell …

Hamilton is still hungry for an eighth world title, while Russ🧸ell - at just 24 - feels ready to take his first.

It’s unli🍌kely Mercedes will ever hav♍e a situation they faced in 2014-16 with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, given that Russell idolises his veteran teammate. 

However, if there’s a title up for ඣgrabs, it’s hard not to see some drama ensuing at some point across the season.

Alpine

One team near certain of friction between their team💖mate pairing is Alpine.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon has a knack of irritating his teammates - ask Perez or 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso.

Plus, his long history with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly stretching back to their days in karting ad𓃲ds another reason for potential drama.

Along with Mercedes, A𒊎lpine have one of the most evওenly-matched driver pairings on the grid.

(L to R): Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team and Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri in the FIA Press
(L to R): Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team and Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri in the FIA Press

Ocon enjoyed his﷽ best season in 2022 as he out-scored Alonso - the first time he has ever beaten a teammate in the standings.

On the other hand, Gasly struggled relatively to hi♎s previous two years, partially down to an underperforming AlphaTauri car combined with a potential lack of motivation ahead of his switch to Alpine.

With both drꩵivers looking for supremacy 🔯within the team, it’s going to be fireworks.

Aston Martin

In performance terms, Alonso and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Lance Stroll is a bit of a mis-match, but that doesn’t mean th🐻ere won’t be drama.

Both drivers aren’t afraid to get close with their teammate, backed up by ♏Alonso and🌄 Stroll’s incidents with their respective teammates in 2022.

(L to R): Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team and Lance Stroll (CDN) Aston Martin F1 Team in the FIA Press
(L to R): Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team and Lance Stroll (CDN) Aston Martin F1 Team in…

Unlike Mercedes and Alpine, it’s highly unlikely they will be closely-matched on tꦏrack but on the occasions they are, it could be one to watch given Alonso’s aggressive style combined with Stroll’s no-nonsense, slightly clumsy way of racing.

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