Formula One’s 2023 season has been eventful, with several rookies making their mark on the grid. However, one of the rookies, Nyck de Vries, has already dropped out of the championship. Red Bull made the decision to replace de Vries with Daniel Ricciardo after the British Grand Prix. This move highlights the competitive nature of F1 and Red Bull’s approach to developing young drivers. Despite high expectations, de Vries failed to score any points and only managed to accumulate five points in our rookie rankings. With de Vries out of the picture, we now have two rookies left in contention: Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant. Let’s take a closer look at their performances in the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix.
Big moments from Hungary
Piastri had a strong start in Hungary, moving up to second place after a clever maneuver at the start. However, he struggled on the hard tires and sustained damage that hindered his performance. Despite his efforts, Piastri finished fifth at the checkered flag. On the other hand, Sargeant faced another disappointing race as he failed to finish for the third time this season. He spun his car at the chicane and Williams decided to retire the car to avoid further damage.
Big moments from Belgium
Piastri had a standout performance in Belgium, leading his first laps as an F1 driver. He showcased his skills in the sprint shootout and secured second place in the sprint race. Although Max Verstappen eventually overtook him, Piastri’s performance solidified his potential as a future star. In the grand prix, Piastri qualified fifth but was involved in a collision with Carlos Sainz at Turn 1. Despite this setback, Piastri’s impressive showing on Saturday confirmed his talent.
Sargeant’s biggest moment in Spa was his ability to match his teammate Alex Albon’s performance. Sargeant’s tire management and pace compared favorably to Albon’s, according to the team’s head of vehicle performance. This comparison serves as an important benchmark for Sargeant’s progress.
Getting to the points
Let’s break down the points earned by Piastri and Sargeant in Hungary and Belgium:
Piastri:
– Hungary:
– Reached Q3: +5 points
– Qualified P4: +10 points
– Finished P5: +10 points
– Belgium:
– Narrowly missed sprint pole: +15 points
– Led his first laps, finished P2: +15 points
– Qualified P5 in the grand prix: +15 points
Sargeant:
– Hungary:
– Late spin that ended the race: -5 points
– Belgium:
– Reached SQ2: +5 points
– Not far off Albon’s performance all weekend: +5 points
As for de Vries, he did not score any points during his time in the championship.
The current rankings stand as follows:
F1 Rookie Rankings
1. Oscar Piastri
2. Logan Sargeant
3. Nyck de Vries
It’s clear that Piastri has emerged as the leading rookie, showcasing his potential with strong performances and accumulating a significant number of points. Sargeant has also shown promise, with consistent performances that compare favorably to his teammate’s.
In conclusion, the 2023 F1 season has seen its fair share of rookie talent. While Nyck de Vries has already dropped out of the championship, Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant continue to impress. Piastri’s standout performances in Hungary and Belgium have solidified his position as the top rookie, while Sargeant has shown steady progress. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these rookies further establish themselves in the highly competitive world of Formula One.