Earlier than we draw a line beneath 2024, we’ve compiled our favorite articles, hottest options and a recap of each race from a memorable season. Discover all of them beneath:
The most important tales
Essentially the most important developments of the yr – plus how a few of our readers reacted to them on the time:
Hamilton leaves Mercedes for Ferrari
It’s not usually the largest story of a Formulation 1 season breaks earlier than the season has even began, however arguably that was the case this yr. Lewis Hamilton rocked the paddock out of its winter slumber by confirming he had referred to as time on his astonishingly profitable 12-year stint at Mercedes.
The game’s most profitable driver of all time becoming a member of its most profitable group of all time – Ferrari – was at all times going to be large information. It additionally had apparent implications for the driving force market, although they turned out to not be as consequential as they may have been.
Though Sainz turned in one other spectacular efficiency alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, and each Pink Bull and Mercedes had vacancies to fill for 2025, neither employed him. After months of hypothesis, Sainz confirmed he’ll be a part of Williams, whereas Mercedes selected to advertise teen Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
When Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes everybody thought he was making an enormous mistake. Lewis is aware of what he’s doing.
@Flyinglapp
Pink Bull dither over Perez
Having laboured for a lot of 2023, Sergio Perez appeared to recuperate his type early this yr. However by the point Pink Bull introduced he had been given a two-year contract extension his type was already sliding once more, and it by no means recovered.
Following the British Grand Prix, Pink Bull group principal admitted the group couldn’t tolerate a repeat of Perez’s failure to attain once more. This prompted widespread hypothesis he is likely to be dropped on the summer time break, however though he solely contributed 13 factors over the following two races, he received a keep of execution.
The scenario grew to become more and more determined because the yr went on, Perez scoring simply 9 factors from the ultimate eight rounds. Plainly, the scenario had now change into insupportable, however Pink Bull confronted the extra complication that their most popular substitute for Perez – Daniel Ricciardo – had didn’t shine on his return with RB.
He was proven the door after the Singapore Grand Prix and Liam Lawson ushered in. He shortly obtained on the tempo of group mate Yuki Tsunoda and turned in a wonderful drive at the US Grand Prix. Pink Bull group principal Christian Horner quickly discovered himself going through questions whether or not Perez could be elbowed out earlier than the season ended; the axe as a substitute fell the week after.
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I’m not stunned by this information however I nonetheless reckon it’s the flawed alternative at this time limit. The final two rookies nearly ended up out of the game very quickly after being paired with Max. Any respectable driver with expertise could be a better option. Yuki, Bottas and Sainz have been all choices. I need to see Lawson have a protracted and profitable profession. Sending him to be Max’s teammate this early in his profession could effectively compromise that…
@Tommy-C
FOM’s 299-day U-turn
As 2024 started, the FIA had rubber-stamped Andretti’s software to hitch Formulation 1, and it was now as much as Formulation One Administration to present their verdict. They might hardly have been extra emphatic of their dismissal, which they introduced in January. Of their view, not solely did the group named for the 1978 world champion’s household lack recognition, however they have been unlikely to be aggressive and, in addition to, F1 didn’t want an eleventh group.
The row floor on all year long and have become more and more private. Mario Andretti claimed Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei informed his son their group would by no means be allowed in.
However, fortified by the assist of the FIA and allied to Basic Motors model Cadillac, Andretti fought their nook. They urged US lawmakers to look into the matter and at last the stability tipped. FOM confirmed its capitulation in October, although nonetheless refused to call the Andrettis because the profitable candidates.
Nice, now let Hitech in as effectively for a correct 24-car grid!
Joao
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Championship clashes
After two largely one-sided seasons, lastly F1 had a battle for the championship once more. Nevertheless Lando Norris discovered himself preventing a rearguard motion having misplaced important floor to Max Verstappen early within the yr.
When the pair met on-track, fireworks tended to observe. Norris was infuriated by his rival’s defending in Austria, which led to a collision between the pair, a penalty for Verstappen and, later, an admission from the FIA that they have been too gradual to self-discipline the Pink Bull driver.
Verstappen obtained the higher of their trade in Austin, too, the place Norris was penalised however many felt Verstappen had intentionally pressured him off and obtained away with it. McLaren made a fruitless try to vary the choice.
They clashed but once more in Mexico, and though Norris in the end completed forward, Verstappen efficiently prevented him difficult for victory in a race he might have received, costing him valuable factors. If the pair begin subsequent yr on a fair footing we might have fairly a battle on our palms.
Should you can take the penalty and acquire a bonus… it’s not truly a penalty. It’s only a discount in benefit. What must occur is that the penalties are harsh sufficient that drivers will desperately need to keep away from them, and can study to instinctively go away area for his or her opponents. Till that occurs, the penalties aren’t extreme sufficient.
Seppo (@Helava)
Sanity breaks out over monitor limits
Monitor limits have been the bane of F1 racing for therefore a few years, however in 2024 the collection lastly obtained severe about tackling the issue. Particularly, by reinstating bodily limits to tracks which by no means ought to have been eliminated or absent to start with.
The Pink Bull Ring, beforehand a infamous hassle spot, was one of many largest success tales, and the variety of monitor limits infringements in the course of the race plummeted. Silverstone, Shanghai and the Hungaroring additionally benefited from the addition of latest gravel journeys and narrower kerbs stopping drivers from gaining a bonus by operating large.
