Seven months into 2024 and 14 grands prix into a 24-race run, we can verify one thing about this season: It’s a banger.
Not very long ago, Red Bull and Max Verstappen were predicted to maintain their supremacy, having won all but one race in 2023, and Verstappen all but three. But that idea has been disproved by the rise of McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, making this season an exciting race.
Now that summer vacation has arrived, it is a good idea for everyone to take a moment to relax. Thus, before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi, we at The Athletic have gathered our opinions about what we have seen thus far and what we hope to see.
— Luke Smith, Madeline Coleman, Patrick Iversen and Alex Davies
The best driver
Luke Smith: Although Verstappen is not as good as he once was, he is still my favorite driver so far this year. His early-season performances were characteristically Verstappen, and even if the Red Bull car has recently underperformed, he has stayed at the front and kept expanding his advantage in points. It is evidence of his reliability and skill and the reason he is still the F1 driver to beat.
Alex Davies: Oscar Piastri is what my heart says, but the numbers (and Luke) suggest Verstappen. Although he has only managed one victory and four podium finishes in 2024, his growth in just one and a half F1 seasons has amazed me to the extent that he has diminished both himself and Lando Norris’ status as the top driver. McLaren has one of the most balanced pairings on the grid to go with the strongest, and that is a tribute to the young Australian. Even with the complexities of his primary victory in Hungary, his composed manner persisted, and it will undoubtedly continue for many more.
Oscar Piastri has made quite the statement in his second season. (BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Madeline Coleman: This sounds a little like an echo. As Luke says, it should come as no surprise that Verstappen is the best driver of the year so far. His consistency is unparalleled, and the Dutchman remains competitive at the front even in the absence of a dominant car such as the so-called “unicorn year” of 2023, according to Christian Horner.
Iversen Patrick: It is entertaining to have to consider this query once more. Huge congratulations to Piastri, who in my opinion has been the most reliable top driver who is not Verstappen. However, I concur with our writers that Verstappen continues to be the best in the field. Verstappen has eight pole positions and nine podiums from 14 races. It is not necessary for him to win every race in order to easily win the drivers’ championship (he leads by 78 points) and maintain Red Bull’s top spot in the constructors’ standings. He is the world’s greatest driver.
The best race
Coleman: I thought the British Grand Prix was pretty good, but I think my favorite race of the year so far is the Australian Grand Prix. Due to appendicitis, Carlos Sainz was unable to compete in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and was uncertain about his ability to compete when he arrived in Australia from Europe. However, the Ferrari driver triumphed in Australia sixteen days after surgery.
Davies: George Russell’s post-race disqualification dampened the festivities, but not to the point where I am not picking the Belgian Grand Prix. You can not beat it for storytelling, although it was not as competitive at the finish as Silverstone. Drama could be seen almost everywhere: Verstappen attempting to break through the field, Sergio Pérez losing ground while trying to salvage his career, general apprehension about the drivers’ market on the eve of the summer break, and Russell, with some strategic skill and tire whispering, managing to pull off a (temporary) victory.
Smith: So many options this year compared to last! However, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone is my personal favorite. There were several leaders, varying weather patterns, some intense on-track clashes, and a fierce finish line struggle. That race seemed like it might have gone to any of the five drivers; it was Formula One at its best.
Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious at a thrilling edition of the British Grand Prix. (BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Smith: So many options this year compared to last! However, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone is my personal favorite. There were several leaders, varying weather patterns, some intense on-track clashes, and a fierce finish line struggle. That race seemed like it might have gone to any of the five drivers; it was Formula One at its best.
The best radio moment
Smith: It was heartbreaking to see Hamilton cry after winning the checkered flag at Silverstone. In nearly two decades on the Formula One grid, he had never sounded like that. As he talked on the radio with Pete Bonnington, his race engineer, he was unable to control his emotions. The emotions that sports have the exquisite ability to arouse.
