F1. 2024 Season Preview

By Aiden McLaughlin and Gavin Huet

The same characters that brought you the post race reviews are back and raring to go for the new season. The one thing we have learnt over the last year is that we are not very good at predicting what will happen over the course of a F1 season so expect more of the same this time round.

Drive to Survive Season Six has dropped, testing in Bahrain has just concluded, and instead of a relaxing off season we have been fed drama that has left everyone blindsided with some bits not yet resolved.

 

What are you looking forward to in season 2024?
Gavin – The start to the racing of course! It seems like so long ago that 2023 ended, and no, Drive To Survive just does not cut it. The first race is always a favourite of mine as we get to find out who was fooling who (and who was fooling themselves) in the pre-season testing, and ultimately how Ferrari can disappoint the Tifosi again. Hook it straight into my veins.

Aiden – It sounds a bit negative, but I’m looking forward to the race for second; second in the drivers championship, second in the constructors championship. Let’s not fool ourselves. One team and one driver are almost certain to be too good again in 2025. Fair play to them, but there’s plenty of uncertainty as to who will lead the rest of the pack, and plenty of candidates.

What was your favourite storyline of the off-season?

Gavin – I was thinking that the off-season was quiet, until it wasn’t. But then I realised that so much had actually happened – FIA investigate Toto and Susie Wolff (for two days), Guenther Steiner loses his job at Haas, Leclerc and Norris pen long term deals, Andretti bid is rejected, Sir Lewis Hamilton signs for Ferrari (from 2025), and Christian Horner is investigated for and cleared of inappropriate behaviour. Ultimately though it is Lewis joining the Scuderia that is my (Ferrari fan boy) story of the off-season. Seismic, and it has already brought into question so many other driver seat availability possibilities when originally it looked like a very settled grid for the foreseeable future – this season sees no rookies for the first time in ages.

Aiden – It’s hard to go past the Lewis-to-Ferrari story isn’t it? For me, the best thing about it was how unexpected it was. For so long, there was the build-up to Hamilton extending his contract with Mercedes. We get that out of the way and then BOOM, this happens just months later. There’s always plenty to talk about when it comes to F1, but this story is already on, and will continue to be on another level for the whole of 2024.

Can any team take the fight to Red Bull this season?

Gavin – I know testing does not really indicate much to the average fan but Red Bull look so dominant again. I am hoping Ferrari can capitalise on their little bit of momentum from last season but even then I remain doubtful, and unless Mercedes or Aston Martin or McLaren etc make massive inroads I just can’t see Red Bull being seriously exposed (no, not a reference to anything related to Mr Ginger Spice). Even if Red Bull don’t dominate as much as 2023 they surely will not tail off to such an extent as to be dethroned.

Aiden – I think they will be challenged for sure, but not consistently enough to threaten their hold on the championship. Expect Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren to give them a fight at various stages of the season.

Driver to watch

Gavin – Originally I was thinking there isn’t really much for the drivers to aspire to this season, and with no rookies either I was going to struggle with this question. But as hinted above, the move by Lewis has now ignited the driver roundabout with Carlos Sainz currently without a seat for 2025, Mercedes with a Lewis sized hole in their lineup, and everyone hoping to impress Toto Wolff enough for an invitation to the big leagues. Mick Schumacher anyone….? Nah, I didn’t think so. It will be interesting to see how the two current Ferrari drivers respond to their individual circumstance this season, but ultimately I think the mid table drivers will be the ones to watch – Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, etc., as they will look to bigger opportunities, while Logan Sargeant at Williams will need to improve on last year or else he may not be on the grid for much longer. Even Red Bull will probably be experiencing a bit of uncertainty in that second driver seat with Sergio Perez being put under pressure by Daniel Ricciardo in the sister RB (+ long sponsor name) team.

Aiden – George Russell. With Lewis moving on in 2025, he has the chance to really impose himself on the team this year before becoming the team leader next year. He had his ups and downs in 2023, but Russell is a fast learner and I expect him to be Lewis’s equal this year and perhaps just beat him in the championship standings.

 

Team to watch

Gavin – I am going for Haas as a team that could do something this year. A change of leadership and a move towards a more technical focus coupled with their sporadic qualifying pace could see them moving up the grid. But then of course from the back of the pack the only way is up. I will miss Guenther though, what a personality.

Aiden – VCARB sounds like a soft drink, but ‘Visa Cash App RB’, the sister team of Red Bull, finished 2023 strongly and if they can maintain that level of improvement, they will be challenging the likes of Alpine and Williams in mid-division. When you also consider that Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson are in the Red Bull family, then the driver line-up of Yuki Tsunoda & Daniel Ricciardo is very interesting as it’s potentially a really fluid driver situation across both teams in 2025

Grand Prix you’re most looking forward to this year

Gavin – It’s another long season and this year I hope to finally enjoy Las Vegas in its second outing. Last season the experience was disrupted due to the drain cover going through the Ferrari and causing the whole weekend to be moved around. One thing though, could the commentary team stop whinging about the time in Las Vegas? Seriously people, here in Aotearoa we have to contend with messed up times almost every race and yet here we are, watching everything we can.

Aiden – Last year, being a traditional old fella, I chose Monaco. This year I’m going to say Australia. The fact we are so close to their time zone really helps the viewing experience, but also, given it is round three, the teams will be starting to hit their strides and iron out early season issues, which should lead to a cracking, competitive weekend.

Will Liam Lawson have a seat by 2025?

Gavin – The Christian Horner issue may play a part here as there may be moves on both the management and driver front. I think Red Bull would want Liam Lawson in either the main team as a second driver, or at least in the sister RB team soon. Surely they cannot allow him to sit on the sidelines and watch opportunities go past? And with a seat at Mercedes up for grabs, and the upcoming driver moves I would think Red Bull will have Liam locked down well before we are told about it.

Aiden – I think so. My gut tells me that Sergio Perez will have his struggles again this season and Red Bull will say enough is enough and then the cards will fall into place for Lawson and see him at VCARB in 2025.

Who should replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

Gavin – Fernando Alonso. I mean I doubt it will happen, but that would be the best thing I can think of from a fan point of view. He would bring a lot of experience and nous to the team and would be a perfect foil to the straight guy that is George Russell. If they could sign him for just a year I think it could happen as they have rookie Kimi Antonelli in the wings and if his career progresses as it has been then he will be in F1 sooner rather than later. Spoiler, Fernando would demand a multi year deal.

Aiden – I’d go for Alex Albon. After a tough experience at Red Bull in 2019/20, he has rediscovered his mojo at Williams. By the time 2025 comes along, he’ll be 28, coming up 29, and have over 100 Grand Prix’s behind him. He’d also be a great teammate for George Russell.

Predictions for season 2024 – Drivers’ Championship

Gavin – Can’t see anything else but a Max Verstappen victory. I think the best we can hope for is that the other drivers don’t make it so easy for him. Sigh…

Aiden – Max Verstappen.

Predictions for season 2024 – Constructors’ Championship

Gavin – Red Bull again, I think Ferrari and Mercedes will be leading the chase for the other podium spots. Sigh…

Aiden – Red Bull.

Follow   Aiden Gavin   on Twitter