Although the 2024 F1 season is still a few months away there is still plenty of motorsport news around, as we take an early look at the upcoming F1 racing year. With the new year to commence on March 2nd at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the 2024 F1 season is expected to be an exciting one, with several teams and drivers vying for the championship title. While it’s still early, we are going to make early, bold predictions about the new season. As well as look at who are the contenders for the title and highlight the rising stars and fresh faces in the 2024 season.
A Piece of Unique History Beckons
With all teams confirming their lineups for next year, for the first time in the history of Formula 1, the starting grid is going to stay the same from one season to the next. Williams’ declaration that Logan Sargeant will continue to be part of their team in the upcoming season means that the same group of 20 drivers who participated in the final Grand Prix of 2023 in Abu Dhabi will also be present on the grid for the first race of 2024, representing the same teams.
Although there will be two garages who will be rebranding in the new year, with Alfa Romeo discontinuing its sponsorship of Sauber and AlphaTauri altering its name, the teams will essentially remain unchanged.
New Year, New Rules
The FIA has made several changes to the rulebooks for the F1 2024 season, including enhanced visibility in wet races and stricter engine penalties. It’s worth noting that these are just some of the changes that have been approved so far. More changes could be announced in the coming months as the start of the 2024 season approaches.
More Racing, Yes Please
Fans can also look forward to a record-breaking 24-race season, which will begin in Bahrain on March 2 and end in Abu Dhabi on December 8. The schedule includes several new races, including the Miami Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In addition, there will be several driver changes, with George Russell joining Mercedes and youngster Tim Tramnitz making his debut with R-ace GP.
The build up to a new racing season is always anticipated with great excitement and 2024 is no exception, as we cast our eyes at some of the contenders and new faces in the circuit and who will take home the title.
Contenders for the Title
- Max Verstappen – The impressive Dutch driver has been in excellent form in recent years, winning the championship in 2022 and 2023. He will be looking to make it three in a row in 2024.
- Charles Leclerc – The Monegasque driver has been impressive since joining Ferrari in 2019. He finished third in the championship in 2023 and will be looking to go even better in 2024.
- Lando Norris – The British driver has been a revelation since joining McLaren in 2019. He finished fourth in the championship in 2023 and will be looking to build on that in 2024.
- Lewis Hamilton – The seven-time world champion is still going strong at the age of 39. He finished fifth in the championship in 2023 and will be looking to add another title to his collection in 2024.
- George Russell – The ever consistent British driver, Russell will be looking to further enhance his partnership with Lewis Hamilton. If he can convert podium finishes into wins, he’ll be one to challenge Max Verstappen in 2024.
Fresh Face and the Rising Stars to Look Out For
- Oscar Piastri – The Australian driver won the F2 championship in 2023 and will be making his debut in F1 in 2024 with McLaren. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young drivers in the sport.
- Dennis Hauger – The Norwegian driver finished second in the F2 championship in 2023 and will be making his debut in F1 in 2024 with Red Bull. He is another driver who is highly rated by those in the know.
- Zhou Guanyu – The Chinese driver has been impressive in F2 in recent years and will be making his debut in F1 in 2024 with Alfa Romeo. He is the first Chinese driver to compete in F1 and will be looking to make a name for himself.
- Tim Tramnitz – Former driver Ralf Schumacher has high praise for the potential of the young German driver. Seen as a potential future F1 winner, Tramnitz will learn his craft with R-ace GP.
With several teams and drivers vying for the championship title, the 2024 F1 season promises to be an exciting one, with plenty of drama and excitement to look forward to. Remember to keep up to date with all the latest F1 news as we count down to the new racing season.