There was one conspicuous exception, nevertheless: the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Unsurprisingly, each races at the US Grand Prix weekend subsequently featured a number of rows over drivers gaining a bonus by going off the monitor. Hopefully the experiences COTA will repair its run-offs for subsequent yr show correct.
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It’s superb how these a whole lot of monitor restrict points we had final yr have immediately stopped. It’s superb what a sliver of gravel can do. Seems these drivers can keep on monitor with relative ease even when pushing.
Who knew.
BLS (@BrightLampShade)
Extra main tales
The 2024 season noticed many different main developments. Haas dropped its unique group principal Guenther Steiner and appointed Ayao Komatsu as his substitute. Additionally they efficiently lured Toyota again to F1 as a brand new technical accomplice.
If that got here as a shock, Alpine’s resolution to switch yet one more group principal was a extra routine affair: Oliver Oakes arrived instead of Bruno Famin. Extra of a shock was group proprietor Renault’s resolution to axe its F1 engine programme and as a substitute change into a buyer of Mercedes.
Nevertheless probably the most important change amongst group personnel was absolutely Adrian Newey’s departure from Pink Bull. Aston Martin pulled off a coup by beating their rivals to his signature.
Earlier than Ricciardo, Logan Sargeant was probably the most high-profile mid-season sacking, after a collection of crashes in his Williams. Ricciardo’s final act in F1 was to disclaim Norris the bonus level for quickest lap in Singapore, serving to out RB’s sister group Pink Bull, and it was absolutely no coincidence that the FIA introduced quickly afterwards the rule shall be dropped for subsequent yr.
Drama struck McLaren in Spain, the place the group’s hospitality unit caught hearth. Remarkably, the motorhome suffered extra injury in Hungary as a consequence of a storm.
There was loads of tit-for-tat between the title contenders. Norris grassed Verstappen up in Baku, to no impact, however the Pink Bull driver exacted a punishing revenge in Losail, triggering a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for his rival. Different radio feedback attracted the eye of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who urged drivers to chop out the swearing.
Lastly, Kevin Magnussen grew to become the primary F1 driver to obtain an automated one-race ban for gathering 12 penalty factors on his licence.
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Our most-read options
Listed below are a few of the options and information tales which attracted probably the most curiosity, feedback and a spotlight on social media throughout 2024:
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All 30 F1 race experiences of 2024
The primary occasions
All of our in-depth experiences on the 12 grands prix of 2024:
The sideshows
With six dash occasions, F1 held a record-breaking 30 races this yr:
Workforce radio highlights
RaceFans’ group radio transcripts introduced the complete context behind the clips performed on tv and uncovered stunning and missed new particulars about how the races unfolded:
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Social media highlights
A last number of our most-shared posts this yr:
Video: @redbullracing used the world’s quickest drone to movie @Max33Verstappen lapping a moist Silverstone of their new RB20.#F1 pic.twitter.com/453o1q2mTT
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) February 27, 2024
Most costly ticket for the 2024 Formulation 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: £30,000
Estimated sale worth of the 1964 Formulation 1 world drivers’ championship trophy received by John Surtees: £15,000#F1 pic.twitter.com/CmuVgSION0
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) March 29, 2024
NEW: Different drivers would not work as laborious as Sainz did to return after surgical procedure – Norris
Learn extra: https://t.co/f7hxIvKUVq
By Keith Collantine
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) March 26, 2024
A weird second in at present’s IndyCar race at Barber Motorsport Park when a model put in beneath a bridge as a trackside function fell onto the monitor and surprisingly didn’t set off a warning interval regardless of being hit by a automobile.#IndyCar pic.twitter.com/P1R97e6meD
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) April 28, 2024
With @Carlossainz55 and @alex_albon of their automobiles subsequent yr, @WilliamsRacing will not have to fret about both of their drivers lacking races to have their appendixes out.#F1 #RaceFans pic.twitter.com/7wIQCD5JPT
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) July 29, 2024
Ferrari has introduced it’ll cut up from sponsor Santander on the finish of the yr, concluding their three-year deal. They have been beforehand sponsored by the financial institution from 2010 to 2017 as effectively.#F1 #ItalianGP #RaceFans pic.twitter.com/MvHoFNMIz7
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) August 30, 2024
RB have already up to date their residence web page with Riccairdo’s substitute.#F1 #RaceFans pic.twitter.com/LiIBz0ccJ2
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) September 26, 2024
NEW: Hamilton could be an eight-time champion if Whiting was nonetheless alive – Steiner
Learn extra: https://t.co/8OrUZv6txV
By Keith Collantine
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) September 29, 2024
Sauber have employed former Ferrari strategist Inaki Rueda as sporting director and Giampaolo Dall’Ara as head of race engineering. Beat Zehnder will change into director of signature applications and operations subsequent yr. #F1 pic.twitter.com/RPd6ka9HhT
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) October 30, 2024
Sergio Perez’s “I am not leaving” tweet from September now has a group be aware beneath it.#F1 pic.twitter.com/DtalrXA1M6
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) December 18, 2024
Two-times world rally champion Carlos Sainz joined his son, four-times grand prix winner Carlos Sainz Jnr, to say farewell to Ferrari at Fiorano.
The 62-year-old joined his son in driving a 2022-specification F1-75 across the group’s check monitor.#F1 pic.twitter.com/LHLKwCZDAC
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) December 17, 2024
Over to you
What have been your favorite moments from the 2024 F1 season? Have your say within the feedback.
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