Upon your return to Prime Tire, we would like to know if you have become as proficient at twiddling your thumbs as we were over the summer break for Formula 1. It was a lot of fun. I had a great time. Return me, please, etc.
Or don’t, since F1 is returning this week with the Dutch Grand Prix. Luke Smith will be here soon (for real this time), and my name is Patrick. Now let us get started.
What we got right and wrong about F1 in 2024
Similar to the previous season, we have evaluated ourselves at the halfway point of the current campaign by reviewing our preseason picks. Our review is available here. Yes, I wish I could take back most of my predictions, but we all got a pass on our worst guesses. Let us avoid discussing it.
However, examining such forecasts indicates certain tendencies for the 2024 season. This is a great approach to review the situation ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix! (The complete calendar of events at Zandvoort is available here.)
Trends we hit on
Trends we missed
Get caught up with our midseason reviews
Read the thoughts of your favorite F1 journalists and myself regarding the incredible season thus far as the Dutch Grand Prix approaches:
Now let us give it to Luke in the paddock as he gets ready to go to the Formula One track once more.
JEROEN JUMELET/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Inside the Paddock with Luke Smith
After much anticipation, Formula One returns to action this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
One of the most significant times of the year is the summer shutdown. In addition to providing a respite from the demanding 24-race season, the regulations compel teams to take a few weeks off from competition, effectively pausing the sport.
As a strong proponent of not letting Formula One, much as we may love it, take over our lives, I too took a few weeks off this summer to unplug and refuel. This meant, to me, spending time at the beach, finishing The Last of Us 2, playing a little golf, and perusing the books on my bookshelf as I waited for some peace and quiet. Right now, “Butter” by Asako Yuzuki is my favorite.
The summer shutdown’s high point, meanwhile, was seeing The Eras Tour last Friday at Wembley Stadium. The event lived up to all the expectations, and Taylor Swift is arguably the most well-known and influential person in the world at the moment. For me, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I was amazed at my good fortune in finding $77 tickets just 24 hours in advance!
The “Reputation” and “1989” sets were particularly spectacular, and we even got “London Boy” (see what she did there!) for a surprise song. But all of it made for the ultimate show; truly wholesome vibes the entire day.
In my Eras era! ✨ Tickets at 24 hours notice for a bucket list show – lived up to all the hype and then some 🤯 (Dear John for a surprise song too 🥲). Truly epic @taylorswift13 #TSTheErasTourLondon pic.twitter.com/VBqkob9s5W
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) August 16, 2024
This week, instead of spending time with the Swifties, I will be at Zandvoort with Max Verstappen’s orange army, who will fill the trains from Amsterdam and produce one of the best race scenes of the year. In Abu Dhabi, ten races remain before the checkered flag is raised. Are you prepared to do it?
Kyle Larson vs. Max Verstappen?
Thursday is F1 media day at Zandvoort. We will forewarn you about a plot that, until last week, no one saw coming—a NASCAR champion taking aim at the current Formula 1 champion.
Is Max Verstappen the world’s greatest driver? No, according to Kyle Larson. firmly.Larson told FloRacing, “I know in my mind that I am a better all-around racer than him.” Larson made an attempt to run both the Coca-Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500 on the same day back in May, so he is not just boasting. Larson has competed and triumphed in numerous other series. But there is still more!
“There’s no way (Verstappen) can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals,” Larson continued. “There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.”
“There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot at him (doing what he does than him doing what I do) just because of the car element.”
“That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him. Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that.”
Thus, yes. On Thursday, Verstappen will be expected to reply to Larson. In fairness, he did give a sneak peek at what he would say during the June Spanish Grand Prix.
I asked Max Verstappen his opinion on the “Best driver in the world?” debate at the Barcelona GP.
— AshVandelay (@AshVandelay) August 19, 2024
“Honestly I think I should first say we should not have that debate. Cause everyone is good in their own right.” pic.twitter.com/exOn8DgjcE
Meet us back here on Friday for the latest.
Outside the Points
First, some noteworthy news: The Athletic will now feature a wider range of sports collectibles and memorabilia. There will be much to follow whether you are a novice or an expert collector. (Especially for those of us who enjoy racing). Even the vehicles become into collectibles!
I can not stop thinking about how my childhood dog destroyed the summer before third grade by chewing up my Jeff Gordon pit road Mega Bloks set. Ahh.
Lastly, I wanted to especially highlight the article we published last week on Jessica Hawkins, the Aston Martin F1 ambassador and James Bond stunt driver. According to Hawkins, a significant advancement for women and the LGBTQ+ community is about to occur in the sport.Read her interview here; I appreciated her optimism over the interval.
Top photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
