It’s over. After a record 24 races, the 2024 F1 season ended on Sunday in Abu Dhabi with Lando Norris guiding McLaren to constructor glory.
What an upside-down, ever-changing season this has been. From Red Bull’s dominance on the track to paddock unrest at the start of the season, multiple winners and gripping races, there was drama at every turn.
Also for the first time since 2021, we had a real title race, and while Max Verstappen ultimately won his fourth consecutive world championship, Norris pushed him towards the final three races.
Seven drivers have won races in total, with Norris and Oscar Piastri taking their first F1 victories while Lewis Hamilton broke a nearly 1,000-day winning streak with an emotional win at the British Grand Prix.
NOW, The Independent picks the winners and losers of a 2024 season that has already perfectly set the tone for potentially an all-time 2025 campaign.
Best driver
Max Verstappen – It’s boring, I know. The world champion receives the best gong. But before November, the answer would have been Norris.
Yet the most impressive run of Verstappen’s life in Brazil – from 17th on the grid to a 20-second margin of victory – was a game-changer. This all but sealed the world title and, in the end, he took five more wins during the season than the McLaren driver.
Four in rotation. Five in a row – in a Red Bull that no longer looks consistently fast – would put him among the greats.
Places on the podium: Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg
Best team
McLaren – It should not be underestimated what a monumental achievement this represents for papaya.
After the first four races, McLaren was third overall and already 72 points behind Red Bull. But starting with Norris’ victory in Miami, they managed to fight back against and outplay the reigning world champions, as well as thwart Ferrari’s late challenge.
All credit to team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown for their cutting-edge driver selection and shrewd hiring of mechanics, with former Red Bull engineer Rob Marshall playing a leading role in the sudden surge of McLaren’s speed, especially on the straights.
Places on the podium: Ferrari, Haas
The biggest surprise
Lewis Hamilton’s time at Ferrari – OK, a bit cheeky considering it was before the start of the 2024 season, but nothing has stunned the F1 (and sporting) world more than this transfer.
It was quite a day when Mercedes, surprisingly, did not deny reports in the Italian media that Hamilton had chosen to leave his beloved Silver Arrows and end the most successful partnership in the history of F1.
Inevitably, next year’s transfer was a constant topic in the background throughout the year. Did this have an impact on Hamilton’s performance? Who knows. Either way, we all can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Podium Places: Adrian Newey Leaves Red Bull/Joins Aston Martin, Mercedes Promotes Kimi Antonelli 2025
The biggest disappointment
Daniel Ricciardo – It was a close race between three drivers: Ricciardo, Sergio Perez and Logan Sargeant.
Sargeant’s withdrawal after the Dutch Grand Prix was taking time and, given his consistency from the back of the grid, it was perhaps not entirely surprising.
Still, Ricciardo’s inability to produce even a glimpse of his top speed was an old shame. It was no secret that Perez’s Red Bull seat was up for grabs if he could. Therefore, the Australian shades him.
Places on the podium: Sergio Perez, Logan Sargeant
Time of year
Lando Norris wins the Miami GP – It was a difficult decision. But Norris had waited so long for his first F1 victory that when it arrived the jubilation was palpable.
It was also the first indication of McLaren’s rapid race pace, creating the thriller of a 2024 season.
Podium places: Lewis Hamilton wins British GP, Max Verstappen wins Brazilian GP
Exceeding the year
Alex Albon, Canada – It was a spectacular maneuver.
On the back straight of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, Albon snuck around the outside to overtake Ricciardo, before overtaking Esteban Ocon on the inside before the final chicane.
Exquisite car placement between two cars.
Places on the podium: Max Verstappen, Brazil; Oscar Piastri, Azerbaijan
Rising star
Ollie Bearman – Dream debut for British teenager in Saudi Arabia, perfectly replacing Carlos Sainz to score points on his F1 debut for Ferrari.
From that point on, his seat at Haas for 2025 was all but assured. He took his chance. Never mind that he finished a lowly 12th in the F2 standings.
Places on the podium: Gabriel Bortoleto; Franco Colapinto
Best race
Brazilian Grand Prix – A decisive and dramatic weekend in Sao Paulo.
Heavy rain meant we had qualifying on Sunday morning and such was the grid that formed, it looked set to result in a huge swing of points in Norris’ favour. There were also five falls during the messy qualifying minutes.
But the race proved to be a masterclass in wet-weather driving from Verstappen. While others slipped and slid around the track and into the walls, the Dutchman was the epitome of perfection.
Podium places: British Grand Prix; Austrian Grand Prix
Worst race
Bahrain Grand Prix – Despite all the off-track drama at the season opener in Bahrain, it was business as usual for Red Bull on the tarmac. A double – and a failed race.
Unfortunately, this didn’t set the tone for the rest of the year.
On the podium: Japan, Monaco