By Will Clifford

The start of the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix on July 2, 2023. Photo credit: Red Bull Ring.

As the engines roar to life and anticipation continues to mount, the Formula 1 world looks toward the dawn of a new season. Against a backdrop of technological innovation, strategic mastery, and adrenaline-fueled competition, the stage is set for a spectacle unlike any other. From the tight turns of Monaco, the sweeping curves of Silverstone, and the long straights of Baku, this season is poised to deliver thrills, drama, and unparalleled excitement as the world’s most popular racing series embarks on its newest season.

Max Verstappen leads the field into the first corner at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix. Photo credit: Formula 1.

The 2024 Formula 1 season appears to be another thrilling season full of high-quality, entertaining racing. With teams pushing to catch up to last season’s champions, Red Bull Racing, fans can expect fierce competition on the track as top teams Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren attempt to prevent Red Bull’s fourth consecutive championship. With reigning champion Max Verstappen attempting to defend his title for the fourth straight season, and emerging talents such as Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant, the 2024 F1 season is set to deliver adrenaline-pumping action and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.

In F1, the points system plays a crucial role in determining the success of both individual drivers and their teams, known as constructors. Points are awarded to drivers based on their finishing positions in each race, with the winner typically receiving 25 points, the runner-up earning 18 points, and points gradually decreasing for lower positions down to 10th place. This system encourages consistency and competitive racing throughout the season. The accumulation of these points determines the outcome of two major championships: the Driver’s Championship and the Constructor’s Championship. The Driver’s Championship is awarded to the driver who amasses the most points over the course of the season, rewarding individual skill and performance. On the other hand, the Constructor’s Championship is won by the team that accumulates the most points based on the combined performances of both of its drivers throughout the season. This dual championship system adds depth and excitement to each F1 season, as both drivers and teams strive to outperform their rivals and claim the coveted titles.

Team Principals Toto Wolff of Mercedes (left) and Christian Horner of Red Bull. Photo credit: Red Bull Racing.

Within a Formula 1 team, various staff members have crucial roles. The team principal leads and makes strategic decisions, while race engineers optimize car performance with drivers. Technical directors oversee car development, and chief designers lead aerodynamics design. Mechanics maintain the car, while data analysts provide insights. Logistics managers handle travel, and PR teams manage media relations. Each role contributes to the team’s success on and off the track, and when done poorly can cost teams points, wins, or even championships.

The individual teams are the heart and soul of F1. The top teams, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, compete for championships while continuously setting the highest standard for car design, aerodynamics, and new technologies. The midfield, comprised of McLaren, Aston Martin, VCRB, and Williams, attempt to score points weekly and compete for a rare top-three, or podium finish. The backmarker teams of Haas, Sauber, and Alpine strive to get a handful of points throughout the season from one or two top-ten finishes. 2024’s top team has been Red Bull, so far, currently first in the Constructor’s Championship, followed by Ferrari, as their drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc capitalized on Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s mechanical failure to finish first and second, respectively, at the Australian Grand Prix on March 24.

Red Bull’s Verstappen celebrates his third consecutive Driver’s Championship. Photo credit: Formula 1.

McLaren is currently third, significantly behind Red Bull and Ferrari. McLaren also took advantage of Verstappen’s mechanical issues in Australia with their drivers Lando Norris and Piastri finishing third and fourth. Following McLaren, Mercedes is fourth, followed by Aston Martin, VCRB, Haas, Williams, Sauber, and Alpine. Although it is early in the season, the Constructor’s standings after a few races are often indicative of how the season will play out. Though there are many more races this season and hundreds of points up for grabs, it is becoming clear to fans that there are four main teams that have the capability to challenge for wins and possibly the championship this season: Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren.

Last season, Red Bull continued their dominance with their drivers Verstappen (19 wins) and Sergio Perez (2 wins) combining to win all but one race. Coming off three straight Driver’s Championships, Verstappen aims to add a fourth straight, becoming the second Red Bull driver to do so after Sebastian Vettel’s run from 2010-2013. Questions remain for Perez, who is widely seen as an underperformer who does not challenge Verstappen in the F1 grid’s most dominant car. Although Perez scored two wins in 2023, they both came within the first four races. In a contract re-negotiation year, it is imperative that Perez impresses team principal Christian Horner and technical director Adrian Newey enough to remain in the seat for 2025. If Perez’s performance does not improve, he will likely be removed from the seat, possibly as soon as mid-season. Red Bull aims to win a third consecutive Constructor’s Championship, as they look to hold their 2023 form and continue their dominance in the F1 paddock. Verstappen won the first, second, and fourth races of the season in dominating fashion. However, the race in Australia saw Verstappen suffer a blown engine, relegating him to a 19th place finish. Perez scored much better, finishing in a solid 5th place. Over their dominance, Red Bull has been renowned for their mechanical reliability. However, this engine failure may be a sign of what is to come for the team.

