Verstappen reigns, but McLaren steals the narrative. Under Red Bull’s shadow, the grid fractured — alliances crumbled, rookies roared, and by Abu Dhabi, the old order had finally cracked.
The 2024 F1 season — the 75th edition — opened under sweeping technical rules and record 24 rounds. Max Verstappen, defending triple champion, looked unassailable early with seven wins from ten races. Yet instead of total dominance, the story became something richer — a struggle for legacy, and McLaren’s stunning return. Verstappen secured his fourth straight title, but McLaren emerged from the wreckage to clinch an emotional Constructors’ Championship — their first since 1997.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Season
- Verstappen opened strong: seven wins in the first ten races.
- Mirror‑like comeback: McLaren clawed back a 115‑point deficit to surge past Red Bull, clinching the Constructors’ Championship by just 14 points.
- Lando Norris scored McLaren’s first win since Italy 2021 at Miami, launching their resurgence.
- Charles Leclerc smashed the “Monaco curse” with Ferrari’s first home win since 2017.
- Lewis Hamilton ended a 945‑day winless streak with victory at Silverstone — his final win for Mercedes before shifting to Ferrari.
- Nike-like Hungarian GP drama: Piastri’s win amid intra-team conflict over position strategy.
- Red Bull’s mid-season wobble gave McLaren breathing room — but Verstappen stayed consistent enough to keep the title.
The Story of the Season — Empire Meets Rebellion
Verstappen: Steel Meets Fragility
Max began steamrolling: victory after victory, leapfrogging opponents, some by tens of seconds. But cracks appeared. McLaren rolled out upgrades that finally clicked. Verstappen’s RB20 lost a fraction of its early God‑mode. Yet he stayed marginally ahead — titles in F1 reward survival as much as speed.
McLaren: Return of the Wolves
Dead last in Bahrain, yet by mid-field upgrades and Norris‑Piastri synergy, McLaren transformed. Norris’s Miami win was the spark. From there, they locked front rows, delivered strategic masterpieces, and built consistency that Red Bull couldn’t match in the finale. Abu Dhabi wasn’t just another McLaren win — it was their renaissance.
Ferrari: Promise, Panic, Plateau
Leclerc lit up Monaco, Sainz shocked Iran. But Ferrari’s strategy remained erratic: the car was fast in qualifying but crumbled race execution. Too often brilliant in isolation, but unreliable at season’s end. By Abu Dhabi, their constructors’ gap cost them dearly.
Mercedes: The Fade Continues
Silverstone win lit the headlines — Hamilton’s final Mercedes triumph. Beyond that, the W15 remained an unstable beast. Russell had flashes; Hamilton stayed solid. But they never threatened seriously for the title. Then, Hamilton’s exit to Ferrari loomed as the final symbol of failure.
Off‑Track Tremors — A Season of Power Plays
- Christian Horner’s departure mid-season shook Red Bull at its core — but Verstappen insisted it wouldn’t alter his loyalty.
- Sprint format reshuffles continued — but fan fatigue grew. Still, McLaren adapted best when chaos reigned.
- McLaren’s win broke a 26-year drought — the first private constructor to win since Brawn in 2009.
- Titles were decided in Abu Dhabi — Norris turning pole into victory, Perez penalised, Hamilton finishing four the final lap.
Season Summary & Results
24 races in four continents.
- Max Verstappen – 9 wins, 437 points (Champion)
- Lando Norris – 4 wins, 374 points
- Charles Leclerc – 3 wins, 356 points
- Oscar Piastri – 2 wins, 292 points
- Carlos Sainz – 1 win, 290 points
- George Russell – 2 wins, 245 points
Constructors’:
Legacy — A Crown Won, a Kingdom Lost
2024 wasn’t a season — it was a reset.
Verstappen claimed his fourth in style — the throne remains his.
McLaren resurrected themselves, proving strategy and cohesion still beat horsepower.
Ferrari and Mercedes remain giants in decline, struggling to adapt to a sport remade by regulation and age.
Norris and Piastri showed the future is theirs — hungry, smart, burgeoning.
This season didn’t just crown a champion — it redrew the map of Formula 1.
Red Bull may still rule — but McLaren just sent a message:
The dynasty can be challenged.
The old guard can fall.
And change… can come from within.
2024 was not an era of domination.
It was the dawn of disruption.
