Relive the most thrilling moments of the 2024 F1 season, featuring dramatic debuts, historic wins, and unforgettable triumphs.
2024 F1 Season: A Year to Remember
The 2024 F1 season delivered on every front, captivating fans with thrilling races, unexpected twists, and history-making moments.
From stunning rookie performances to record-breaking achievements by seasoned veterans, this season showcased the sheer unpredictability and drama that define Formula 1.
McLaren’s resurgence, Ferrari’s redemption, and standout performances from underdog teams added to the allure of a year packed with unforgettable highlights.
As the drivers and teams navigated challenges on and off the track, they produced moments that will be forever etched in the journals of F1 history.
Whether it was Lewis Hamilton’s historic triumph at Silverstone, Charles Leclerc’s long-awaited home victory in Monaco, or Oscar Piastri’s gritty maiden win, the 2024 F1 season was an absolute spectacle from start to finish.
Read on as we dive into the top moments of this remarkable year in motorsport.
Points on an Abrupt Debut in Rosso Corsa
After Carlos Sainz was diagnosed with appendicitis halfway through the Saudia Arabian Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari called up their reserve driver to step up.
Oliver – better known as Ollie – Bearman was appointed as Ferrari reserve driver in January 2024, sharing the role with Robert Shwartzman and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Bearman was the one who was abruptly called up to drive in Sainz’s place. The Spaniard had already participated in Free Practice 1 and 2 but was unable to run from Saturday onwards.
Bearman who was already in Saudi Arabia for the FIA Formula 2 championship race at the circuit had to put a hold on his PREMA obligations to compete for Ferrari.
In FP3, the then 18-year-old set the 10th fastest time. Later that day, he qualified P11, for his first Grand Prix.
Come race day, the Ferrari Academy driver displayed impressive pace, made bold overtakes and finished his debut a commendable P7 on the grid. He also set the fifth fastest time of the race.
In the other Ferrari was Charles Leclerc in P4, who may one day be Bearman’s teammate should the stars align for the Scuderia.
Bearman’s debut was so impressive that a few months later, Haas announced the Brit as part of the driver lineup for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
He then made an early debut with Haas in September at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He took the place of Kevinn Magnussen who was serving a race ban, and earned his second points finish in just two outings.
Bearman crossed the finish line in Baku in P10, one place above the other Haas of Nico Hulkenberg.
A Ferrari One-Two to Break the Red Bull Dominance
Max Verstappen went into the 2024 Australian Grand Prix chasing his record of 10 race wins in a row. However, a right rear brake issue saw the Dutchman retire after just three laps.
The Ferrari drivers capitalised on the reigning world champion’s woes. On the second lap, Sainz overtook Verstappen for the lead.
The Dutchman kept dropping down the order before eventually retiring.
Later in the race, Leclerc undercut Norris to take P2 behind his teammate. The Monagasque chased down the Spaniard for the remainder of the race.
His charge was however put to a halt as George Russell crashed in the final lap. The race ended under the Safety Car.
Sainz and Leclerc maintained the one-two in that order, with the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri taking third and fourth, just ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
This was the first of two on-two Ferrari finishes in the 2024 F1 season.
A First for China
In 2023, Zhou Guanyu made history by becoming the first Chinese Grand Prix to compete in a Formula 1 season.
In 2024, Zhou became the first Chinese driver to take part in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Unfortunately for the Shanghai hero, the C44 was an undrivable package.
With an uncompetitive Sauber, Zhou could only qualify in 16th, before seeing the chequered flag in P14.
Fortunately, though, the sprint race saw the Sauber driver start in P10, and finish in P9. For sprint races, however, points are awarded only to the top 8 finishers.
Nonetheless, for Zhou to compete at the Chinese GP was a momentous occasion in itself. He made history, and the home crowd adored him.
To honour his achievement, Zhou was given a celebratory parking spot. He also shared an emotional moment with the fans in Shanghai.