Left to right: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Team Principal Fred Vasseur, and driver Carlos Sainz. Photo credit: Formula 1.

In 2023, Ferrari narrowly missed out on second place in the Constructor’s Championship, failing to repeat their 2022 finishing position. Drivers Leclerc and Sainz are aiming for more wins and to battle for the Driver’s Championship in 2024. In 2025, Sainz will be out of his seat in favor of seven-time Driver’s Champion Lewis Hamilton and will need to impress the paddock season in order to secure a top ride. Ferrari’s struggles have come mainly from poor in-race strategy calls, as many missed opportunities or a late pit stop have sabotaged Ferrari from winning races. Team Principal Fred Vasseur enters his second season at the helm and looks to improve Ferrari’s 2023 standing. A name long associated with excellence, Ferrari looks to win its first World Driver’s Championship since Kimi Raikkonen won in 2007. So far, Ferrari appears to have nailed their design for 2024. Leclerc and Sainz have proved to be a formidable team, keeping up with Red Bull’s pace over the first two races and the fourth, the Japanese Grand Prix, and surpassing them in the third. Sainz, while missing the second race in Bahrain due to illness, has scored podium finishes in the other races. Leclerc has two podiums as well, scored in Bahrain and Australia. For Ferrari, consistency will be key. They have a very unlikely chance of either driver outrunning Verstappen on pace, but a very good chance of both drivers outrunning Perez. If Ferrari can eliminate strategy errors and outrun Perez, there is a strong chance that the Italian outfit will walk away with their first Constructor’s Championship since 2008.

McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Photo credit: The Athletic.

McLaren once again find themselves among the top-tier teams in F1. After winning the Driver’s Championship with Hamilton in 2008, McLaren entered a tumultuous period with very little success. Up until recently, McLaren was as a solid midfield team. Now, drivers Norris and Piastri bring a burst of life into the storied team. Surprising many, McLaren sits at third in the Constructor’s championship, with a comfortable lead over fourth-place Mercedes. Norris and Piastri have remained very consistent in 2024, continuing their late-season surge from last year. Under the leadership of team CEO Zak Brown, McLaren hopes to return to their former glory with their talented young drivers, who are both under contract for the near future. Success this season will give McLaren a solid foundation from which to improve over the coming seasons.

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Photo credit: iNews

Mercedes enters a pivotal year, as Hamilton will depart for Ferrari at the end of the season. Hamilton and teammate George Russell went winless last year, despite an overall increase in performance from 2022, reflected in their move from third to second in the Constructor’s standings. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison have missed the mark in their car designs since the 2022 Regulations were released and hope the 2024 edition of the car, the W15, will be able to compete with Red Bull. Both Hamilton and Russell are proven winners, and it will be a waiting game to see if they can return to their dominant form that fans have become accustomed to over the past decade. Mercedes have continued their fall over the first few races, sitting comfortably distanced from the top three in points. In Australia, Mercedes suffered a double-DNF, as both Hamilton and Russell had issues, with Hamilton having an engine failure and Russell crashing at the end of the race. In the first two races, Mercedes was off the pace, with both cars finishing in the lower half of the top ten in both outings. There have been noticeable issues with their car, notably its lack of performance in high-speed cornering. The Mercedes team desperately needs to re-evaluate their car and fix it, or else they could slip into the midfield before season’s end.

This F1 season appears to have the makings of an all-time classic, as two, possibly three teams will be vying for a championship in a close battle. The other races are varied in the track layouts and racing configurations. Suzuka Circuit, the fourth race of the season, is a fan favorite track that features very technical turns. After Suzuka, the series heads to Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix on April 21, an event not held since 2019. Shanghai is a track that favors straight-line speed over cornering ability, which could allow teams such as Mercedes to have a shot at a podium finish. For the first weekend of May, the Miami Grand Prix will have the series take its first of three trips to the USA over the season, and May will finish with both the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and the historic Monaco Grand Prix. This varied schedule will allow for parity among the teams and lead to excitement among fans. This F1 season has the potential to be an all-time classic, and it is just a matter of time until its potential will be fully realized.

Featured image credit: Formula 1.