Formula 1 Season: The End
Maya Yadlapalli, Grade 10
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Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. The sounds of 20 cars racing around the circuit and 10 teams fighting till the end to get their drivers to the top step have a magical touch to them. Every driver in this sport has one goal and one goal only: to be the best. As another year of racing ends, let’s unravel some of the best moments of the 2024 Formula 1 Season. Miracle Wins This season we got to witness 7 different drivers win across 24 races. We got to see Carlos Sainz Jr. miraculously win the Australian Grand Prix just 2 weeks after his appendicitis surgery. We got to see Lando Norris win his first-ever grand prix after almost 110 races in his Formula 1 career, changing his fan-made title from “Lando No-Wins” to “Lando One Win.” In addition, he was able to win his 2nd and 3rd Grand Prix later in the season. Home Wins We got to see Charles Leclerc break his “Monaco Curse”, winning his home grand prix, the Monaco Grand Prix for the very first time, after being knocked out of contention 5 times due to mechanical failures, poor team strategies, and unfortunate luck. He also achieved something only 3 other drivers in history have done, which is to win at both Monaco - a narrow street track known, notorious for its difficulty - and Monza, the Temple of Speed. Another home win that we got to see this season that made headlines was Lewis Hamilton’s fascinating win at his home race, the British Grand Prix. The race was particularly memorable as it marked the first victory for the seven-time world champion since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - an astonishing 56-race drought. This long-awaited triumph marked the 9-time winning streak for Lewis at his home race setting a new record for the most wins by a driver at a single Grand Prix. He also went on to win the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix later in the season because of his teammate's disqualification. Title Fight 2024 was the year for a much-awaited title fight. We witnessed a Driver Championship fight between Mclaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with Max ultimately winning the Driver’s Championship in the Las Vegas Grand Prix after finishing ahead of Lando. This was especially noteworthy because Max’s dominating season in the sport last year won the Driver’s Championship with an astonishing 19 out of 24 wins. Additionally, Lando only won his first Grand Prix this year, which made his accomplishment of being in the fight for the title truly remarkable. The 2024 season also saw a dramatic shift in the constructor’s battle as Red Bull’s early dominance faded as Ferrari and Mclaren made crucial mid-season gains. McLaren’s rapid development kept them competitive. The constructors' title fight came down to the final Grand Prix of the season between Ferrari and McLaren after Red Bull got kicked out of contention mid-season. McLaren ultimately triumphed, securing their first Constructor title since 1998, a testament to their strategy, and driver consistency. Driver Market The driver market saw significant shifts that will reshape the 2025 Formula 1 Landscape. Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated yet shocking move to Ferrari finally materialized, marking a major turning point in his career. This high-profile switch triggered a cascade of other moves such as Carlos Sainz Jr., who lost his seat to Lewis, securing a drive with Williams Racing for the 2025 season. In a surprise move, Adrian Newey the renowned design genius behind Red Bull’s success, departed to join Aston Martin, leaving questions about Red Bull’s future technical direction. Adding to the excitement, young Mercedes protége, Kimi Antonelli, stepped up from an F2 driver to join the team marking a significant step in his promising career. Retirements Along with the exciting moves, we had to suffer through some disheartening retirements this year. Daniel Ricciardo, a popular figure known for his incredible driving & jolly personality, ended his successful career after the Singapore Grand Prix. Logan Sargeant also stepped away from his sport as his mid-season replacement, Franco Colapinto, impressed fans with his adaptability and raw talent. His strong performances also earned him a role as a reserve driver for Alpine in 2025. Valtteri Bottas also parted ways with Sauber, his team, but later announced that he would be driving as a Reserve Driver for Mercedes. The 2024 Formula 1 season was nothing short of a thrilling ride. From stunning victories to intense title fights and the seismic driver moves, it had it all. With rising stars and farewells to legends, the stage is set for an exciting future. We hope and await another exciting season to come.