Earlier than we draw a line underneath 2024, we’ve compiled our favorite articles, hottest options and a recap of each race from a memorable season. Discover all of them beneath:

The largest tales

Essentially the most vital developments of the yr – plus how a few of our readers reacted to them on the time:

Hamilton leaves Mercedes for Ferrari

It’s not typically the most important story of a Formulation 1 season breaks earlier than the season has even began, however arguably that was the case this yr. Lewis Hamilton rocked the paddock out of its winter slumber by confirming he had known as time on his astonishingly profitable 12-year stint at Mercedes.

The game’s most profitable driver of all time becoming a member of its most profitable crew of all time – Ferrari – was at all times going to be large information. It additionally had apparent implications for the driving force market, although they turned out to not be as consequential as they could have been.

Though Sainz turned in one other spectacular efficiency alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, and each Crimson Bull and Mercedes had vacancies to fill for 2025, neither employed him. After months of hypothesis, Sainz confirmed he’ll be part of Williams, whereas Mercedes selected to advertise teen Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

When Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes everybody thought he was making an enormous mistake. Lewis is aware of what he’s doing.
@Flyinglapp

Crimson Bull dither over Perez

Lawson’s return was unhealthy information for Perez on and off the monitor

Having laboured for a lot of 2023, Sergio Perez appeared to get better his kind early this yr. However by the point Crimson Bull introduced he had been given a two-year contract extension his kind was already sliding once more, and it by no means recovered.

Following the British Grand Prix, Crimson Bull crew principal admitted the crew couldn’t tolerate a repeat of Perez’s failure to attain once more. This prompted widespread hypothesis he may be dropped on the summer time break, however though he solely contributed 13 factors over the following two races, he gained a keep of execution.

The state of affairs turned more and more determined because the yr went on, Perez scoring simply 9 factors from the ultimate eight rounds. Plainly, the state of affairs had now turn out to be insupportable, however Crimson Bull confronted the extra complication that their most well-liked substitute for Perez – Daniel Ricciardo – had didn’t shine on his return with RB.

He was proven the door after the Singapore Grand Prix and Liam Lawson ushered in. He rapidly bought on the tempo of crew mate Yuki Tsunoda and turned in a wonderful drive at the US Grand Prix. Crimson Bull crew principal Christian Horner quickly discovered himself going through questions whether or not Perez could be elbowed out earlier than the season ended; the axe as a substitute fell the week after.

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I’m not shocked by this information however I nonetheless reckon it’s the fallacious selection at this cut-off date. The final two rookies nearly ended up out of the game very quickly after being paired with Max. Any respectable driver with expertise could be a better option. Yuki, Bottas and Sainz had been all choices. I need to see Lawson have an extended and profitable profession. Sending him to be Max’s teammate this early in his profession might effectively compromise that…
@Tommy-C

FOM’s 299-day U-turn

Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Miami International Autodrome, 2024
FOM unsuccessfully tried to maintain the Andrettis out

As 2024 started, the FIA had rubber-stamped Andretti’s utility to hitch Formulation 1, and it was now as much as Formulation One Administration to provide their verdict. They might hardly have been extra emphatic of their dismissal, which they introduced in January. Of their view, not solely did the crew named for the 1978 world champion’s household lack recognition, however they had been unlikely to be aggressive and, in addition to, F1 didn’t want an eleventh crew.

The row floor on all year long and have become more and more private. Mario Andretti claimed Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei informed his son their crew would by no means be allowed in.

However, fortified by the assist of the FIA and allied to Common Motors model Cadillac, Andretti fought their nook. They urged US lawmakers to look into the matter and eventually the steadiness tipped. FOM confirmed its capitulation in October, although nonetheless refused to call the Andrettis because the profitable candidates.

Nice, now let Hitech in as effectively for a correct 24-car grid!
Joao

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Championship clashes

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Red Bull Ring, 2024
Verstappen and Norris collided in Austria

After two largely one-sided seasons, lastly F1 had a combat for the championship once more. Nonetheless Lando Norris discovered himself preventing a rearguard motion having misplaced vital floor to Max Verstappen early within the yr.

When the pair met on-track, fireworks tended to observe. Norris was infuriated by his rival’s defending in Austria, which led to a collision between the pair, a penalty for Verstappen and, later, an admission from the FIA that they had been too sluggish to self-discipline the Crimson Bull driver.

