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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formula 1 is going bigger, brighter and brasher this season with the Las Vegas Strip set to light up a record 23 race calendar and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen chasing a third championship in a row.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 25-year-old Dutch driver is favourite for the opener in Bahrain on 5 March, with the sport hoping he has a harder time than last year when he won 15 of 22 races and took the title with four rounds to spare.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing last week at Sakhir suggested Red Bull remain on pole but with Ferrari's 2022 runner-up Charles Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz the closest challengers in what will be an intense development battle.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Ferrari, now under the management of French boss Fred Vasseur, get their act together and the car working to maximum effect then a first title since 2008 could yet be on the cards.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercedes have plenty to do if Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of becoming Formula One’s first eight times world champion are not to evaporate again.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1585077\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469465107.jpg\" alt=\"Max Verstappen\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Ferrari look like they’re quick. Mercedes’ form is difficult to read at the moment. Are they holding something back? We’ll see this time next week,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner at the weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the plus side, Mercedes have banished the ‘porpoising’ that tormented them last year but still need more speed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the retirement of four-times champion Sebastian Vettel at the end of last season, Hamilton now has more wins than the rest put together but adding a record-extending 104th will be something special.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No driver has ever won after reaching 300 starts and Hamilton, 38, is preparing for his 311th after the career first of failing to win anything last year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said Mercedes still had a mountain to climb.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have some things we need to work on, it’s still not perfect and we’re still not able to match the Red Bulls, or the Ferraris, currently,” he added.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Evolution not revolution</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Double world champion Fernando Alonso, who at 41 is about to become the first driver to race in 20 different seasons, may even be faster than Hamilton with the new Aston Martin making a big impression.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In midfield, the battle could be closer with the 2023 cars very much an evolution after last year’s rules revolution.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McLaren had a poor test, completing the fewest laps, while tail-enders Williams showed surprising speed. Renault-owned Alpine aim to defend fourth overall with Pierre Gasly joining Esteban Ocon in an all-French lineup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">German veteran Nico Hulkenberg is back for his first full season since 2019, now at Haas.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six of the 10 teams have changed driver lineups, although the top three remain the same, and three rookies enter the fray. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verstappen’s Dutch compatriot Nyck de Vries joins AlphaTauri after racing at Monza last year as a stand-in for Williams’ Alex Albon, but Australian Oscar Piastri at McLaren and Logan Sargeant at Williams will be debuting.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piastri replaces experienced compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, now Red Bull's third driver.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sargeant can become the first US driver to complete a full season since Scott Speed at Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in 2006.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1585072\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469464872.jpg\" alt=\"Logan Sargeant, Formula 1\" width=\"720\" height=\"483\" /> Logan Sargeant of United States driving the (2) Williams FW45 Mercedes attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 5 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With US interest surging thanks to the Netflix docu-series “Drive to Survive”, he will have three home races — Miami in May, Austin in October and Las Vegas as the penultimate round on a Saturday night in November.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Vegas is already hyped to the hilt, with prices to match, for racing on the Strip for the first time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There will be six sprint race weekends, double last year, and consequently more points to be won.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rule changes will be hard to spot — raised floor edges to stop cars bouncing, stronger roll hoops after Guanyu Zhou’s huge crash at Silverstone last year and bigger mirrors.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four teams have new bosses — Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, McLaren and Williams with the latter bringing in Mercedes strategist James Vowles as principal.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Talking points of the 2023 Formula 1 season</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is targeting a third successive Formula 1 title, rivals Ferrari have a new boss and Las Vegas brings a third US race to the party this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton add to his record tally of 103 victories?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of storylines to the season that starts in Bahrain on March 5. The following looks at some of them.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Triple Max</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verstappen will start as favourite for a third title in a row. The Dutch driver won 15 races last year. How many can he bag this time? And can teammate Sergio Perez get closer to him?</span>\r\n<h4><b>New bosses</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four of the 10 teams have new principals since 2022.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fred Vasseur has replaced Mattia Binotto at Ferrari, joining from Sauber/Alfa Romeo in January.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McLaren’s Andreas Seidl has joined Sauber, appointing Alessandro Alunni Bravo to what is effectively a principal role, with Andrea Stella stepping up at McLaren while James Vowles moved from a strategy role at Mercedes to boss of Williams.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Ferrari</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Vasseur bring a title to Maranello for the first time since the 2008 constructors’ championship?