December 9th 2024.
The checkered flag has been waved, signaling the end of another exhilarating season for Formula 1. Lando Norris emerged as the victor in the final race in Abu Dhabi, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc close behind. It has been a year filled with twists and turns, and will certainly be remembered as one of the most eventful in the history of the sport.
Even before the first race, the Formula 1 world was already buzzing with excitement. Sir Lewis Hamilton's highly-anticipated move to Ferrari and the scandal involving Christian Horner sent shockwaves through the sport. And that was just the beginning. The stunning transfer of Adrian Newey from Red Bull to Aston Martin added to the drama on and off the track.
But when the engines roared to life, it was Max Verstappen who claimed his fourth consecutive drivers' title. With nine wins under his belt, he managed to fend off a surprise challenge from Lando Norris. However, it was Norris' team, McLaren, who secured the constructors' championship, their first in 26 years. Throughout the 24 races, we saw 24 different drivers take the wheel, including seven race winners, four Brits, three rookies, and two first-time victors. It was a season full of excitement and surprises, but also some disappointments.
Now, let's take a closer look at the drivers and how they performed this year. Using a scale from 10 to 1, with 10 being perfection and 1 being a return to Formula 2, let's see who stood out and who needs to improve.
Max Verstappen - 9
Whether you love or hate his bold personality on and off the track, there's no denying that Verstappen has solidified his legendary status. His drive from 17th to first in Brazil was undoubtedly the highlight of his career so far. Even with other teams catching up, he managed to maintain a comfortable lead when Red Bull had a dominant car. Will he be able to match Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive titles in 2025? Only time will tell.
Lando Norris - 8
Some may argue that Norris missed out on the title, but it was a tough battle to catch Verstappen. Although McLaren had the fastest car in the second half of the season, they were not entirely dominant. Norris' first-ever win in Miami was followed by victories in the Netherlands, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. Yes, he made some mistakes, but he will surely be better prepared to fight for the championship next year.
Charles Leclerc - 8
Leclerc had a fantastic season, with three wins, including emotional victories in Monaco and Italy. He came very close to beating Norris to second place in the standings. His improved consistency was crucial in helping Ferrari challenge for the constructors' crown. There's no doubt that the Monegasque has what it takes to be a champion, he just needs the right car and to beat his new teammate, Hamilton.
Oscar Piastri - 8
It's hard to believe that this was only Piastri's second season in Formula 1. The Aussie looks like a future champion, claiming his first wins in Hungary and Azerbaijan. While Norris outshone him in qualifying, Piastri proved to be a strong competitor on race days. If he continues on his current trajectory, he might just be McLaren's best bet for the future.
Carlos Sainz - 8
Being replaced by Hamilton could have affected Sainz's performance, but instead, he had the best year of his career. Despite undergoing an appendectomy just weeks before, he managed to win in Australia and Mexico. The Scuderia may regret letting go of such a talented driver. Let's hope his skills are not wasted at Williams.
George Russell - 7
Russell had a mixed season, with the Mercedes car performing differently from race to race. He only managed to secure four podiums, but he did win in Austria and Las Vegas. His rivalry with Verstappen was a fiery one, and he has now been tasked with leading Mercedes after Hamilton's departure. With two wins against the seven-time champion in their three years together, he is certainly well-qualified.
Lewis Hamilton - 7
Although he ended his win drought in style at Silverstone and claimed victory in Belgium after Russell's disqualification, this was undoubtedly the worst year of Hamilton's career. He finished a career-worst seventh in the championship and spent most of the season counting down the days until it was over. Let's hope this was just a blip for him and Ferrari's sake.
In the end, it was Lando Norris who emerged as the victor in Abu Dhabi, but it was a close race until the very end. With such a thrilling season, we can't wait to see what the next one has in store for us.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has come to an end, marking the end of another thrilling Formula 1 season. This year's races will definitely go down in history as one of the most memorable ones. The season was filled with unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the track. Even before the races began, the news of Sir Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari and the Christian Horner scandal had the F1 world buzzing. And let's not forget about Adrian Newey's shocking move from Red Bull to Aston Martin.
On the track, Max Verstappen dominated with his fourth consecutive drivers' title, winning nine races along the way. However, it was McLaren who took home the constructors' championship, their first in 26 years. It was an action-packed season with 24 races and 24 different drivers, including seven race winners, four Brits, three rookies, and two first-time victors. Now, the question is, who performed the best and who needs to go back to F2?
Here's a breakdown of the top drivers' performances, with ratings from 1 to 10, where 10 is perfection and 1 is back to Formula 2. First, we have Max Verstappen, who undoubtedly deserves a solid 9 for his incredible driving skills. Love him or hate him, the Dutchman has cemented his legendary status, with his jaw-dropping drive from 17th to first in Brazil being the highlight of his career so far. He maintained a huge lead in a dominant Red Bull car and even after other teams caught up, he never faltered. Will he be able to match Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive titles in 2025?
Next up is Lando Norris, who deserves an 8 for his performance this season. Some may argue that he missed out on the title race, but it was a tough task to catch up to Verstappen. Despite having the fastest car in the second half of the season, McLaren was not dominant. Norris, who won his first race in Miami, went on to win in the Netherlands, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. He did make some mistakes, but he will be better prepared to fight for the championship next year.
Charles Leclerc also gets an 8 for his three wins this season, including emotional victories in Monaco and Italy. He had a strong performance, and his consistency helped Ferrari to edge closer to the constructors' crown. The Monegasque driver has all the qualities of a champion; he just needs the right car and to beat his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Oscar Piastri, with an 8, is definitely one to watch out for in the future. In just his second F1 season, the Australian driver showed his potential with wins in Hungary and Azerbaijan. While Norris outperformed him in qualifying, Piastri was closer on race days. With his current trajectory, he might just end up being McLaren's best bet.
Carlos Sainz, who was dumped for Hamilton, proved his worth with an outstanding performance this year, earning him an 8. Despite undergoing appendicitis, he managed to win in Australia and Mexico. The Scuderia may regret letting go of such a talented driver. Let's hope his skills are not wasted at Williams.
George Russell, with a 7, faced some challenges with the Mercedes car, which was slow in some races and a rocket ship in others. He managed to secure four podiums and two wins in Austria and Las Vegas. Amidst a fiery feud with Verstappen, he has now been tasked with leading Mercedes after Hamilton's departure. But considering he has beaten the seven-time champion twice in their three seasons together, he is more than capable.
Finally, Lewis Hamilton, with a 7, had a tough year, finishing in seventh place in the championship, his worst performance yet. He won in style at Silverstone and also claimed victory in Belgium after Russell's disqualification. However, this was just a blip in his otherwise illustrious career, and we hope to see him back on top with Ferrari. As for Mercedes, they will definitely miss him after 11 years of dominance.
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