With two grand prix completed already in 2024, we’re beginning to see patterns forming in performance and results this season. So, what can we expect continuing on with the year? How could the rest of the season - starting with Australia this weekend - shape up?
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing Continue to Dominate:
After taking his third World Driver’s Championship in 2023, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have shown no signs of slowing down - in fact, the RB20 seems by far to be the fastest car on the grid. Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez brought home two 1-2 finishes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, causing the Austrian team to take an early 38-point lead in the constructors’ championship. In post-race interviews after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen described the car as ‘nice to drive on every [tyre] compound’ and ‘super enjoyable to drive’, suggesting confidence in the car is high as Red Bull continue on to the rest of the season.
Ferrari are Seeming Strong:
Following two third place finishes for the opening races of the season, things are looking good in 2024 for the team from Maranello, who look to have the second-fastest car right now. Carlos Sainz drove a brilliant race to earn P3 and driver of the day under the lights in Sakhir, while Charles Leclerc took the last spot on the podium and an extra point for fastest lap round the streets of Jeddah. While it remains to be seen what improvements could be made by teams such as Mercedes or McLaren later on in the season, the Scuderia look to be the best of the rest at the moment, which gives them a great opportunity to maximise their championship points early on.
Alpine Have a Shocking Lack of Pace:
So far in 2024, the team that seems to be struggling most is an unexpected one. 6th place finishers in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, Alpine have been consistent mid-field competitors for the last few years, and have even taken the occasional podium - which is why it’s so surprising that their start to the season has been disappointing. A discouraging qualifying meant starting 19th and 20th in Bahrain, and the grand prix reaped little reward for the French team, as drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon came home 17th and 18th, ahead of only Valterri Bottas (who had a 52-second pitstop), and Logan Sargeant, who suffered a steering wheel issue and came out at the back after running into the gravel.
Mercedes and McLaren Struggle more than Expected:
2023 brought very promising results for both Mercedes and Mclaren, and both the British-based teams were expected to compete with Ferrari to be the second-fastest team in 2024. However, neither team has quite lived up to the anticipation surrounding them, as they currently sit 3rd and 4th in the championship and around 20 points behind the Scuderia. Of course, it’s early days, and if McLaren taught us anything last year, it’s that results can quickly and drastically turn around. But, given Ferrari’s results during the first 2 races of the season, it’s important these teams make changes as soon as possible to avoid being left behind in the battle for second.
An Eventful Silly Season is to Come…:
The 2024 silly season is expected to have many surprising driver changes, and at the end of last year plenty of people were beginning to speculate where any of the 13 drivers out of contract for ‘25 would be heading. To add to the chaos even further, Lewis Hamilton (who was assumed to be contracted to Mercedes until the end of 2025) announced in the off-season that he would be making a shock move to Ferrari next year, which will have undoubtedly started a domino effect on the rest of the driver market. As the season unfolds, drivers looking for a new contract will be fighting to prove themselves to any teams who could be watching, and the more contracts are announced, the more tense things could get.
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