We have three rookies on the F1 2023 grid... ...but how did the other 17 drivers fare in their debut campaigns?
12th: Sergio Perez
Held back by bad luck and the Sauber’s declining performance through the year, beating Kobayashi 11-7 in qualifying was an impressive achievement for the Mexican.The 2015 Toro Rosso seats were filled by two F1 rookies with famous last names. Unfortunately for Carlos Sainz, his team-mate for that year happened to be one Max Verstappen.
Bottas joined the grid in 2013, joining Pastor Maldonado at the Grove team. It was a season of struggle, with eighth place at the United States GP Williams’ best of the season – securing Bottas P17 in the Drivers’ Championship ahead of his team-mate. The King’s Lynn talent would become a driving force in Williams’ progression for the following two seasons before getting his well-earned promotion to Mercedes.The second-youngest F1 driver of all time, Lance Stroll joined Williams for his 2017 rookie season aged just 18. His team-mate for that season was veteran race-winner Felipe Massa.
The 2023 grid’s oldest driver debuted way back in 2001. Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, was still racing, as were icons Mika Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve. There was good reason for the Woking team signing Norris to a multi-year extension during his rookie year. Britain’s youngest F1 debutant out-qualified Sainz at 11 of the 21 Grands Prix, including a Q3 charge on debut in Australia, and helped McLaren finish fourth in the Constructors’ standings.
A season-best drive at Suzuka yielded P4 after matching Verstappen’s Q3 time, and Albon would have scored his first podium but for a collision with Lewis Hamilton on the final lap in Brazil. With consistent top-six finishes, Christian Horner was sufficiently impressed to back Albon for the Red Bull drive in 2020.Red Bull saw enough pace from Pierre Gasly to promote him to their A-team following his 2018 rookie campaign.
Engine failure wrecked Verstappen’s debut in Australia but seventh at his second race made him F1’s youngest points scorer. The Dutchman’s early years were characterised by promising pace and, at times, recklessness. Clumsily clipping Romain Grosjean’s Lotus in Monaco, resulting in a massive shunt, didn’t win any friends.
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