Maiden Grand Prix victory
The Miami Grand Prix shifted the momentum of the 2024 F1 season completely. It was the first weekend of the season where Red Bull weren’t the fastest team on the grid.
McLaren instead emerged as the fastest, having made grounds in the previous rounds.
On race day, Norris made up for a disappointing DNF at the sprint. Starting the race in P5, he extended his first stint 6 laps longer than Verstappen.
On Lap 29, Norris made his first and final pit stop of the race for Hards under the Safety Car. The Brit maintained the lead when he exited the pit lane and led every lap until the chequered flag.
Behind him, Verstappen couldn’t match the McLaren’s pace.
And just like that, Norris was a Grand Prix winner for the first time ever.
The victory put him in title fight talks for the remainder of the season.
The Curse is Lifted
After a bout of upgrades saw Leclerc step on the third step of the podium, Monaco is where Ferrari truly reaped the benefits of the progress.
The Monagasque topped the timing sheets in FP2 and FP3 and took his third Monaco pole position on Saturday afternoon.
The home hero had experienced years of bad luck in his years of racing around the streets of Monte Carlo. Even in his Formula 2 days.
Therefore, as chaos unfolded behind him, it felt miraculous to see Leclerc lead at the front, completely unscathed.
His teammate behind him had a puncture from contact with Piastri. The Alpine teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were involved in an incident, whilst Perez had a nasty collision with the Haas’ of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
All drivers were unharmed, although Ocon, Perez and both Haas drivers had to retire.
The race was red-flagged as a result of the incidents.
After changing tyres during the red flag, Leclerc did not pit for the rest of the race. The Ferrari driver went on to maintain his lead following the restart.
In what was a dull race with the sole focus being on tyre management, history was made as the top 10 stayed unchanged for the first time in F1’s history.
The spotlight was on Leclerc though, who for the first time in his F1 career, won his home race, the Monaco Grand Prix.
Monaco finally loved him back.
READ MORE: Charles Leclerc’s Monaco Curse in Detail
Perfect Timing
Mercedes ended their win drought at the Austrian Grand Prix. There, Russell proved that being at the right place at the right time can be very valuable in a sport as precise as F1.
After battling for the race win from lights out, Norris and Verstappen eventually collided. Verstappen got a puncture, dropping him to P5, which is where he finished the race. Norris meanwhile retired from the race.
Russell was running in P3 when the two collided, immediately inheriting the lead of the race, and eventually, the win.
Hamilton also gained from the incident, with the soon-to-be Ferrari driver crossing the line in P4.
Russell’s win marked the end of a drought for the Silver Arrows who, prior to Austria, last won at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. It was a result that looked more than impossible at the start of the 2024 F1 season.
A Historic Win in Silverstone
Mercedes locked out the front row at the next round, with their drivers starting off their home Grand Prix on a high.
Russell and Hamilton maintained P1 and P2 respectively. But on Lap 18, the seven-time world champion made a move on his teammate, successfully getting past him.
Overtakes were risky at this point of the race as slight drizzles had dampened the track, and all the drivers were still running on slicks.
As a result, Hamilton and Russell went wide and into the run-off area at Turn 1 on the next lap. Both eventually conceded positions to Norris, and then Piastri.
McLaren had made it clear back in Miami that they had the fastest car on the grid. Therefore, in Silverstone, they looked like the likely winners of this race.
However, when Hamilton made the call to box for slicks, McLaren stayed out for another lap. This was a costly decision for McLaren who were on the unfavourable tyres much longer.
When Norris pitted, he came out just behind Hamilton who as a result took the lead of the race.
Hamilton maintained his lead well. And on a race where he proved to be the fastest man on the track, he crossed the finish line at the end of the Hamilton Straight first.
945 days after his last win – the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP – Hamilton won the British Grand Prix for the ninth time in his career.
Hamilton made history that day, becoming the first driver to win on a single circuit nine times. He also broke the record for most F1 wins previously held by himself, raising the bar to 104.
