What started as a Formula One season poised for yet more Max Verstappen domination turned into one of the most open, competitive years in some time. While Verstappen took nine wins en route to his fourth consecutive title, he was nowhere near as comfortable as in 2023. Seven drivers from four teams won multiple races as McLaren surged to its first constructors’ title in 26 years and Ferrari put up its most serious title fight for more than a decade.
Advertisement The midfield also presented a handful of shock results and stand-out performances. Alpine’s double podium with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in Brazil transformed its season, while Nico Hülkenberg signed off from Haas in style by leading the team to its strongest year since 2018. But who were the stand-out performers of F1 2024? Following our mid-season ranking , here’s The Athletic ’s swing at a top 10 for the season.
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Less than half as many wins, 138 fewer points and ‘only’ wrapping up the title with two races to spare might point to this year being worse for Verstappen than 2023. But if anything, the battle through adversity to clinch his fourth title was even more impressive than the record-breaking fashion in which he took number three.
Verstappen started the year at his absolute best. He took pole for each of the first seven races and could have won all seven (he won five, retiring in Australia and losing to Lando Norris in Miami thanks to the safety car). Yet as Red Bul.