Davies: Will Joseph, the race engineer, begs Norris to return the lead in the Hungarian Grand Prix to his colleague by pointing him what really matters. “One cannot win a championship by themselves,” Joseph informed Norris. It concerns the team. Oscar and the gang are going to be necessities for you. Unintentionally, it defined the choice Norris had to make between himself and his team in the long run and brought attention to the perpetual oddity of playing a sport in which your partner is often your biggest opponent.
Coleman: The team radios have become a topic of discussion in recent weeks. A number of memorable incidents have occurred, such as Pierre Gasly calling out teammate Esteban Ocon with a “Ciao” or Toto Wolff and Russell’s conversation when the Mercedes driver led the Austrian Grand Prix. My personal favorite, though, is when Sainz wanted to celebrate his 1-2 finish with Charles Leclerc after winning the Australian Grand Prix.
Iversen: It is simple here. Piastri was instructed by McLaren engineer Tom Stallard not to “excessively hinder” other vehicles in the pit exit during the Hungary qualifying session. Piastri gave a priceless response.
Oscar’s eyes told the whole story #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/M5Gt4XDse3
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 20, 2024
Favorite off-track moment
Smith: Leclerc joining F1’s “dog dad” gang with his adorable puppy, Leo. More pets in the F1 paddock, please.
Davies: The unveiling of Red Bull RB17, Adrian Newey’s “ideal vehicle.” I covered Formula One for The Athletic for ten years as an automobile journalist before moving here. I had no idea how much I missed the occasional news of a truly absurd, multi-million dollar car until this one came out.
Coleman It is more of a recurrent event than a singular instance, for want of a better phrase. The drivers are expected to produce marketing and social media content by all of the teams, and Williams Racing’s squad Torque, which consists of Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon, has proven to be an interesting squad. The “The Fast and the Curious” crossover episode was entertaining.
Iversen: I really enjoyed Leclerc’s lesson to Sainz about how he constructed a paper airplane incorrectly and then realized it was much, much worse after throwing it. A shout-out to press room naps as well.
Sainz and Piastri got tired of waiting for Leclerc after the Monaco Grand Prix. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
My most anticipated second-half moment is …
Smith: The Constructors’ Championship battle. I continue to believe Verstappen will win the driver’s title given his current margin. But heading into the second half, Red Bull’s choice to continue with Pérez despite his form and McLaren’s ascent have built up an incredible storyline. We may have a title match in Abu Dhabi for the first time in three years.
Davies: I can not predict when it will happen, so it is difficult to call this a moment, but I am predicting we will have a race where McLaren gets a chance to pass Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. Regardless of the result, I can not wait to see Red Bull truly and fully challenged in 2024, given that we entered the year expecting more supremacy.
Coleman My first pick was the Constructors’ Championship match because a fight is coming. I will go with a race weekend instead, though. I am curious to see what Las Vegas is like in Year 2. It was one of the most thrilling races of 2023 in the end, with a thrilling three-way battle for the lead developing despite the rough beginning. Will the on-track action be overshadowed by the off-track extravaganza, or can it deliver once more?
Iversen I can not wait to defend the Constructors’ title in an actual match when I visit Austin, Texas, and Vegas. Although there were no true stakes on the track last year, the atmosphere at both races was fantastic. I am looking forward to experiencing the passion of the spectators at the final races in the United States this fall. (In addition, Austin will be especially exciting because Texas plays Georgia the same weekend as the US GP.)
One pleasant surprise so far
Smith: It is fantastic news for everyone and incredibly surprising that Formula One has returned to being so competitive and, to be honest, exhilarating. It is refreshing to see seven different champions during the summer break, with genuine uncertainty over each week’s winner, considering how dominant Red Bull was early in the competition. And how we want Formula One to be.
