The 2024 season is just around the corner, with Formula 1 traveling to Bahrain and the Sakhir Circuit from 29 February to 2 March for the start of the championship. But before we see what will follow, let’s remember what preceded last year’s championship.
If the 2023 season had a name, then it would clearly be ‘Max Verstappen’. The Dutch Red Bull driver literally swept everything, taking his third career championship by 290 points from second-placed Sergio Perez. Indicatively, Verstappen saw the checkered flag first 19 times in a total of 22 races. In fact, in 21 races, the anthem of the Austrian manufacturer was heard, in honor of Red Bull, with the sole exception of the race in Singapore, where Carlos Sainz jr prevailed.
Among other things, Verstappen broke 18 (!) whole records last season, which proves the… one-dimensionality of the thing, at least in terms of the title. This is because from second to seventh place the drivers had a difference of 85 points, while the second place in the manufacturers’ championship between Mercedes-AMG and Scuderia Ferrari was decided in the last race with a difference of just three points.
Entering 2024
For the first time in many years, the grid of drivers will not have any changes in this year’s championship. This means that the 20 pilots remained in their garages, at least for the time being. What has changed? In the first phase, the number of matches. With the reinstatement of Imola and (thankfully) the Chinese Grand Prix we now have 24 races on the calendar until the championship curtain-raiser on December 8 at the Abu Dhabi circuit.
So what has changed? If you’re looking to find Alpha Tauri, you’re probably going to get tired of looking. And that’s because the Italian team adopted the strangest name in the history of Formula1 Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team. The curtain also fell for Alfa Romeo, as the Italian team pulled out, with Kick Sauber filling its void.
There are also changes in the program. The Baku match has been moved to September, as opposed to April, with the Japan match following the exact opposite route, moving to April instead of September. The changes were made as the FIA wants to reduce the carbon footprint of its journeys. And it follows a more “rational” sequence in group travel, staying in close geographical areas for as long as possible. Also noteworthy is the fact that the first two matches of the season, in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, will be held on Saturday due to the Ramadan holiday.
With an eye on the future
For the end, we left the most important and interesting news that has emerged so far in the off-season. And which are more about the seasons to come, than this year. First and best, the transfer at the end of the 2023 championship of Lewis Hamilton to Scuderia Ferrari. Which marked the most important movement of recent years in the field of motor sports. The British seven-time world champion will leave Mercedes-AMG, where he has raced since 2013, for Maranello. And from 2025 he will try to add another glittering accolade to his great career to bring Ferrari back to the paths of success.
Then we had the Formula 1 temporary brake at Andretti. And we say temporary, because the door to 2028 is wide open. Currently, the organizing authority, despite the approval of the FIA, decided that the entry of an eleventh team would not really help the sport. Formula 1 officials did not consider Andretti to be a competitive entrant. At least until it gets engines from General Motors, via Cadillac, in 2028.
What is certain is that 2024 is expected to be a harbinger season in view of the 2025 season and much more of the 2026 season, when there will be major changes in the single-seater regulations. Ferrari is already warming up its engines, while the response of Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG is awaited with great interest.
Until then fasten your seat belts and enjoy the unique spectacle that the 20 best drivers in the world will offer, in the hope of having a beautiful, full of overtaking, but above all safe season!
Oracle Red Bull Racing
2023 was not only the most successful year for Red Bull, but the most successful year for any Formula 1 team since 1950. They won 21 out of 22 races, collected 860 points and finished +459 (!) from the second Mercedes-AMG. It is characteristic that the second Mercedes-AMG and the third Scuderia Ferrari both gathered together 815 points. The truth is that the gap looks chaotic and it is extremely difficult to cover before the change of regulations in 2026. After all, the development tests showed that Red Bull has the advantage again, especially in consecutive rounds. The Austrian team are probably more concerned about their internal issues, with Sergio Perez’s position extremely precarious. Not to mention Max Verstappen.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
At the threshold of the 2024 season, absolute coolness has arrived – but for next year. Lewis Hamilton leaves Brackley for Maranello and a huge void in the Mercedes-AMG cockpit. Since Red Bull was from another planet in 2023, Mercedes-AMG managed to take second constructors’ place, just three points ahead of Scuderia Ferrari. Target for 2024? To have as competitive a car as possible so that Lewis Hamilton and George Russel can return to winning ways. The 3-day test in Bahrain showed that the Germans are on the right track, improving the rear-end instabilities that plagued its drivers throughout last season.
