With the Formula One grid more closely matched than ever before, we have seen many incredible on-track battles in 2023. Here are the top three overtakes of the season in no particular order.
It is important to mention there were tens of super-impressive overtakes during the 2023 season, and choosing the top three was extremely challenging. If you disagree with our selection, write your top three in the comments down below!
3. Alonso On Hamilton In Bahrain
Bahrain was the first race of the 2023 season that was supposed to show the progress of each of the teams during the 2023 winter break.
What nobody would have predicted to see was the battle of old rivals
Lewis Hamilton and
Fernando Alonso (who joined
Aston Martin ahead of the season).
The Spanish Matador did not have the straight-line speed to overtake the seven-time World Champion on the straights and, therefore, had to get creative with his overtake.
Using his 20 years of experience, the 42-year-old driver surprised Hamilton with an amazing move down the inside into turn 10 of the
Bahrain international circuit - a place where we normally see no overtakes.
2. Alonso On Perez In Sao Paulo
The double World Champion's battle with
Sergio Perez at the end of the
Sao Paulo Grand Prix was one that F1 fans will remember for a very long time.
The Spanish driver
received an "Action of the Year" award for this very battle with the
Red Bull Racing driver. Alonso got overtaken by Perez a lap before the end of the race, and it seemed like everything was lost, but he managed to come back.
The Spaniard first forced Perez to go defensive through a sequence of turns 1-3 of
Interlagos Circuit and then made a brilliant move around the Mexican driver going into turn four.
While Alonso remained in front, this battle continued through the final lap of the race until the finish line, where the
double World Champion snatched the third place from Perez by 0.053 seconds.
1. Leclerc On Perez In Las Vegas
Las Vegas Grand Prix was one of the most exciting races of the season because it was one of the few where it wasn't clear which driver would win the race.
Charles Leclerc shared a great battle with the Red Bull drivers throughout the whole race. He ended up being overtaken by both a few laps before the end of the race, but he didn't give up the fight for second place with Perez.
The
Ferrari just managed to hang on to the Mexican driver as he prepared his car for a full push lap during the final lap of the race.
Going onto the set of two straights between turns 12 and 14, it seemed like Leclerc was too far and would not be able to go for a move, so Perez left the door open for the 26-year-old.
That proved to be a mistake as Leclerc made an incredible move by going very, very late on the breaks and sending it down the inside.