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Frenchman’s arrival has drawn comparisons with compatriot Jean Todt, who led the team through a golden era with Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1585070\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469401587.jpg\" alt=\"Charles Leclerc, Formula 1\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-23 on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)</p>\r\n<h4><b>New faces</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three rookies on the grid.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian Oscar Piastri joined McLaren in controversial circumstances after a contract dispute with Alpine while Nyck de Vries has replaced Pierre Gasly (now with Alpine) at Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Logan Sargeant will meanwhile be making his debut at Williams as the first Grand Prix racer from the United States since Alexander Rossi in 2015.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1585074\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469466522.jpg\" alt=\"Fernando Alonso\" width=\"720\" height=\"1098\" /> Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the Paddock during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)</p>\r\n<h4><b>Old faces</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nico Hulkenberg starts his comeback at Haas, his first full season drive since 2019, with the German still chasing a first podium finish after 179 starts.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, now 41, and Hamilton, 38, are the oldest drivers. Can either become the first driver to win a race after reaching the milestone of 300 starts? Alonso has made 355, Hamilton 310.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Las Vegas</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Vegas promises to be the big and brash event of the year with a Saturday night race on the Strip in November as the penultimate round of the season and the hype in over-drive.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formula 1’s popularity in America is already surging thanks to Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’.</span>\r\n<h4><b>New teams</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andretti Cadillac are seeking to become the 11th team on the grid from 2026. Will the sport let them in?</span>\r\n<h4><b>Mercedes</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercedes, champions eight years in a row, had a tough 2022 with a 'porpoising' car that proved hard to handle. Can they close the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari?</span>\r\n<h4><b>New deal</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year and talks on a new one have started. He will be asked about it regularly.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Speaking out</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The governing FIA has tweaked the rules on drivers making political, personal and religious statements. How will they and the stewards react?</span>\r\n<h4><b>Daniel Ricciardo</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is he gone for good from the grid or will he be back in 2024 after signing on as Red Bull reserve? This one could run and run. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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"name": "Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the Paddock during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formula 1 is going bigger, brighter and brasher this season with the Las Vegas Strip set to light up a record 23 race calendar and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen chasing a third championship in a row.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 25-year-old Dutch driver is favourite for the opener in Bahrain on 5 March, with the sport hoping he has a harder time than last year when he won 15 of 22 races and took the title with four rounds to spare.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing last week at Sakhir suggested Red Bull remain on pole but with Ferrari's 2022 runner-up Charles Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz the closest challengers in what will be an intense development battle.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Ferrari, now under the management of French boss Fred Vasseur, get their act together and the car working to maximum effect then a first title since 2008 could yet be on the cards.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercedes have plenty to do if Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of becoming Formula One’s first eight times world champion are not to evaporate again.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1585077\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1585077\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469465107.jpg\" alt=\"Max Verstappen\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Ferrari look like they’re quick. Mercedes’ form is difficult to read at the moment. Are they holding something back? We’ll see this time next week,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner at the weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the plus side, Mercedes have banished the ‘porpoising’ that tormented them last year but still need more speed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the retirement of four-times champion Sebastian Vettel at the end of last season, Hamilton now has more wins than the rest put together but adding a record-extending 104th will be something special.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No driver has ever won after reaching 300 starts and Hamilton, 38, is preparing for his 311th after the career first of failing to win anything last year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said Mercedes still had a mountain to climb.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have some things we need to work on, it’s still not perfect and we’re still not able to match the Red Bulls, or the Ferraris, currently,” he added.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Evolution not revolution</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Double world champion Fernando Alonso, who at 41 is about to become the first driver to race in 20 different seasons, may even be faster than Hamilton with the new Aston Martin making a big impression.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In midfield, the battle could be closer with the 2023 cars very much an evolution after last year’s rules revolution.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McLaren had a poor test, completing the fewest laps, while tail-enders Williams showed surprising speed. Renault-owned Alpine aim to defend fourth overall with Pierre Gasly joining Esteban Ocon in an all-French lineup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">German veteran Nico Hulkenberg is back for his first full season since 2019, now at Haas.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six of the 10 teams have changed driver lineups, although the top three remain the same, and three rookies enter the fray. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verstappen’s Dutch compatriot Nyck de Vries joins AlphaTauri after racing at Monza last year as a stand-in for Williams’ Alex Albon, but Australian Oscar Piastri at McLaren and Logan Sargeant at Williams will be debuting.