Scuderia Ferrari
Maranello and the Tifosi are in a sea of happiness, following the announcement of the agreement with Lewis Hamilton for 2025, as well as the renewal of the partnership with Charles Leclerc. Regarding the 2023 season, one of the same. Some flashes, being the only team to win a race other than Red Bull and a lot of self-destructive strategies, which largely cost them second place in the Constructors’ Championship. In 2024, Maranello aims for more wins, so as to pave the way for 2025 and even more so for 2026. Questionable is the management of Carlos Sainz jr, who already knows that next season will be a thing of the past. We have to admit that Ferrari overall looks more improved than the other teams on the grid, having the lead in terms of second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
McLaren Formula 1 Team
Undoubtedly the most pleasant surprise of the season. The historic British team had a very good year (especially from Austria onwards) finishing fourth in the constructors’ standings with seven podium appearances. In fact, Lando Noris – who signed a new contract – finished sixth with 205 points, ahead of Carlos Sainz jr and George Russell and just one point behind fifth Charles Leclerc and fourth Fernando Alonso. Very good rookie season for Oscar Piastri as well, collecting 97 points. Aim for 2024, to continue exactly where it left off in 2023. However, it seems to start a step further behind Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG, mainly because of the progress shown by the latter two.
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
The year started with the best omens, since the evergreen Fernando Alonso brought one podium after another, filling the people of the team with optimism. In fact, the Spanish driver finished fourth in the championship, although he had the fifth best car. If his stable mate, Lance Stroll, had helped more (he was limited to tenth place with 132 points less than Alonso), it is certain that Aston Martin would have overtaken McLaren. In any case, however, the year ended on a positive note, as the team rose from seventh place and 55 points in 2022 to fifth with 280. 2024 looks to be a step behind the British team, with the big question to it is duration and stability.
BWT Alpine F1 Team
We would say that it was probably the biggest disappointment of the year. The French team started the season with goals and a duo of talented French drivers. However, she was limited to sixth place in the standings, collecting just 120 points, while in 2022 she was fourth with 173 points. In the drivers’ standings, Pierre Gasly finished eleventh with 62 points, followed by Esteban Ocon in twelfth place with 58. Judging by the Bahrain tests, she has a long way to go, as along with trailing Haas were the teams with less progress.
Williams Racing
A significant jump for Williams, as from last place all eight points were won by 28 last season, 27 of which came from Alex Albon on his return to Formula 1. As for debutant Logan Sargeant, he may have managed to win his only point ahead of his compatriots, at the Austin Grand Prix, showed that he still needs a lot of work. The team’s aim for 2024 is to continue the improvement it showed over long periods of the 2023 season, gain better race pace and manage to once again overtake Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team (formerly Alpha Tauri), Kick Sauber and Haas .
Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team
Before we talk about the racing part, we have to admit that the new name of Alpha Tauri is one of the strangest (whether it is successful or not you can judge) brands in the history of motorsport. In the championship, it finished in the same position as last year (eighth), having a similar points collection (-7 points in 2023). Having in her power the experienced Daniel Ricciardo and the rising but inexperienced Yuki Tsunoda with all that this entails, she aspires to be able to overcome Williams in 2024. He was one of the pleasant surprises of the trials, showing that he can be a formidable opponent for midfield teams.
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
It is the natural continuation of Alfa Romeo, which left at the end of last season. Sauber may be considered a “new” team, but it will have the same drivers (Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu) and the same powertrains as its Italian predecessor. Fate has also “inherited” Alfa Romeo’s goals. That is, to escape from the last places on the grid, aiming to put as many of Haas, Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team and Williams under her as possible.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
By far the worst team on the grid. It is telling that he finished in last place, collecting only 12 points in 22 games, despite the fact that he had a very decent racing duo. The marble for the bad year was paid by Guenther Steiner, who was in the position of the head of the racing department since 2016, when the American team also made its debut in Formula 1. His place was taken by the Japanese Ayao Komatsu, who together with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg will try to dislodge Haas from last place.
Finally, we left the championship schedule, with the curtain opening on Saturday, March 2 in Bahrain. We remind you that the matches will be broadcast live on ANT1+ and in delayed transmission on the free TV of ANT1.
• February 29 – March 2: Bahrain
• March 7-9: Saudi Arabia
• March 22-24: Australia
• April 5-7: Japan
• April 19-21: China
• May 3-5: Miami
• May 17-19: Italy (Imola)
• May 24-26: Monaco
• June 7-9: Canada
• June 21-23: Spain
• June 28-30: Austria
• July 5-7: United Kingdom
• July 19-21: Hungary
• July 26-28: Belgium
• August 23-25: Netherlands
• August 30 – September 1: Italy (Monza)
• September 13-15: Azerbaijan
• September 20-22: Singapore
• October 18-20: USA (Austin)
• October 25-27: Mexico
• November 1-3: Brazil
• November 21-23: USA (Las Vegas)
• November 29 – December 1: Qatar
• December 6-8: Abu Dhabi