Besides winning the World Drivers’ Championship (WDC), most F1 drivers only have one podium that they want to stand on more than any other: their home races. At their home races, they typically compete in front of every family member and friend that they have ever made, and the entire country is routing for them. Very few of this season’s drivers have landed a win in their home country, but they will all fight to the death for their victory.
Read: ‘Formula One Schedule and Exciting Locations‘ for the full 2023 schedule and track descriptions
Australian Grand Prix
The third race of the 2023 season is going to be in Melbourne, Australia. While Australian fans are accustomed to cheering on former (sad face) driver Daniel Ricciardo, this year they will be cheering for the latest F1 rookie, Oscar Piastri. So far in his formula racing career Oscar has made his home country proud with championship victories in several formula series, but it will be the cherry on top if he can land on the podium or even within the top ten this season. Unfortunately, a win for the rookie McLaren driver is slightly outside of the realm of possibility, but I have learned to never count someone out when they want to win more than anything.
United States Grand Prix (Miami)
This home race belongs to another rookie! Logan Sargeant is the latest addition to the Williams Racing team, and he will be the first American to race in the Miami Grand Prix. To make matters even more special for the young driver, Miami is approximately one hour from Fort Lauderdale where Sargeant was born and raised.
While Sargeant will be racing in two more American Grand Prix (in Austin, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada), this is easily the weekend that he considers to be his home race. After finishing 12th in the Bahrain Grand Prix, it is entirely possible for the American rookie to finish in the points in this thrilling competition, so every American is insanely excited.
Monaco Grand Prix
I told a slight fib earlier. Most drivers want to win their home races more than anything, but the Monaco Grand Prix may edge it out for many. This race is the highlight of the F1 season and is heavily regarded as one of the most popular and famous sporting events in the world. The drivers race through the streets of Monte Carlo in the morning and party on various celebrity’s yachts in the evening, so there is no shortage of flash and fortune. This makes the Monaco Grand Prix an essential win for Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
The Ferrari driver has yet to accomplish a win in his home races, and he appears to be hunting for it. After the mechanical failures that occurred in the 2022 Grand Prix, it is certain that Charles will give this race everything that he possibly can, and he will have the entirety of Monaco supporting him.
Spain Grand Prix
The first Grand Prix of the season with two drivers fighting for a home country victory! Even more than that, both drivers that have won races before and are competing with two of the best teams in the paddock. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari make up the Spanish driving pair.
After finishing 3rd and 4th in the Bahrain Grand Prix, it is clear to see that both drivers are capable of achieving a podium finish, so I think this will be one of my favorite home races of the season. Fernando has won his home Grand Prix twice in the past, so I do think that I may pull slightly for Carlos. It would be absolutely incredible to see either driver win though!
Canada Grand Prix
There will be back-to-back home Grand Prix for Aston Martin this season as Lance Stroll is Canada’s only Formula One driver. For the first time in his career, Stroll appears to be in full control of his car and may have a fighting chance to make podium in his home country for the first time. The Canada Grand Prix will see its fair share of competitive driving from Lance Stroll, and it will be amazing to see the progress that he has made especially with his previously broken hands.
Great Britain Grand Prix
This will be the largest competition for home-country victory in the 2023 season. Both Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, along with McLaren driver Lando Norris are from Great Britain.
Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time world champion, and he has won at Silverstone eight times over his career. It is safe to say that I will never count Lewis out of contention for a race, but so far this does not seem to be Mercedes’ season. McLaren also has been struggling in particular, but I am hoping that they will be able to correct their issues so Lando can have a strong finish in his home country. Of the three drivers, I see George as having the highest probability of a podium finish this season, but you truly never know.
Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch Grand Prix had been written off of the F1 schedule for nearly four decades, but with the rise of Max Verstappen came a significant amount of Dutch fans. Due to its long time away, the last driver to win in Netherlands before it was re-added to the schedule was legendary driver Niki Lauda in 1985.
Joining Lauda as a Dutch Grand Prix victor was two-time world champion Max Verstappen who has won his home races two years in a row. It is safe to say that my projected winner for the 2023 Grand Prix is Max, although it will be interesting to see where the rookie Dutch driver Nyck De Vries finishing in the standings. Following a top ten finish for Williams last year as a reserve driver, De Vries has been highly anticipated, so I am excited to see how he contends in the race.
Japan Grand Prix
Yuki Tsunoda is currently a great source of pride for Japan. He is the only Japanese driver on the grid, and the fanfare never fails to amaze him when they arrive in Suzuka. Although Tsunoda has traditionally had difficulties in his home country, I feel that both Yuki and Alpha Tauri are on an upward trend. Finishing just outside of the points in 11th for the Bahrain grand Prix was an amazing start to the season for the Yuki and his team, but I know that he will be pushing the car to its limits to break the top ten in his home country.
Mexico Grand Prix
This is the final home race of the 2023 season, and it belongs to Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez of Red Bull. Checo is one of only two Mexican drivers to ever win a race in F1, but he has yet to stand on top of the podium in Mexico. For the past two years, the podium has looked the exact same with Max Verstappen in P1, Lewis Hamilton in 2nd, and Checo coming in 3rd place. Although this is not the final result that he wants in his home races, it does give a lot of hope for his potential in the upcoming Grand Prix.
Drivers Without Home Races in 2023
Notable absences from this years Formula One schedule include several drivers home countries. The French Grand Prix will not be held this year despite the French team Alpine having two French drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. Additionally, there will not be a German Grand Prix this year which will be a loss for Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.
It may just be an overwhelming sense of patriotism, but the idea of winning a Grand Prix in your own country sounds so thrilling to me. I truly wish each and every one of these drivers the best in their pursuit of the podium, and I will more than likely be rooting for a different driver every weekend based on this. There will be a large selection of home races for the drivers this season, so stick around to see how they all perform!
