That’s a wrap. After a record-breaking 24 races, the 2024 F1 season concluded on Sunday in Abu Dhabi with Lando Norris guiding McLaren to constructors’ glory.
What a topsy-turvy, constantly evolving season it has been. From Red Bull’s dominance on the track and turmoil in the paddock at the start of the season to multiple winners and riveting racing, there has been drama at every turn.
For the first time since 2021, too, we had a genuine title race, and while Max Verstappen ultimately claimed his fourth successive world championship, Norris pushed him to the final three races.
Seven drivers won races in total, with Norris and Oscar Piastri claiming their first F1 victories while Lewis Hamilton broke a near-1,000-day win duck with an emotional victory at the British Grand Prix.
Now, The Independent picks the winners and losers of a 2024 season that has already set the tone perfectly for potentially an all-time 2025 campaign.
Best driver
Max Verstappen – It’s boring, I know. The world champion gets the top gong. But before November, the answer would have been Norris.
Yet the most impressive drive of Verstappen’s life in Brazil – from 17th on the grid to a win margin of 20 seconds – changed that. It virtually sealed the world title and, in the end, he claimed five more victories over the course of the season than the McLaren driver.
Four on the spin. Five in a row – in a Red Bull that no longer looks consistently quick – would put him among the greats.
Podium places: Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg
Best team
McLaren – It shouldn’t be understated how monumental an achievement this was for the papaya.
This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Relax Kemi, history's on your side in the battle with Farage
Conservative MPs are worried. They weren’t worried when Andrea Jenkyns, formerly one of their number, defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Unlike Starmer, Farage's charisma lights up the room
The extraordinary poll showing Reform UK has overtaken the Labour Party in popularity can be attributed to many factors.
Okolie follows in footsteps of giants with weight switch
Lawrence Okolie is a big lad, and he has always been a big lad.
Year of living dangerously: our season awards for 2024
Kieran Jackson on best driver, biggest shock and much more
Injury-plagued City cannot afford to slip up in Turin
Manchester City's manager had his head in his hands.
Liverpool's imperfect win maintains perfect campaign
The mathematics of a complicated competition may remain unclear but one element is apparent.
Thames Water's operation is simply not good enough
Deeply in debt and proposing huge price hikes, the troubled company is holding customers to ransom
Murdoch loses court case in real-life 'Succession' battle
Rupert Murdoch's attempt to give his eldest son control of his family media empire has been blocked by a US court after a lengthy legal battle with three of his other children.
Netanyahu takes witness stand in corruption trial
Benjamin Netanyahu has become Israel’s first sitting prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant – having taken the witness stand in his lengthy corruption trial.
US shooting suspect shouts as he's dragged into court
Mangione: 'It's an insult to the intelligence of Americans'
