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Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz has reflected on what the grid is missing during the current 2023 season. Kravitz believes the current crop of Formula 1 drivers is missing the larger-than-life personalities that the sport needs. 

Throughout F1's rich history, the grid has been graced with drivers who have been able to encapsulate the essence of the sport and the time period in which they competed.

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However, the 2023 grid appears to be lacking the same level of charismatic and flamboyant characters as previous seasons, as Sky Sports F1 reporter Kravitz alluded to in a recent episode of 'Ted’s Notebook'.

Kravitz commented:

"I must say there are two notable exceptions to F1 in 2023. We do miss their presence, and I'm talking about Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel. And you know what? I felt this on Thursday when we started, and I feel it now. I just miss those guys. They were big personalities."

Whilst Ricciardo is a reserve driver for Red Bull and may still be around, there's no denying that the sport has lost two of its larger than life characters.

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The Aussie is a multiple-time race winner and a massive contributor to the popularity of Netflix's Drive to Survive series, while 4-time world champion Vettel's more personable qualities made him a favourite of hardcore F1 fans and those not actively interested in the sport.

Kravitz suggests that if F1 is to continue to maintain its popularity, then some of these drivers need to step up and become larger than life personalities to replace the likes of Ricciardo and Vettel. 

"I'm sure they will do it. It always happens, always has happened in F1, but it's just a sign of what a great draw Danny Ric and Seb were that we do feel that we miss them."