The 2024 Formula One season was a rollercoaster ride from the very beginning. Even before the lights went out in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell move to Ferrari for 2025 sent shockwaves through the paddock, setting the stage for a year of high drama.
Max Verstappen started the season on fire, mirroring his dominant 2023 with seven straight pole positions and early race wins. However, a new challenger emerged in the form of a young Lando Norris in a resurgent McLaren, and their innovative upgrades made them a genuine threat. Their Miami duel, where Norris finally secured his maiden victory after a heartbreaking miss in Sochi 2021, marked a turning point in the season, with McLaren and Norris consistently pushing Verstappen for the lead.
This season wasn’t just about established stars. Rookie Ollie Bearman stepped into the limelight at the chaotic Jeddah race, qualifying P11 for Ferrari after filling in for an appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz. Sainz’s remarkable comeback win in Melbourne, just weeks after surgery, was another feel-good moment and a testament to his fighting spirit.
Lewis Hamilton’s emotional British Grand Prix win, ending his 945-day winless drought, was a story of redemption and a reminder of his enduring talent. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took his first Grand Prix victory in Hungary, albeit in a controversial team-order situation with Norris.
The summer break brought more driver market madness. Carlos Sainz, displaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, signed with Williams, while Alpine announced their new team principal after another tumultuous year. The news kept coming – Franco Colapinto replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old prodigy, stepping up to fill Hamilton’s shoes at Mercedes.
The championship battle intensified in the closing races. Piastri’s thrilling defense against Leclerc in Baku was a highlight, while Ricciardo’s emotional Singapore farewell marked the end of an era. Verstappen and Norris continued their fierce competition in Austin and Mexico, with the Dutchman extending his lead but never truly shaking off the Briton’s challenge.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was a race for the ages. Norris on pole, a chaotic rain-soaked Sunday, and a masterful performance by Verstappen clawing his way back from the grid penalty to snatch victory, effectively sealing his fourth championship title in Las Vegas.
McLaren, however, had the last laugh. Their constructors’ championship win in Abu Dhabi, their first since 1998, was a culmination of a remarkable season. With new regulations, and a revamped driver line-up featuring rookies like Bearman, Doohan, Hadjar, and a hungry Antonelli at Mercedes, 2025 promises to be another year of high drama, intense competition, and fresh storylines. Buckle up, F1 fans, the ride is far from over, and Supercars.com.GH is here to take you through it!