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piastri replaces experienced compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, now Red Bull's third driver.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sargeant can become the first US driver to complete a full season since Scott Speed at Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in 2006.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1585072\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1585072\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469464872.jpg\" alt=\"Logan Sargeant, Formula 1\" width=\"720\" height=\"483\" /> Logan Sargeant of United States driving the (2) Williams FW45 Mercedes attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 5 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With US interest surging thanks to the Netflix docu-series “Drive to Survive”, he will have three home races — Miami in May, Austin in October and Las Vegas as the penultimate round on a Saturday night in November.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Vegas is already hyped to the hilt, with prices to match, for racing on the Strip for the first time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There will be six sprint race weekends, double last year, and consequently more points to be won.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rule changes will be hard to spot — raised floor edges to stop cars bouncing, stronger roll hoops after Guanyu Zhou’s huge crash at Silverstone last year and bigger mirrors.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four teams have new bosses — Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, McLaren and Williams with the latter bringing in Mercedes strategist James Vowles as principal.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Talking points of the 2023 Formula 1 season</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is targeting a third successive Formula 1 title, rivals Ferrari have a new boss and Las Vegas brings a third US race to the party this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton add to his record tally of 103 victories?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of storylines to the season that starts in Bahrain on March 5. The following looks at some of them.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Triple Max</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verstappen will start as favourite for a third title in a row. The Dutch driver won 15 races last year. How many can he bag this time? And can teammate Sergio Perez get closer to him?</span>\r\n<h4><b>New bosses</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four of the 10 teams have new principals since 2022.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fred Vasseur has replaced Mattia Binotto at Ferrari, joining from Sauber/Alfa Romeo in January.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McLaren’s Andreas Seidl has joined Sauber, appointing Alessandro Alunni Bravo to what is effectively a principal role, with Andrea Stella stepping up at McLaren while James Vowles moved from a strategy role at Mercedes to boss of Williams.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Ferrari</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Vasseur bring a title to Maranello for the first time since the 2008 constructors’ championship?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Frenchman’s arrival has drawn comparisons with compatriot Jean Todt, who led the team through a golden era with Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1585070\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1585070\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469401587.jpg\" alt=\"Charles Leclerc, Formula 1\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-23 on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>New faces</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three rookies on the grid.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian Oscar Piastri joined McLaren in controversial circumstances after a contract dispute with Alpine while Nyck de Vries has replaced Pierre Gasly (now with Alpine) at Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Logan Sargeant will meanwhile be making his debut at Williams as the first Grand Prix racer from the United States since Alexander Rossi in 2015.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1585074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1585074\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1469466522.jpg\" alt=\"Fernando Alonso\" width=\"720\" height=\"1098\" /> Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the Paddock during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Old faces</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nico Hulkenberg starts his comeback at Haas, his first full season drive since 2019, with the German still chasing a first podium finish after 179 starts.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, now 41, and Hamilton, 38, are the oldest drivers. Can either become the first driver to win a race after reaching the milestone of 300 starts? Alonso has made 355, Hamilton 310.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Las Vegas</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Vegas promises to be the big and brash event of the year with a Saturday night race on the Strip in November as the penultimate round of the season and the hype in over-drive.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formula 1’s popularity in America is already surging thanks to Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’.</span>\r\n<h4><b>New teams</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andretti Cadillac are seeking to become the 11th team on the grid from 2026. Will the sport let them in?</span>\r\n<h4><b>Mercedes</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercedes, champions eight years in a row, had a tough 2022 with a 'porpoising' car that proved hard to handle. Can they close the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari?</span>\r\n<h4><b>New deal</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year and talks on a new one have started. He will be asked about it regularly.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Speaking out</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The governing FIA has tweaked the rules on drivers making political, personal and religious statements. How will they and the stewards react?</span>\r\n<h4><b>Daniel Ricciardo</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is he gone for good from the grid or will he be back in 2024 after signing on as Red Bull reserve? This one could run and run. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)
Logan Sargeant of United States driving the (2) Williams FW45 Mercedes attends the Drivers Press Conference during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 5 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)
Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-23 on track during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the Paddock during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, 2023 in Bahrain. (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images)