Race Review: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024

Ok, so you’re feeling a little down in the dumps now that the 2024 F1 season is done and dusted. I am too. But hey, we’ve still got one more race review to go!

It’s been ten long years since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix first took on the prestigious role of the season finale. And, although it may not live up to the hype of previous season finales such as the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s fair to say there have been some classics at this glitz and glam circuit. The race in 2024 may not be right up there with the very best of the Abu Dhabi races - of course, the top spot goes to the infamous 2021 race just based on the drama alone. It was, however, filled with plenty of emotion and nail biting action as the Constructors Championship would finally be decided.

For McLaren, who were in the fight for the crown, found themselves starting on the front row of the grid - Oscar Piastri in 2nd and Lando Norris on pole. The perfect situation with their rivals, Ferrari, starting in 3rd (Carlos Sainz) and 19th (Charles Leclerc). As soon as the five red lights would disappear from the grid, I am sure every F1 aficionado, specifically fans of McLaren and Ferrari, were holding their breath as the cars thundered down into the first turn. You could not make up as to what was to happen next. A fast starting Max Verstappen would battle Piastri into the first corner, making contact and sending both competitors into a spin and down the order. Verstappen would eventually be slapped with a 10 second time penalty for the incident, as would Piastri later on for a seperate offence. For Ferrari, the start was promising. Sainz was up to 2nd and Leclerc, up 11 places to 8th. All they needed to do was beat Norris who, unfortunately for the Scuderia, was comfortably out in front.

There were plenty of other slips, slides and whoopsies throughout the race also. Including that of, you guessed it, the struggling Sergio Perez. After getting tagged on the opening lap and sent into a frenzied spin, Perez would end his 2024 with another DNF. As to whether he returns for 2025, it is still to be seen at the time of writing. Elsewhere, Franco Colapinto would find himself with a left rear puncture, Valtteri Bottas would join Verstappen and Piastri with a time penalty before retiring due to contact with Kevin Magnussen, Alex Albon and Zhou Guanyu would be noted for false starts - the latter receiving 5 seconds, Liam Lawson would receive a stop/go penalty for a pit stop infringement before also retiring in the latter stages, and Lewis Hamilton would be struggling for pace on his final “hurrah” for Mercedes. Phew.

Despite all of this, there was some excitingly, excellent racing as well!

Take Pierre Gasly in his Alpine, for example. After a fantastic qualifying, he would jump from 6th to 3rd in the first corner before holding himself against the faster Mercedes of George Russell who would later win that particular battle. Towards the latter stages of the race Russell would also find himself in a fight with his team mate; Hamilton. After going wheel to wheel over the course of several corners, Hamilton, who was the only driver to start on hard tyres, would get the better of Russell, getting past him to finish 4th.

At the end of the day however, this race was all about the intriguing McLaren v Ferrari battle that, at times, got pretty juicy over the course of the 58 lap race. One particular memorable moment would be Ferrari’s failed undercut attempt on Norris who was so far out front, the Scuderia was ready to try anything to take the win from him. But, despite both Ferrari drivers running as high as and finishing in 2nd and 3rd, and Leclerc coming away as Driver of the Day, Norris would take the final win of the season, enough to gift McLaren their first World Constructors Championship since 1998. Second McLaren driver; Piastri, finished 10th.

McLaren’s Constructors Championship win is proving to be ever so popular in a season that needed change. It needed battles, it needed action and it needed new faces standing on the podium and alas, we were gifted exactly what we wanted.

Congratulations to McLaren for their WCC and Verstappen for his WDC. There is plenty to look forward to in 2025!

Race Review: São Paulo Eprix

Formula E is back for it's 11th Season, getting well underway around the streets of São Paulo with a dramatic, red flag filled race that would keep viewers gripping the edge of their seats from start to finish. Reigning World Champion; Pascal Wehrlein, would be starting on pole ahead of Nissan's Oliver Rowland. Mitch Evans, in his Jaguar, would bring up the rear in what was a disappointing qualifying for last season's championship contender. This eprix would also mark the return of Taylor Barnard in the McLaren, as well as the debut races for rookies Zane Maloney and David Beckmann who are driving for Lola Yamaha ABT and Kiro Race Co respectively.

The beginning of the season would be met with a delayed start after Robin Frijns would have technical problems with his Envision Racing car on the grid, leading him to be wheeled off back into the pit lane so the remainder of the field could finally get underway. And, with all five red lights disappearing from the view of the grid, Season 11 finally was a go!

