After the first three races of the 2023 Formula 1 season, several drivers have demonstrated their potential for a successful year, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. However, not every driver has lived up to the hype, with a few failing to deliver on the track. Despite some standout performances from the likes of Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon, there have been those who have disappointed the fans. Some have shown a mix of poor and impressive performances, while others have been consistently lackluster. As we eagerly await the upcoming race in Baku, we take a closer look at the three drivers who have underperformed the most so far this season.
Number 1. Logan Sargeant
Logan Sargeant’s struggles in the 2023 season have been evident, particularly in qualifying sessions where he has failed to progress beyond the first round. Although he has shown glimpses of potential and made some progress during the races, it hasn’t been enough to challenge for points. While Williams is a less pressurized environment, the strong performances of teammate Alex Albon in the FW45 have highlighted the car’s capabilities, making Sargeant’s underwhelming results hard to overlook. The American driver’s best result came in Bahrain, and he’ll need to build on that performance quickly to avoid running out of patience with the team and its fans.
Number 2. Nyck de Vries
The expectations for Nyck de Vries to consistently deliver Monza-level performances in every race were quickly dashed after his first few races in a full-time F1 seat. Although he had been vying for the opportunity for some time, de Vries has yet to prove his worthiness for the position.
Despite having a car that is arguably one of the weakest in the field this season, de Vries is not only losing out to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda but being thoroughly outperformed by him.
Tsunoda, who was expected to struggle against de Vries, has outperformed him in every race so far, and de Vries is one of only two drivers who have yet to earn any points this season.
Number 3. Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz’s performance in the 2023 season has been far from impressive, with lackluster performances that have left him trailing behind his teammate. Unlike his teammate who has faced numerous reliability issues, Sainz has had a relatively smooth ride which only amplifies his underperformance. In the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sainz was clearly outpaced by Charles Leclerc until his early retirement, and then overtaken with ease by a resurgent Fernando Alonso. He delivered equally unimpressive results in the Saudi Arabian and Australian races. Ferrari cannot afford to settle for just “okay” performances, especially with one driver often out of action. Sainz has lost a combined nine places across the three races, with the penalty in Australia adding to his woes. The Spaniard must quickly step up his game if he wishes to remain relevant in the team.
