F1 drivers pick their top three performers from the 2023 season so far

Just over a third of the way into the season, F1 drivers have taken a moment to assess the competition and list their top three performers so far – with Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda all faring well.

Thursday’s press conference at the Red Bull Ring came after eight intense race weekends that – despite Red Bull’s unbeaten run – featured plenty of action, drama and contrasting fortunes for the 20 drivers up and down the grid.

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George Russell was the first driver to offer an answer to the thought-provoking question of which three drivers had nailed their season to date, with reigning double world champion Verstappen the first of his picks thanks to the Dutchman’s six wins so far.

“Max is the number one at the moment,” the Mercedes man commented. “Number two and number three, nobody else cares about.

“It’s incredibly difficult to judge. In an ideal world, all the cars are the same, then it’s easy to know. Many drivers are doing a good job.

“Fernando is doing a good job, Lewis [Hamilton] is doing a good job, Lando [Norris] is doing a good job, Oscar [Piastri] is doing a good job, Hulk [Nico Hulkenberg].”

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Sitting alongside Russell in the press conference, Haas driver Hulkenberg, AlphaTauri rookie Nyck de Vries, Verstappen and McLaren newcomer Piastri also took turns to list their top-three – providing some repeat names.

Hulkenberg: “Max, Fernando, Pierre [Gasly].”

De Vries: “Max, Fernando and Yuki.”

Verstappen: “I don’t know, to be honest. Like George said, a lot of good drivers on this grid...”

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Piastri: “Max, Fernando and Yuki – I think he [Tsunoda] has done a good job this season.”

With the old motorsport saying that ‘you’re only as good as your last race’, all drivers will be keen to show what they can do when the Austrian Grand Prix weekend – featuring the return of the F1 Sprint – gets under way on Friday.