Two races later, he made it 105 at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Aussie Grit
McLaren were the next team to lock out the front row, with Norris and Piastri starting the Hungarian GP in first and second respectively.
Norris, who was trying to prove himself as a worthy title contender against the then three-time world champion Verstappen was expected to win the race. However, that all went out the window when the race started.
Piastri took the lead from his teammate who had made a habit of having poor starts whenever he started from pole. Norris also lost a position to Verstappen who eventually had to give the place back to the Brit for an off-track overtake.
Piastri meanwhile kept a cool head throughout the race as he led the pack. The Aussie lapped impressive times as he set out to win his first Grand Prix race.
However, McLaren made the controversial decision to pit Norris first, essentially undercutting his teammate. As expected, when Piastri eventually pitted, he came out behind Norris.
McLaren spent the remainder of the race urging Norris to swap places with his teammate. Norris was reluctant, whilst the Australian behind him made no fuss about the situation.
Piastri, who had driven a brilliant race from the race start was eventually let through by Norris on Lap 68 of 70.
McLaren got their first one-two since the 2021 Italian GP. Hamilton was P3, making history by becoming the first F1 driver to record 200 podiums.
Piastri drove a race to be proud of. However, his maiden Grand Prix win was marred with controversy.
Nonetheless, it was a momentous occasion for the Australian. The promising talent became a race winner in just his second season in the sport. He went on to win a second race a few rounds later.
In Hungary, Piastri became the seventh different race winner of the season, continuously marking the 2024 F1 season as an all-timer.
‘He Wins in Monza!’
Leclerc’s win in Monza was reminiscent of his first win at the Temple of Speed when he triumphed over the faster Mercedes’. That was back in 2019 when David Croft famously said “He wins in Spa, he wins in Monza.’
This time around in 2024, Leclerc once again triumphed over a faster team – McLaren.
The front runners – were running a two-stop race.
Ferrari, who weren’t front runners that day made a bold strategic choice. They chose to extend their first stint and avoid a second pit stop.
This unexpectedly turned Leclerc into a contender for the race win towards the end of the race. The SF24 was kinder to its tyres this 2024 F1 season in comparison to its predecessors. And the race in Monza was a true testament to that progress.
The McLarens were hot on Leclerc’s tail having already dispatched Sainz. However, it was the Monagasque that took the chequered flag first.
Leclerc won Ferrari their home race, marking Ferrari’s first Monza win since that famous 2019 Grand Prix.
Points for the Rookies
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it wasn’t just the brilliant racing between Piastri and Leclerc that made the street race memorable.
Somewhat behind the Australian and the Monagasue were two rookies who made a great impression on the demanding circuit.
Franco Colapinto faced the streets of the Land of Fire in what was only his second race of the season. The Argentine had been abruptly called up just ahead of the previous round in Monza to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the season.
While his debut was impressive, his finishing points in Baku were even better. He qualified P9 but started and finished the race in P8. His points finish marked the first time in the 2024 F1 season that Williams scored double points.
Bearman was the other rookie that made an impression in Azerbaijan.
Bearman made his Grand Prix debut for Haas who had earlier announced him as part of their driver lineup for 2025 alongside Esteban Ocon.
The Brit as P11 in qualifying, but started and finished the race in P10.
This result paired with his earlier Ferrari debut in Saudi Arabia marked a historical moment for the 19-year-old. Bearman became the first Formula 1 driver to score points for two different teams in his first two Grand Prix starts.
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A Charging Bull and the French Renaissance
The Brazilian Grand Prix was a race where Verstappen proved his worth for the Drivers’ championship title.
He set the 12th fastest lap in qualifying for the main race. However, he was faced with a 5-place grid penalty for using an additional power unit element, pushing him down to P17.
With the 2024 F1 season being nothing like the 2023 season, Verstappen was not necessarily expected to charge through the field in dominant style.
