Formula 1: The outright second-best team will be clear soon

As we move further into the 2023 Formula 1 season, the best team behind Red Bull could become clear in the not-too-distant future.

Despite still being in the early stages of the 2023 Formula 1 season, it is blatantly clear that no team is capable of competing with Red Bull.

However, the fight for second in the constructor standings is still tight, for now. But the team that will be in full control of second place could be known quite soon.

We currently have a fierce battle between Aston Martin and Mercedes. That could very well change in the next few races.

The reasoning behind such a distinction is the fact that this is the portion of the season when teams begin to add more impactful upgrades to their cars, which usually makes quite the difference.

As things stand, Mercedes and Ferrari are taking over the headlines regarding the upgrades they are planning to debut at Imola this coming weekend.

Both teams believe their upgrades should close the gap between themselves and Red Bull, and with that should come many more battles for a spot on the podium.

As a result, the battle for second place could turn into a three-team battle between Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari, and the eventual winner of this battle should actually become clear going into the next few races.

In addition to the upgrades that will improve the cars, the execution aspect is what will be a difference maker in setting these three teams apart.

One thing that could put Aston Martin behind Mercedes is not having both drivers performing at a similar level. Fernando Alonso has been one of the top drivers at each race this season. Teammate Lance Stroll started off strong, but he has dropped off to an extent. That has allowed Mercedes to close the gap to Aston Martin in the standings, despite the W14 lacking in performance compared to the AMR23.

Performance will be tough to forecast for these teams bringing in rather major upgrades. However, the way Mercedes operate in terms of teamwork, reliability, and strategy also differs from Ferrari. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton choosing to prioritize the success of the team as a whole is something that will give Mercedes the edge here as well.

There is a good chance that after Mercedes implement their upgrade package at Imola, they will surprise many and take control of second place in the constructor battle going forward. The team’s immense experience in such high stakes situations will help them to devise a strategy to give them a leg up in this battle.