Formula 1

Six race wins that shaped the 2024 F1 championship

Which drivers changed the game in Formula 1’s most unpredictable season yet?

Published by
Millie Lembke

Following the conclusion of the 2024 Formula 1 season this past weekend, it's clear that this year will go down as one of the most memorable in the sport's history.

After years of Red Bull's dominance and Mercedes' reign in the decade prior, fans were eager for a shake-up. Enter the 2024 season, where seven different drivers claimed race victories and all but eight of the 22 drivers managed to stand on the podium at least once.

If history is indeed written by the victors, charting the season through the lens of those who triumphed at different stages reveals just how fiercely competitive the 2024 Formula 1 campaign was.

Here we name six grand prix victories that shaped the 2024 F1 World Championship...

Australian GP: Carlos Sainz

Prior to 2020, the Melbourne Grand Prix was the traditional curtain-raiser of the Formula 1 season. While recent years have seen the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP precede it, Carlos Sainz's unexpected victory in Melbourne this year marked the true start of a season full of surprises.

While Red Bull dominated the first two races of the season with one-two finishes, Sainz's victory signalled the end of their reign over the past few years. 

Remarkably, Sainz had missed the second round due to emergency surgery for appendicitis, completing an incredible fortnight turnaround from the hospital bed to pole position.

Monaco GP: Charles Leclerc

The Monaco Grand Prix saw Charles Leclerc raise a bottle of champagne over his hometown for the first time in his six-year racing career. In fact, Leclerc became the first Monégasque driver to win his home race since 1931, a ‘curse' he has been vocal about hoping to break. 

Speaking at the podium interviews following the win, Leclerc revealed his final lap thoughts were with his late father, a former motorsport driver who passed away shortly before Charles' F1 debut.

"It was a dream of ours to race here and to win, so it's unbelievable," he said. 

British GP: Lewis Hamilton

Continuing the streak of unexpected hometown victories, Lewis Hamilton claimed his ninth career British GP win at Silverstone Circuit this year.

This marked the end of a significant drought for the seven-time World Champion, whose last F1 win was in 2021.

With the talk of the season being Hamilton's 2025 move to Ferrari, it's no surprise he aimed to make his final home race during his historic 12-year tenure at Mercedes one to remember.

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Kevin Magnussen of Denmark driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 06, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Hungarian GP: Oscar Piastri

At this point in the season, the narrative of McLaren as a formidable force on the grid had well and truly emerged. Following McLaren driver Lando Norris' first career win at the Miami Grand Prix, young Australian driver Oscar Piastri quietly established himself as a consistent performer.

Frequently securing fourth-place finishes and unassumingly stepping onto the podium a handful of times, the Hungarian GP marked Piastri's first victory. 

The win did not come without drama, however, as McLaren's pit strategy faltered, leaving Norris in second place and reluctantly yielding the lead to Piastri.

Brazilian GP: Max Verstappen

If you've been looking at the victories so far and wondering whether the era of Verstappen's dominance is over, the Brazilian GP served as a resounding reminder of why he remains the best on the grid.

His first win in 11 races, Verstappen delivered a masterclass, starting 17th and navigating the pouring rain and treacherous track conditions to claim victory. 

While Verstappen officially secured his fourth consecutive F1 World Championship title at the Las Vegas GP the following week, his Brazil win not only boosted his points tally but also delivered a clear message to silence his doubters.

SUZUKA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 24: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL60 Mercedes line up on the front row of the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on September 24, 2023 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Abu Dhabi GP: Lando Norris

Lando Norris' commanding victory from pole position at the year's final race at the Yas Marina Circuit last weekend wrapped up the season of change. 

While the Constructors' Championship was still up for grabs going into the race, Norris, who had been a dominant driver all season, ushered in a new era with McLaren claiming the title.

The last time a team outside of Mercedes or Red Bull won the Constructors' Championship was in 2008, making McLaren's 2024 triumph a historic shift in the sport. 

The Abu Dhabi GP epitomised the chaos and rebalancing of this season, setting the stage for major team and driver changes next year. The competition now feels wide open, brimming with possibilities for a thrilling new chapter in Formula 1.

Published by
Millie Lembke