With multiple Grand Prix winners, big team shakeups, and a healthy dose of variety, the 2024 F1 season delivered one of the most thrilling campaigns in recent years – a return to Formula 1 at its finest.
From McLaren’s mastery to off-track controversies, the season was packed with drama, excitement and intrigue. Keep reading as we revisit the highlights of the 2024 season and look ahead to what’s in store for 2025.
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Recap: the 2024 F1 season
After a slightly unremarkable 2023, the 2024 F1 season was an inspiring return to heightened competition, delivering an energising shift from Red Bull’s domination the previous year.
Despite Verstappen winning five of the first seven races, it was quickly clear that 2024 would offer something the last few seasons lacked – unpredictability. With seven unique race victors over the year, podium positions were often a refreshing surprise.
We enjoyed plenty of drama, from Max Verstappen and George Russell setting identical times during qualification for the Canadian Grand Prix, to the latter being the first race winner in 30 years to be disqualified after the Belgian Grand Prix.
There were some very significant race victories, including first Grand Prix wins for Lando Norris at the Miami Grand Prix and Oscar Piastri in Hungary, as well as Charles Leclerc’s unexpected triumph at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza in front of the ferocious Ferrari tifosi.
The dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi rounded off the season perfectly, with McLaren sealing their place at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. This return to intensity and uncertainty paves the way for an even more exciting 2025 season.
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2024 F1 season driver and constructor standings
As the F1 2024 season concluded, McLaren claimed its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, signaling that Red Bull’s era of total domination had ended.
In a return to form, Ferrari secured second place, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivering consistent podiums and victories, leaving Red Bull in third – Max Verstappen’s efforts impressive, but not enough to compensate for Sergio Pérez’s struggles. Hot and cold Mercedes ended the season fourth, while Aston Martin, propped up by Fernando Alonso’s stellar form, completed the top five.
While Red Bull slipped in the table this season, the final F1 driver standings for 2024 were a familiar story as Verstappen once again demonstrated his superiority by winning his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship, with Lando Norris in second and Charles Leclerc third.
Verstappen’s defining race came at São Paulo in November. In monsoon conditions, the Dutchman started 17th and overtook the rest of the grid to claim victory, putting one hand on the Championship in the process. The famous words of Ayrton Senna rang through the air: “You cannot overtake fifteen cars when it’s sunny weather – but you can when it is raining.”
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Teams and drivers that made waves in 2024
Verstappen’s domination aside, the F1 season 2024 saw McLaren make the biggest waves, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both proving instrumental with their victories and podium finishes.
Under Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari also made significant strides and finished the season second in the Constructors’ table. Highlights of their season included Charles Leclerc’s emotional victory at his home race in Monaco, then Ferrari’s home race at Monza.
As some teams enjoyed a return to glory, others faltered. Mercedes endured a downturn, slipping to fourth in the standings, although the team marked a fitting end to Lewis Hamilton’s tenure with a win at Silverstone. Elsewhere, Aston Martin’s early promise plateaued, despite Fernando Alonso remaining competitive.
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Key highlights: the best battles and moments of the 2024 F1 season
The 2024 F1 season was packed with highlights. Here are some of the standout moments:
- In May, Charles Leclerc became the first Monegasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix since Louis Chiron in 1931 – when the F1 World Championship first began.
- At Silverstone in July, Lewis Hamilton took his first victory in over two years – an emotional win in front of his jubilant home crowd.
- We saw two first-time Grand Prix winners in Norris (Miami) and Piastri (Hungary), who each went on to win four and two races respectively.
- For the first time since 1981, more than six different drivers won multiple Grands Prix. This included Max Verstappen (9), Lando Norris (4), Charles Leclerc (3), Lewis Hamilton (2), Oscar Piastri (2), Carlos Sainz Jr. (2), and George Russell (2).
- Alex Albon recorded the highest speed in the 2024 F1 season in the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he hurtled down the Strip at 369 km/h (229 mph).
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What happened off-track in the 2024 F1 season?
The off-track action was equally riveting during the 2024 F1 season. The biggest headline came early in 2024 when Ferrari announced that Lewis Hamilton would join the prancing horse for 2025 following his final season with Mercedes.
Elsewhere, several drivers had contract extensions or new deals. This included Lando Norris, who confirmed he would stay with McLaren until the end of 2026, while Charles Leclerc also signed a contract extension with Ferrari to remain into 2025.
Towards the bottom of the constructors’ table, Williams looked to boost their fortunes with a mid-season switch by dropping the underperforming Logan Sargeant for rookie Franco Colapinto (who has since been replaced by Carlos Sainz). We also saw Alpine and Esteban Ocon mutually part ways after five seasons following a dramatic race in Monaco, with the French driver joining Haas for 2025.
Meanwhile, 2024 was a season that featured no rookies, aside from Colapinto. In 2025, it’s a different story – six newcomers will grace the stage, including Liam Lawson for Red Bull, Jack Doohan for Alpine, and 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes. They will line up alongside veterans Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are set for one final hurrah before retirement.
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Join us at the greatest races on the F1 calendar in 2025
There’s no doubt that 2024 set the tone for what’s likely to be a thrilling new season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix in March.
Whether you want to join us at Albert Park, Monaco, the iconic Italian Grand Prix, or another race on the F1 calendar, we have a luxury F1 hospitality package to get your pulse racing.
To learn more about this tour and our full collection of exclusive F1 experiences, speak to our friendly travel concierge team today.
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