Even Max Verstappen hopes the 2023 Formula One season is more competitive after ending 2022 in typically-dominant style

With 15 wins from 22 races, there is no doubt that the title belongs to the Dutchman after he won his maiden world crown in highly-controversial fashion at the Yas Marina Circuit 12 months earlier.

He took pole in Saturday's qualifying and went on to finish over eight seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. The manner of Verstappen's dominance has only previously been replicated by the likes of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel - who hold 18 world titles between them.

Verstappen's incredible margin of victory in the drivers' championship seemed unimaginable in the early weeks of the season.

Ferrari looked as if they were finally on course to end their 15-year wait for a world championship as Leclerc led Verstappen by 46 points after winning in two of the first three races.

The Dutchman had been forced to retire from both of the early events won by Leclerc but things soon began to unravel for the most successful team in Formula One history.

Leclerc spun off the track at Emilia-Romagna as he chased Verstappen and ended the race in sixth. In Spain and Baku, the Monaco-born driver was leading by over 10 seconds when his engine failed - leaving his title rival to clinch victory on both occasions.

There was Leclerc's crash in France which seemed to end any doubts over who would be champion as Verstappen gained enough points to win his second title with four races to go.

As much as Ferrari will look back on reliability issues, driver errors and poor strategy calls when reflecting on their own campaign - such was Verstappen's pace in the dominant RB18 that any other team and driver would have needed to be faultless from the first to last lap of the season to beat him.

A three-way battle for the title could be on the cards as Mercedes look to close the gap to Ferrari and Red Bull. George Russell claimed the team's only win of the season in a thrilling race in Brazil last weekend.

The eight-times constructors champions’ W13 was well off the pace but they clawed back lap time as the season wore on before showing enough progress to clinch victory in Interlagos. Team principal Toto Wolff defined the season as "character-building" for Mercedes and after their thrilling title fight with Red Bull in 2021 - there is hope for more gripping battles in 2023.

"First of all, we're gonna put these cars in reception at Brackley and in Brixworth to remind us every single day how difficult it can be," said Wolff.

"But thank you everyone, this is a character-building season. Not a blip for a race but a full season.

"You keep pushing so hard, the engine came along really well and I'm proud of what we achieved there. On the chassis side there were more bad moments than good ones but the good ones were spectacular like a week ago.

"It made us feel how good it can be and now we're just pushing forward for next year. It's raw, it's bad and it's okay to feel like this but next year we are back."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner still believes it will take something special to beat the reigning champion. He said: “I think Max is operating at a level that I'm not sure anybody – with the way he's driving at the moment – in the same equipment would be able to repeat what he's done this year.”

There are plenty of interesting storylines further down the grid with a host of new drivers joining the line-up next season. Fernando Alonso will replace the retiring Vettel at Aston Martin as Pierre Gasly makes the move to Alpine. Rookies Oscar Piastri, Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant have joined McLaren, Alpha Tauri and Williams respectively.

With plenty of plots to keep an eye on – most will be hoping an intriguing one develops at the front.