Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A523
Autosport Plus
Opinion

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

OPINION: Now that Formula 1 has four big-name teams rather than three, it's much easier for stellar drives from the midfield runners to go under the radar. Esteban Ocon has arguably been the most quietly impressive racer of the 2023 'second division' - although his year hardly got off to the best start...

If you were to walk through one of Formula 1's fanzones and ask 100 people who the best driver of 2023 has been so far, there'd probably be a near 50-50 split between Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. A few anomalies might emerge, as per the whims of natural biases, but the overwhelming majority would surely opt for one of those two protagonists.

How about the year's best drives? That's probably a bit trickier. Lance Stroll's broken-handed heroics in Bahrain should get a mention, as should Sergio Perez's Saudi Arabia win, or any of Max Verstappen's 'see ya later, alligator' disappearing acts to victory. But in this writer's opinion, the answer is none of the above: Esteban Ocon's dazzling run to the podium in Monaco was the standout thus far. Of the driver ratings that I've been in charge of putting together, the vertically gifted Frenchman's drive was closest to reaching the golden 10.

Previous article Russell: Mercedes' "magic" in Spain not owed to new sidepods
Next article Did the Spanish GP's faster final sector help or hurt F1's racing?

More from Jake Boxall-Legge

Was Magnussen's role as Hulkenberg's helper in Saudi Arabian GP unsportsmanlike?

Was Magnussen's role as Hulkenberg's helper in Saudi Arabian GP unsportsmanlike?

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Was Magnussen's role as Hulkenberg's helper in Saudi Arabian GP unsportsmanlike? Was Magnussen's role as Hulkenberg's helper in Saudi Arabian GP unsportsmanlike?
10 things we learned at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP

10 things we learned at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP

F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
10 things we learned at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP 10 things we learned at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024
How F1's mad tea-party driver market could look if Verstappen moves to Mercedes

How F1's mad tea-party driver market could look if Verstappen moves to Mercedes

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
How F1's mad tea-party driver market could look if Verstappen moves to Mercedes How F1's mad tea-party driver market could look if Verstappen moves to Mercedes
The laps that underpinned Verstappen’s crushing Bahrain GP victory

The laps that underpinned Verstappen’s crushing Bahrain GP victory

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
The laps that underpinned Verstappen’s crushing Bahrain GP victory The laps that underpinned Verstappen’s crushing Bahrain GP victory
Verstappen: Red Bull continuous gains key to beating Ferrari to Bahrain F1 pole

Verstappen: Red Bull continuous gains key to beating Ferrari to Bahrain F1 pole

F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
Verstappen: Red Bull continuous gains key to beating Ferrari to Bahrain F1 pole Verstappen: Red Bull continuous gains key to beating Ferrari to Bahrain F1 pole
F1 Bahrain GP: Verstappen beats Leclerc to first pole of 2024

F1 Bahrain GP: Verstappen beats Leclerc to first pole of 2024

F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
F1 Bahrain GP: Verstappen beats Leclerc to first pole of 2024 F1 Bahrain GP: Verstappen beats Leclerc to first pole of 2024
F1 Bahrain GP: Sainz beats Alonso, Verstappen to top FP3

F1 Bahrain GP: Sainz beats Alonso, Verstappen to top FP3

F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
F1 Bahrain GP: Sainz beats Alonso, Verstappen to top FP3 F1 Bahrain GP: Sainz beats Alonso, Verstappen to top FP3

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe