Who will win fight for third place in F1 2023 Driver's Championship? Alonso or Hamilton?

Despite Red Bull’s dominance in the F1 2023 season, where Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have won every race, the battle for third place in the Driver’s Championship has been fierce, featuring contenders like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Now, let’s take a look at which driver is more likely to secure P3 in the Driver Championship.

Can Fernando Alonso fight back?

After finishing 7th in the constructor’s championship last year, the 2023 season was a dream start to Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso showcasing his evergreen talent and finishing on the podium several times alongside Max Verstappen. 

However, in the five races following their strong start, Alonso has only managed one podium finish, which was in Canada. Moreover, the team, which was leading Mercedes in points until the Spanish Grand Prix, now lags behind the Silver Arrows by 39 points, jeopardizing their hold on third place.

Furthermore, the Hungarian Grand Prix, anticipated as a turning point to reverse their declining performance due to the track’s characteristics favouring the team’s downforce and grip capabilities, saw Alonso finishing 9th, thus raising questions about the true potential of the team. Alonso himself acknowledged the need to better understand the car’s behaviour, grasp upgrades relative to competitors and master the new tires.

Therefore, for Alonso to secure a third-place finish in the championship, Aston Martin must deliver on their upgrades and challenge Mercedes for the second spot in the constructor’s championship. Team principal Mike Krack emphasized that the development race is in full swing, with significant upgrades planned after the summer break.

Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence

While Aston Martin enjoyed a dream start to the 2023 season, Mercedes had one of its worst beginnings, prompting team principal Toto Wolff to criticize the team’s development after the opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

However, following the lacklustre start, Mercedes went back to the drawing board, introducing a series of upgrades to their W14 car, including new side pods, modified aerodynamics, a fresh floor design, and front suspension adjustments. These improvements yielded results, with Lewis Hamilton competing with Alonso and securing podium finishes three times in the last six races.

“I’m ready to embrace the challenge and secure that P3 position in the standings,” said Hamilton. 

With just one point separating the two drivers, the battle for third place in the championship is heating up. Whether Aston Martin can deliver on the upgrades or Mercedes’ development curve will surpass everyone, all will be revealed in the upcoming races.

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