However, that’s exactly what he did. By Lap 12, the Dutchman was up to sixth.
On what was a very wet race – and weekend – the red flag played perfectly into Verstappen and Alpine’s hands.
The two Alpine drivers and Verstappen made their pit stops during the red flag, jumping the net leaders, Norris and Russell.
Ocon maintained the lead at the restart, but another Safety Car period saw the Dutchman take the lead from Ocon at the next restart.
Verstappen went on to win the race, with Ocon and Piere Gasly rounding off the podium.
The 2024 Sao Paulo GP became the third race to be won from P17, whilst Ocon and Gasly’s double podium was Alpine’s first of the season. It was also the first podium for both Alpine and a Renault-powered car since the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
It was an unexpected result for the three of them, giving Formula 1 a spectacular end to an extraordinarily long weekend.
‘Viva Las Vegas!’
After a very disappointing weekend in Brazil, Mercedes bounced back in Las Vegas.
The 2024 Las Vegas saw the Silver Arrows thrive in the cold desert conditions on a circuit with long straights galore – Mercedes heaven.
Mercedes topped every session that weekend from Free Practice 1 to the race, with Russell taking his second win of the season in dominant fashion.
In the other Mercedes, Hamilton had a strong weekend, only suffering a setback in qualifying where he could only manage a P10. He went on to drive an incredible recovery race, finishing just behind his teammate.
Sainz rounded off the podium, with Leclerc in P4 in what was a tension-filled race for the Scuderia.
No one could challenge Mercedes that weekend, as they were in a league of their own. That one-two finish marked their 60th in the team’s history, and their first since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Behind them, another man had reason to celebrate.
Verstappen, although not having the best race of his career managed to seal the Drivers’ championship title. His P5 finish ahead of Norris’ P6 was enough to grant the Dutchman the luxury of being crowned a four-time champion of the world.
Zoints!
Sauber’s 2024 was a long and never-ending season. On top of having the slowest car on the grid, the Swiss team also had their races further troubled by horrifyingly slow pitstops.
Las Vegas marked the 22nd round of the 24-round season.
Sauber had registered zero points up till that point. Therefore, it was expected that they would end their 2024 season without points.
However, the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix was a momentous one for the Swiss team.
Zhou Guanyu who started the race in P12 went on to cross the line in P8, bringing home four points!
Sauber ended their season with just those four points, making Zhou’s efforts even more special.
Farewells galore
The 2024 Abu Dhabi saw multiple drivers say goodbye to either the sport or the teams they had called home for years.
Zhou, Colapinto, Liam Lawson Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen all bid their goodbyes to the sport at the chequered flag. While Zhou and Bottas may well see themselves returning to F1, Magnussen has retired from the sport for good.
The Dane is part of BMW’s roster for the next season. BMW M Motorsport recently announced that he will race in its LMDh programme starting in 2025.
Whether the Dane will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and/or the IMSA SportsCar Championship is yet to be revealed.
Zhou has been linked to Ferrari for a possible reserve driver role as well as a Cadillac 2026 seat according to reports.
Colapinto who impressed in his debut for Williams this year is also on the lookout for a 2026 seat, should a 2025 option be out of the cards.
Lawson is awaiting Red Bull’s decision on who will take the second seat at Red Bull and subsequently, the second Racing Bulls seat for 2025.
Bottas meanwhile is allegedly set to return to Mercedes as a reserve driver. Should he return to the Silver Arrows family, he may compete in WEC given that Mercedes will be joining the elite series in 2025.
There are also drivers who will be switching teams for the 2025 season.
Ocon and Sainz have already joined Haas and Williams respectively.
The biggest move of the year however is that of Mercedes and Formula 1 legend, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton gave the drive of a champion in Abu Dhabi, crossing the line in P4 after starting in P16.
The Brit is currently finalising his farewell tour with Mercedes, before officially joining Ferrari on January 1, 2025.
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