2024-02-05 12:03:46
We take the same and start again. The Formula 1 grid for the 2024 season will be exactly the same as the one that ended the year 2023. No Andretti or 11th team, nor new drivers in their sights. And no Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari yet since that will have to wait until 2025. This does not mean that this new season promises to be full of suspense. We take stock, stable by stable.
Red Bull: Perez to (finally) compete with Verstappen
Will they be able to do better? Will they even be able to repeat their 2023 performances? Red Bull and its duo Max Verstappen/Sergio Perez are tackling the 2024 vintage with a lot of pressure on their shoulders: that of retaining the title of constructor and driver world champion. In both cases, they will start with a head start over the others anyway, without any change in regulations and after a record 2023 season (21 races won out of 22, including 19 for Verstappen). The only question will be, like last year, on the Mexican’s ability to come and tickle the Dutch triple world champion.
Mercedes: Hamilton for one last dance, Russell still there
Second in the constructors’ standings, Mercedes has not yet returned to the forefront. Never winners in 2023, as in 2022, the Silver Arrows tried to survive, like the others, against the Red Bull hegemony thanks in particular to Lewis Hamilton’s six podiums. The seven-time world champion, before leaving for Ferrari, will still be there in 2024 but could be disrupted by his departure towards the prancing horse team. To accompany him, his compatriot George Russell should be more serene even if he disappointed last season with an 8th place in the drivers’ standings.
Ferrari: Leclerc-Sainz, episode 4
Before the Hamilton earthquake in 2025, the Scuderia persisted and signed with its tandem Charles Leclerc-Carlos Sainz. The Monegasque would even have returned until 2029 (unofficial date), proof that the prancing horse team is counting on him in the future. However, in 2023, it was his Spanish teammate who won the only victory that escaped Red Bull during the Singapore Grand Prix. While they finished side by side in the championship (206 points for Leclerc, 200 for Sainz), the internal fight promises to be fierce for this last year together.
McLaren: Norris-Piastri, triumphant youth
What if the surprise came from them? The only team to compete with Red Bull at the end of the season, McLaren had scored four 2nd places in the last five GPs thanks to Lando Norris. Oscar Piastri, his 22-year-old teammate, also showed great promise in his first season by winning the sprint race in Qatar. If the MCL38 performs well from the start of the season, it could do big damage. Even threatening the “winged bull”?
Aston Martin: Alonso for the 400 moves, Stroll to exist
This is one of the disappointments of the year 2023. Transfigured at the start of the year (6 consecutive podiums), Fernando Alonso embodied the hope of seeing the British team in the forefront. It didn’t hold. Not supported enough by Lance Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, too transparent in 10th place in the championship, the Spanish driver and Aston Martin have fallen into line and it is difficult to see them return with revenge for 2024 The double world champion will at least have the opportunity to be the first F 1 driver to exceed 400 GPs contested.
Alpine: Gasly-Ocon to do better
In the soft stomach last year (6th in the constructor’s championship with 120 small points, 11th and 12th in the drivers’ standings), Alpine must do better in 2024 to fulfill its ambitions. For the second consecutive season, the French team will count on its French tandem Pierre Gasly-Esteban Ocon. The first named who repeated his desire to be world champion with Alpine has already estimated in our columns that this will be “very complicated” to achieve in 2024. We will have to at least do better than last season.
Williams: Albon confirmation, Sargeant surprise
Accustomed to the back of the grid, Williams had been the “first of the last” in 2023. Well propelled in a straight line by his FW45, Alex Albon had particularly made an impression with his 27 points in 2023. The Thai, who made the most of his single-seater, will try to confirm again this year to aim higher in the future. At his side, Logan Sargeant, who discovered F 1 last season with just one point on the clock, will have to do better to keep his seat, he who was confirmed at the last moment.
RB (ex-Alpha Tauri): Ricciardo back, which Tsunoda in 2024?
Will Daniel Ricciardo be entitled to a quiet season at RB (ex-Alpha Tauri)? Competing in only 7 GPs last year, the Australian replaced Nyck de Vries mid-season before breaking his wrist in the Netherlands and missing another part of the season. Despite this, the former Red Bull driver achieved the team’s best result with a 7th place in Mexico. At his side, Yuki Tsunoda must still confirm for his fourth season (already) in F 1. Another more insignificant doubt about the team? How will we nickname it with this full name – Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team – so complicated?
Kick Sauber (Ex-Alfa Romeo): Bottas and Zhou to make Pourchaire forget
This is one of the regrets of the 2024 season for French fans. Kick Sauber (ex-Alfa Romeo) did not choose to bring his colt Théo Pourchaire, F 2 world champion. Instead, the 9th in the last constructor’s championship chose to confirm his tandem Valtteri Bottas/Guanyu Zhou . 15th in the pilot rankings, the Finn, known for his naked breaks or his self-deprecating photos, is one of the most followed pilots on social networks. Zhou (18th in 2023) last year became the first Chinese to drive in F 1. All that remains is for him to get results.
Haas: Magnussen-Hülkenberg, when will German quality come?
Will Haas manage to leave the back of the grid? As the years go by, it becomes more and more difficult to believe it. The American team has been struggling since 2019, even occupying last position last year despite a duo of experienced drivers. Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg (363 GPs contested between them) often dragged on during the race despite a regular presence in Q3.
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