MAX FOR THE TREBLE

Red Bull's star driver is in the hot seat once again as the 2023 Formula One championship kicks off this weekend

- Yousuf Ashraf

THE 2023 Formula 1 season is Cars have been revealed, drivers have slipped into their race suits, and testing has taken place before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on 5 March. Over the course of 23 races, 20 drivers will fight for title glory, but there are so many fascinating questions heading into this season.

Will Ferrari be able to combine consistency with its pace from last year? Has Mercedes managed to turn around its difficult 2022 season to bring itself back into title contention? Or has Red Bull once again produced a winner - and can anyone get close to Max Verstappen? Our eight-page preview tells you everything you'll need to know before the season begins.

Six things to look out for in 2023

1. New drivers 

THE 2023 grid has seen a handful of driver transfers and there are some new names to look out for, with rookies joining the field, plus some familiar faces. Perhaps the most exciting of all is the competitive debut for Oscar Piastri; the young Aussie is one of very few drivers to make it to F1 that have not only won, but dominated their Formula 3 and Formula 2 campaigns, with championship victories in 2020 and 2021.

Sadly, with no seat available for him last year, Piastri had to watch from the sidelines, but he's jumping into a coveted seat at McLaren for his first year, so strong results are possible. Another F2 graduate is Logan Sergeant (right). The American took fourth in the F1 feeder series last year, and joins Alex Albon at Williams.

2. The return of some old faces