Formula 1 is a motorsport televised worldwide and popular in Europe. It involves high speed racing in specialized cars designed for aerodynamics and fast turns. As technology advances, so do the cars, getting faster and more maneuverable with every modification. Since the year 1950, the driver that wins the most points becomes the world champion, while the teams compete together for the World Constructors Championship. Many people adore the sport for it’s history, engineering prowess, intense competition and rivalry between drivers. Before the 2024 season began, many people had already predicted the winner, but it was more of a competition than expected. So what happened, and who won?
Professional formula 1 currently consists of 10 teams of 20 drivers, racing a minimum of 305 kilometers in specialized and regulated cars. In order for a car to be allowed, it must follow a strict set of regulations. Cars have a minimum weight of 1754 lbs, rear-view mirrors must be at least 150 x 50 mm, and engineers can only adjust certain parts of the car for an aerodynamic advantage. With all these rules in place, most cars race at around the same speed, so the main focus of the race is the skill of the driver.
Most drivers start go-karting very young, and eventually advance to F1 at around 18 years old. Traveling around the globe to race, teams compete every weekend. While there are competitions that include both teammates, the World Championship is an individual, season wide competition with a point system based on what place the driver finishes in after a race. A driver’s goal is to place as high as possible as many times as possible to have the best chance at winning.
This year, many people predicted how the world championship would play out. Most fans were betting that the 3 time World Champion, Max Verstappen, would claim his 4th championship. Verstappen drives for the Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT, commonly known as the Red Bull racing team, and it seemed likely that he would sweep the entire season. Enter a challenger: the controversial driver, Lando Norris of the Mclaren racing team. After his first ever win in the Miami Grand Prix, Norris began to become more of a real competitor. His team, Mclaren, had the fastest car, and he was able to rack up points by consistently finishing near first. As the season progressed, the gap started to slowly shrink after a few lackluster performances from Verstappen. His fans hoped it might be enough for him to close the gap and to clinch the World Championship.
After many races, the 2024 season came to a close, and Norris and Verstappen were the only remaining competitors in the championship, with Verstappen in the lead. To win the championship, Verstappen only had to beat Norris by three points. The point system in Formula 1 is simple. First place is worth 25 points, second gets 18 points, and so on. The point value of a finish decreases until 10th, which is worth 1 point. The positions after that don’t score anything. As drivers raced in Las Vegas, Nevada, the championship had the opportunity to be secured, and it was. Max Verstappen placed in 5th, while Norris placed in 6th. As Verstappen outscored Norris, he secured the championship, and even with two races left, no one had the possibility of catching him. Even before the final race, Max Verstappen joined a very select group of drivers who have won 4 world championships.
