Complete calendar with 24 races
The 2024 Formula 1 season delivered a thrilling conclusion as Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship while McLaren ended their 26-year title drought by claiming the Constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen's title defense was far from straightforward. After dominating the opening races with seven victories in the first 10 rounds, his Red Bull RB20 lost its competitive edge as McLaren's MCL38 emerged as the season's fastest car following crucial upgrades introduced at the Miami Grand Prix. Lando Norris mounted a serious championship challenge, winning in Miami and keeping pressure on Verstappen throughout the second half of the season. Despite Red Bull's mid-season struggles, Verstappen's consistency and racecraft proved decisive, clinching the championship with a fifth-place finish in Las Vegas to finish with 437 points to Norris's 374.
The Constructors' Championship battle provided even more drama. McLaren's resurgence was spearheaded by Norris and Oscar Piastri, who secured their maiden F1 victories in Hungary and Baku respectively. The team's relentless consistency - 14 consecutive podiums from China to Singapore - propelled them into championship contention. Ferrari mounted a strong challenge led by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with Leclerc's masterful one-stop strategy victory at Monza highlighting their competitiveness. The battle went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, where Norris's victory secured McLaren's first constructors' title since 1998.
Mercedes showed flashes of their former glory with Lewis Hamilton ending his 945-day victory drought at Silverstone in an emotional home win during his final season with the team. George Russell also contributed wins, demonstrating Mercedes' progress after years of struggling with their ground-effect cars.
The season was marked by significant off-track developments, including Hamilton's shocking announcement that he would join Ferrari for 2025, and Adrian Newey's departure from Red Bull to join Aston Martin. These moves set the stage for a potentially transformative 2025 season.
Verstappen became the sixth driver to win four or more World Championships, joining the legendary company of Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton. Remarkably, he achieved this feat while driving for the third-placed constructor - the first driver to do so in 41 years - underscoring his exceptional talent and consistency in a season where Red Bull's dominance finally came to an end.