Verstappen bought the higher of their alternate in Austin, too, the place Norris was penalised however many felt Verstappen had intentionally compelled him off and bought away with it. McLaren made a fruitless try to alter the choice.

They clashed but once more in Mexico, and though Norris finally completed forward, Verstappen efficiently prevented him difficult for victory in a race he might have gained, costing him valuable factors. If the pair begin subsequent yr on a good footing we might have fairly a combat on our fingers.

In the event you can take the penalty and achieve a bonus… it’s not truly a penalty. It’s only a discount in benefit. What must occur is that the penalties are harsh sufficient that drivers will desperately need to keep away from them, and can study to instinctively go away area for his or her opponents. Till that occurs, the penalties aren’t extreme sufficient.
Seppo (@Helava)

Sanity breaks out over monitor limits

Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Shanghai International Circuit, 2024
F1 lastly bought severe about monitor limits

Monitor limits have been the bane of F1 racing for therefore a few years, however in 2024 the sequence lastly bought severe about tackling the issue. Particularly, by reinstating bodily limits to tracks which by no means ought to have been eliminated or absent to start with.

The Crimson Bull Ring, beforehand a infamous hassle spot, was one of many greatest success tales, and the variety of monitor limits infringements throughout the race plummeted. Silverstone, Shanghai and the Hungaroring additionally benefited from the addition of recent gravel journeys and narrower kerbs stopping drivers from gaining a bonus by working huge.

There was one conspicuous exception, nevertheless: the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Unsurprisingly, each races at the US Grand Prix weekend subsequently featured a number of rows over drivers gaining a bonus by going off the monitor. Hopefully the experiences COTA will repair its run-offs for subsequent yr show correct.

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It’s wonderful how these tons of of monitor restrict points we had final yr have immediately stopped. It’s wonderful what a sliver of gravel can do. Seems these drivers can keep on monitor with relative ease even when pushing.

Who knew.
BLS (@BrightLampShade)

Extra main tales

The 2024 season noticed many different main developments. Haas dropped its unique crew principal Guenther Steiner and appointed Ayao Komatsu as his substitute. In addition they efficiently lured Toyota again to F1 as a brand new technical companion.

Logan Sargeant, Williams, Zandvoort, 2024
Williams confirmed Sargeant the door after one crash too many

If that got here as a shock, Alpine’s resolution to switch one more crew principal was a extra routine affair: Oliver Oakes arrived instead of Bruno Famin. Extra of a shock was crew proprietor Renault’s resolution to axe its F1 engine programme and as a substitute turn out to be a buyer of Mercedes.

Nonetheless probably the most vital change amongst crew personnel was absolutely Adrian Newey’s departure from Crimson Bull. Aston Martin pulled off a coup by beating their rivals to his signature.

Earlier than Ricciardo, Logan Sargeant was probably the most high-profile mid-season sacking, after a sequence of crashes in his Williams. Ricciardo’s final act in F1 was to disclaim Norris the bonus level for quickest lap in Singapore, serving to out RB’s sister crew Crimson Bull, and it was absolutely no coincidence that the FIA introduced quickly afterwards the rule can be dropped for subsequent yr.

Drama struck McLaren in Spain, the place the crew’s hospitality unit caught fireplace. Remarkably, the motorhome suffered extra harm in Hungary as a result of a storm.

There was loads of tit-for-tat between the title contenders. Norris grassed Verstappen up in Baku, to no impact, however the Crimson Bull driver exacted a punishing revenge in Losail, triggering a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for his rival. Different radio feedback attracted the eye of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who urged drivers to chop out the swearing.

Lastly, Kevin Magnussen turned the primary F1 driver to obtain an automated one-race ban for accumulating 12 penalty factors on his licence.

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Our most-read options

Listed here are a few of the options and information tales which attracted probably the most curiosity, feedback and a focus on social media throughout 2024:

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All 30 F1 race experiences of 2024

The primary occasions

All of our in-depth experiences on the 12 grands prix of 2024:

The sideshows

With six dash occasions, F1 held a record-breaking 30 races this yr:

Group radio highlights

RaceFans’ crew radio transcripts offered the complete context behind the clips performed on tv and uncovered shocking and missed new particulars about how the races unfolded:

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Social media highlights

A closing number of our most-shared posts this yr:

Over to you

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