Davies: To further on Luke’s assessment on the level of competition in the field, Mercedes’s recent performance has particularly delighted me. The team has been incredibly lost at times over the last few years and has more than once encountered a stone wall after feeling there was hope. However, that is accurate—winning three out of six events is outstanding.
Coleman: Haas and RB’s development. Both teams are embarking on a new era, with RB more so given its new moniker, new focus on independence, and new leadership. They also both have more points at the “halfway” point of the season than they did at the end of the 2023 campaign. After starting from the rear of the grid, Haas is now seven points behind RB, who leads the midfield (except from Aston Martin, which is on its own). Not to add, in the most recent triple-header, Nico Hülkenberg scored more points than a Ferrari and a Red Bull.
Haas and RB have made impressive gains this season. (PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)
Iversen: The quiet rise of F1’s youth movement. It’s all over the place.
Bearman’s amazing debut and Haas contract. The rise of Norris and Piastri as two of the best drivers in the sport. Russell is demonstrating that he is prepared to take the lead at Mercedes, and Kimi Antonelli might join him the next season.
Yuki Tsunoda has stepped up for RB farther down the field, while Albon is proving Williams was right to believe in him. This season is replete with the imprints of the upcoming generation of legendary Formula One drivers.
One unpleasant surprise
Smith: The unwillingness of Red Bull and Mercedes to give Sainz a seat consideration in 2025. I understand why Williams passed on him, and Sainz will be a suitable fit. However, after putting on some of his best performances to date, he deserved to maintain his position as the top player for the upcoming season. Regrettably, he will not be competing for podiums or victories the next year.
Davies: Aston Martin’s pitiful situation. The group provided us with an excellent plot in 2023, appearing to be a serious contender right away. The true shame, though, is that its late-2023 decline was not reversed by anything over the previous offseason. It is 193 points behind Mercedes and only 39 ahead of RB with 73 points. My conclusion is that, instead of the customary five-and-five break, the Formula One field is divided into four elite teams and the other teams.
Coleman: How long it’s taking for the full-time drivers to pass Ollie Bearman in the standings. He replaced Sainz for the Saudi Arabian GP and scored six points with a seventh-place finish. But with just 10 races still left on the calendar, the current F2 driver sits 14th in the driver standings, ahead of seven F1 drivers.
Iversen: The turmoil behind the scenes. From the accusations made against Horner to the ongoing Andretti case to Susie Wolff’s lawsuit against the FIA to the FIA president’s probe… It is easy to forget how off-track news almost took over the sport in the first few months of the season because of the excitement on the racetrack. Some of these tales are still in progress.
I will always remember …
Smith: The three weeks I spent traveling through Bahrain and Saudi Arabia while following the many turns of the Horner/Red Bull narrative in the Middle East. The media center’s response was bizarre as we all progressively learned about the hacked emails that contained the messages that were allegedly delivered by Horner, but he has consistently declined to comment on them.
Davies: 7:23 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, when I woke up to a phone call from Pat, who replied to my “hello” with, “Hamilton is going to Ferrari.” For everything we’ve covered about the switch since then, nothing sticks in my mind like the pure shock of the news itself.
Leclerc’s win made the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix one to remember. (Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Coleman: My first Monaco Grand Prix, the dual nature of Monaco, the gorgeous journey from Nice into Monaco, and the sights and sounds of the cars speeding by as I stood trackside for the first time. Oh, and do not forget about Leclerc’s touching victory at home.
Iversen: The season’s first half featured more than merely emotionally charged scenes. It was also about more heartfelt ones, like Zhou Guanyu’s intense emotional campaign in China and the much anticipated victories of Hamilton and Norris. The Monaco victory for Leclerc is the one that will always mean the most to me. It was really heartwarming to see how he carried his late father’s memory with him on the last laps around his city.
His victory also created a plethora of opportunities. What more could happen this season if Leclerc could overcome his “Monaco Curse”? It turns out, a lot.
(Photos of Rudy Carezzevoli and Kym Illman: Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images)
