Xexo F1
2022 season

7.1.2023

Verstappen did indeed win but there was no arguing with it (apart from Red Bull cheating and breaking the budget cap), Adrian Newey designed yet another blinding car. Ferrari were on the money at the beginning of the year and competitive for 1/2 or 2/3 of the season. But, as ever, they threw it all away with a combination of driver errors and strategic incompetence.

Mercedes believe that they have a car that is fundamentally fast, they just can't work out how to set it up and unlock the pace. It was catastrophic at the beginning of the season. They were in amongst the midfield and at times the car was basically undrivable. But they worked at it and by the end of the season they were competitive and had a strong end. They're still not quite with Red Bull as RB works on a wider variety of tracks. But they're knocking on the door.

As for driver performance, I still think that Lewis is the fastest over a season, but George is proper quick. At the beginning of the year Lewis had rubbish luck with the safety car timing that wrecked two or three races. But more importantly, Mercedes were trying all sorts of ideas to try and work out their car, and Lewis took on the more radical set ups whilst George did his best with more conservative settings. As the car became more competitive Lewis generally outperformed George. Nonetheless, if Lewis is going to win an eighth title on the coming season(s) he's going to have to fight for it. George is no Bottas.

Verstappen kept his nose (mostly) clean, basically because he was way out front and there was no one challenging him. But there were still a few flashes and if Mercedes bring a competitive car I think that you'll see the petulant child return.

I'm looking forward to the 2023 season, it has lots of potential. But it all depends on Mercedes' winter development. We'll find out at the first test.

MG 7.1.2023

Vietnam Grand Prix

As Vietnam's economic growth increases (Reuters 29.12.22 said Vietnam's economy grew 8.02% in 2022) and given it's size with twice as many people in Hanoi alone than Singapore, which hosts the F1 race on 15,16,17 September 2023, we are anticipating the global Vietnamese Vingroup overcoming historic political and pandemic problems to put the new F1 track in Hanoi back onto the Formula 1 calendar.

With Vingroup's impressive range of Vinfast EVs, sold globally and Vinfast's state-of-the-art scalable automotive manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam we see Formula 1 as a natural partner for Vinfast. Xexo has demonstrated its commitment to Vinfast in taking delivery of Vinfast luxury EVs and we extend similar support to our other partners in the Vietnamese luxury sector.