In 2024, Formula 1 showed that unpredictability is back. It was an up and down with many twists and turns – but with a well-known world champion.
Bahrain (1st race – beginning of March): Absolute Red Bull dominance
The 2024 season starts in Bahrain as it ended in 2023: Red Bull – and then nothing for a long time. The pure dominance of the world champion team is reflected in the sober results after the opening weekend: pole position, fastest lap and race victory go to world champion Max Verstappen. Teammate Sergio Perez comes in second, but is over 22 seconds behind. A show of force from Verstappen in a superior car. And a sign of boredom?
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix
Melbourne (3rd race – end of March): Special Ferrari double victory
Verstappen is also on pole in the third race of the season and is considered the favorite, but has to park his car on the third lap due to a defective brake disc. The beneficiary will be Ferrari, which had slightly moved up to Red Bull over time and is celebrating a very special double victory after a memorable weekend in Australia: Just a few days before the race weekend, Carlos Sainz Jr. underwent an appendix operation, traveled to Melbourne in ailing condition wins ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. A sign of life in the truest sense of the word.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz holds up his trophy on the winner’s podium
Miami (6th race – beginning of May): Norris celebrates his first career success
It took a long time, but in Miami a dream came true for Lando Norris. The Brit, who has come second 80 times in recent years, wins his first ever Formula 1 race on the spectacular circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium. And in an impressive manner: Norris drives from fifth place on the grid to first place in the McLaren and dominates the field at will at the end of the race. Verstappen (2) and Leclerc (3) complete the podium. The field is getting closer together. Red Bull’s dominance appears to be broken.
Mc Laren’s Lando Norris celebrates winning the Miami Grand Prix
Monte Carlo (8th race – end of May): Leclerc defeats Monaco curse
It seemed like magic for Charles Leclerc and the race in his homeland: The Monegasque was on pole position in Monaco in 2021 and 2022, which was half the battle for winning the race on a track where it is virtually impossible to overtake applies. Nevertheless, it took until May 26, 2024: After many unfortunate races in recent years, Leclerc can hold the winner’s trophy in his hands for the first time. Ferrari teammate Sainz completed a strong team result in third place, proving that Ferrari is still a force to be reckoned with. Also because Red Bull is slowly but surely getting into problems – Verstappen only finishes sixth.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc celebrates winning the Monaco Grand Prix on the podium
Spielberg (11th race – end of June): World Championship battle is picking up speed
Shortly before the summer break it is clear: the balance of power has shifted. Red Bull has lost “mastermind” Adrian Newey, the most important person for the development of the car, Perez is far behind expectations and the competition has not only managed to close the big gap, but also to gain a lead. The new force to beat is McLaren. If it weren’t for the exceptional talent Verstappen:
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris next to each other on the track in Spielberg
The Dutchman managed to drive a weaker car to a sprint victory in Austria and put it on pole. But McLaren dominates in the race. Norris chases Verstappen for laps, who defends himself with all his might – until a collision occurs. The end of the story: Norris is eliminated, Verstappen saves a fifth place and the previously very intact relationship between the two World Cup opponents is beginning to crack. By the way, George Russell wins in the Mercedes – making it clear: There are now four teams with cars capable of winning. Formula 1 is unpredictable again.
Silverstone (12th race – beginning of July): Hamilton can still do it
This unpredictability of Formula 1 is also evident in Silverstone a week later – once again a Mercedes will win the race in the end. But this time it’s Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton. And it is a special success. Because the former dominator, who has already won seven world titles, is celebrating his first race victory at home since 2021. Remarkable: Red Bull is still inferior to the competition, but Verstappen manages to get the most out of it: P2 in Great Britain, teammate Perez will be 17th – his last podium should be the one in China in mid-April. A declaration of bankruptcy.
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton holds up the Great Britain flag after winning at Silverstone
Budapest (12th race – end of July): McLaren dominates and irritates
During the course of the race, Norris returned to first place thanks to a pit strategy in which McLaren was forced to disadvantage Piastri. Until the team orders to let his teammate pass again. It will be a triumphant double victory for a team that has the best car and two highly talented drivers – but may deprive itself of a world championship chance due to a lack of hierarchy.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the track in Budapest
Sao Paulo (20th race – beginning of November): Rain King Verstappen
Norris’ race to catch up in late summer and autumn means that Verstappen has to tremble again. On a rainy weekend in Sao Paulo, everything is ready: The Brit wins the sprint and takes pole in a spectacular qualifying, while Verstappen starts the race from position 17 after poor timing in qualifying and a grid penalty.
Max Verstappen celebrates winning the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
In a chaotic race, Norris had problems early on, Verstappen gained position by position. The old Formula 1 rule applies: the rain makes the cars (more or less) equal. In the end, Verstappen wins clearly, partly due to safety car luck. The World Championship can hardly be taken away from him, and a week later he makes it perfect in Las Vegas. Norris ended up second, but won the constructors’ world championship with McLaren – just ahead of Ferrari.