Driver of the Day 2023

Introduced in 2016, the Driver of the Day award is voted for by fans during each Grand Prix and announced at the end of the race. Here's this year's winners so far...

FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2023

Ultimately he couldn't halt the Verstappen-Red Bull train, but boy did Carlos Sainz give it his all at Monza. Gutsy and skilled defensive driving kept him in the lead for 14 laps - and then kept him ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc to the flag, securing the Spaniard his first podium of 2023 at Ferrari's home race. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Carlos Sainz - 31.5%
Sergio Perez - 14.8%
Max Verstappen - 13.3%
Alex Albon - 10.7%
Charles Leclerc - 6%

FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2023

Fernando Alonso was in typically feisty mood as the Dutch weather threw everything at Zandvoort. The two-time world champion came through it all to finish just 3.7s behind race winner Max Verstappen and put Aston Martin on the podium for the first time since Canada back in June. He also took the fastest lap to boot. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Fernando Alonso - 20.9%
Alex Albon - 14%
Max Verstappen - 10.9%
Pierre Gasly - 9.1%
Lewis Hamilton - 9%

FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2023

Very hard to argue with this one. Max Verstappen started sixth at Spa after a gearbox penalty, but was into the lead on merit by the end of lap 17. After that he left everyone trailing in his wake - Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez included. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Max Verstappen - 15.5%
Charles Leclerc - 14.8%
Yuki Tsunoda - 14.6%
Lando Norris - 8%
Sergio Perez - 7.3%

FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2023

After being seriously overshadowed by team mate Max Verstappen in recent races, Sergio Perez needed a strong performance in Budapest - and boy, did he deliver, with an aggressive drive taking the Mexican from ninth on the grid to third at the flag, ensuring he was on the podium to help celebrate Red Bull's record-breaking 12th successive win. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Sergio Perez - 20.7%
Lando Norris - 20.4%
Oscar Piastri - 13.7%
George Russell - 8.4%
Max Verstappen - 7.6%

FORMULA 1 ARAMCO BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2023

He got the jump on Max Verstappen off the line and though he couldn't retain that lead over the Red Bull, local hero Lando Norris pushed the world champion all the way to come home less than four seconds adrift for McLaren to score his first Silverstone podium. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Lando Norris - 45.5%
Lewis Hamilton - 12.1%
Oscar Piastri - 10.8%
Sergio Perez - 8.1%
Max Verstappen - 5.1%

FORMULA 1 ROLEX GROSSER PREIS VON OSTERREICH 2023

A stunning drive to P4 at the Red Bull Ring in a rejuvenated McLaren deservedly earned Lando Norris your vote, as he used his updated car to great effect to beat both Aston Martins, both Mercedes and the Ferrari of his former team mate Carlos Sainz. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Lando Norris - 26.1%
Carlos Sainz - 22.4%
Sergio Perez - 21.8%
Charles Leclerc - 7.6%
Max Verstappen - 6.5%

FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2023

We knew Williams were putting updates on Alex Albon's car this weekend, but few would have predicted a P7 finish from the Thai driver, who did everything right as he moved up two places on his grid slot and then held off a train of cars for lap after lap to collect six valuable points - and your votes. Here’s how the numbers broke down…

Alexander Albon - 28.7%
Lewis Hamilton - 16.4%
Fernando Alonso - 16.3%
Max Verstappen - 7.4%
Charles Leclerc - 7.3%

FORMULA 1 AWS GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA 2023

Mercedes' upgrades came good in Spain and Lewis Hamilton made the very most of them, driving an excellent race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to come home in second for the second time in 2023, beating team mate George Russell in the process. You were duly impressed. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Lewis Hamilton - 24.7%
Sergio Perez - 19.2%
George Russell - 11.3%
Max Verstappen - 10.6%
Fernando Alonso - 5.4%

FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2023

He may have started third, but few were expecting him to finish third. But that is exactly what Esteban Ocon did, the Alpine driver keeping his cool through rain and shine over 78 mentally-draining laps of Monaco. The reward? His third F1 podium - and your vote. Here’s how the numbers broke down…

Esteban Ocon - 23.5%
Fernando Alonso - 22.6%
Max Verstappen - 16.5%
Lewis Hamilton - 7.5%
Charles Leclerc - 6.2%

FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2023

He may have only started ninth on the grid, but there was to be no stopping the world champion winning at the Miami International Autodrome, as he climbed through the pack before overhauling his Red Bull team mate with less than 10 laps to go. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Max Verstappen - 27.1%
Sergio Perez - 12.5%
Fernando Alonso - 9.8%
Lewis Hamilton - 8.6%
George Russell - 7.9%

FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2023

Fortuitous safety car timing may have helped him get ahead of his Red Bull team mate, but from then on Sergio Perez drove an imperious race in Baku to hold off Max Verstappen and narrow the gap at the top of the championship table. You were duly impressed - here’s how the voting broke down…

Sergio Perez - 29.1%
Fernando Alonso - 14.3%
Charles Leclerc - 11.4%
Lewis Hamilton - 9.1%
Max Verstappen - 6.6%

FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2023

It was a race full of drama in Melbourne, with multiple incidents, red flags and restarts. Sergio Perez started from the pit lane, but came through it all to finish fifth and earn an extra point for setting the fastest lap for Red Bull. Not a bad afternoon's work, all things considered - and you duly recognised that. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Sergio Perez - 21.3%
Lewis Hamilton - 14.3%
Pierre Gasly - 10.3%
Lando Norris - 9.6%
Carlos Sainz - 9%

FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2023

A technical problem on Saturday consigned the world champion to 15th on the grid in Jeddah, but boy did Max Verstappen recover in style on Sunday. Second place at the flag, beaten only by his Red Bull team mate, and fastest lap - set on the very last lap - to boot. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Max Verstappen - 26.3%
Sergio Perez - 19.8%
Fernando Alonso - 14.6%
Charles Leclerc - 7.2%
Lewis Hamilton- 6.7%

FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2023

He may have been hit by his team mate on the opening lap, but that didn't stop the oldest man on the grid putting in a sparkling performance in Sakhir. Winning thrilling duels with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso fought back in typically entertaining style to clinch a podium on his Aston Martin debut. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Fernando Alonso - 53.3%
Pierre Gasly - 6.5%
Max Verstappen - 6.3%
Lewis Hamilton - 5.5%
Charles Leclerc - 4.4%