Heading down into Turn 1, Rowland would take the lead away from Wehrlein after a blistering start. DS Penske's Jean-Eric Vergne was also flying along nicely, making up plenty of places. However, the one to watch was Evans who, after starting in last position, was already teetering on the edges of the top ten in 12th. But all this would quickly come to a pause with Jake Hughes and Nico Mueller colliding in a racing incident that would ultimately bring out the Safety Car for several laps while the stricken Maserati and Andretti cars were cleared. Replays would confirm that the cause of the incident was due a concertina effect from multiple cars making contact ahead. No one would be penalised and the race would quickly get back under way.

A few laps into the restart, our first of the "new and improved" attack modes were activated with Nick Cassidy and Stoffel Vandoorne being the ones to take the plunge. This race proved that attack mode was now a more powerful tool in aiding drivers to fly through the field, making up several places. As shown by Cassidy, who found himself leading the race by lap eight. Vandoorne, on the other hand, despite using more power than his competitors, reached a high of third position. Attack mode would also work wonders for Season 11's rookies, including that of Maloney who momentarily featured in the top ten. By race end, however, it would be the Jaguars of Evans and Cassidy, and the McLarens of Barnard and Sam Bird whose races had completely turned in the right direction thanks to the improvements of the ever so effective attack mode.

For others, the race didn't go as to what would have been the plan. There were drive through penalties for Norman Nato, Rowland and Maloney, as well as the McLaren duo, who took the penalties before finishing in a fantastic 3rd and 4th. All five of these drivers were caught with an overpower usage. There were also multiple DNFs. Lucas di Grassi would stop on track before making it back to the pits. Whereas, Season 9 Champion; Jake Dennis, would also come to a halt on the run off, causing a red flag in the process that would hinder several drivers who had just activated attack mode. A further red flag would appear after a big crash between Cassidy and Wehrlein that would leave the latter upside down but ok after a check at the medical centre.

With only a handful of laps to go, the top ten was looking tight, specifically the fight for the win between Evans, Antonio Felix da Costa, Barnard and Bird. Ultimately, it would be Evans who would cross the line only millimeters ahead of the following pack. da Costa would come home 2nd, Barnard in 3rd, with the top three all coming away with stand out performances. But, for Evans in particular, from starting in last position to finishing first, he is sure to be a shoe in as a Season 11 championship contender.

Despite being only one race into this new season, it's fair to say that we are in for some fun, exciting and fantastic wheel to wheel racing over the next few months. I for one, cannot wait!

Next up: Mexico City!

Race Review: Qatar Sprint and Grand Prix 2024

It's inevitable; the 2024 F1 Season is coming to an end, and what a season it has been. From plenty of on track, and off track, action, to a number of different race winners and an eventual 4th Drivers Championship for Red Bull's Max Verstappen; this season has had it all! But, before we say goodbye, adios and ciao to 2024, there is still plenty of wheel to wheel racing to go - starting with the penultimate race weekend in Qatar, which also happened to be the final Sprint weekend of the season.

This particular Sprint race could have easily been described as a "slow burner," with action few and far between. Regardless, a blistering start from the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri saw them lead the field into the first turn. As for our 2024 Champion, the opposite couldn't have been more true, with the Dutchman dropping to 9th, while struggling with severe understeer.

The race quickly became a battle for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with Piastri and George Russell going wheel to wheel for 2nd position, including a fantastic side by side battle into turns one and two. However, the McLaren's would end up working together, with Norris backing up into Piastri to ensure his teammate would get DRS in an attempt to pull away from Russell.

Elsewhere, it would be another disaster of a race for Sergio Perez, who's 2025 Red Bull contract is still dangerously hanging on by a thread. A slow, and strange, pit lane start would see him drop to 19th position, being overtaken by Williams' Franco Colapinto at the green light. Unfortunately for Perez, he would find himself stuck in 19th position, unable to make up any ground before pitting for a new front wing, in what had become a testing session in the latter stages of the race. Zhou Guanyu would be another driver to make an unscheduled pitstop during the Sprint. He would start the race on the soft compound tyre before it died off on lap eleven. For a driver and team with nothing to lose, opting for a different strategy such as this wasn't going to hurt too much if it went wrong. And, it did.

But, back to our leading battle and Norris' tyres were feeling the brunt of helping out his teammate. However, there would be an even bigger twist in the bag yet. Coming to the finish line, Norris would slow dramatically, letting Piastri through for the win while fending off Russell, in what was a "return the favour" situation from the last Sprint race in Brazil. Norris would finish in 2nd with Russell in 3rd.

Race day, and the beginning of a new on/off track feud between Verstappen and Russell over an incident in qualifying the day before, with Verstappen receiving a ONE place grid penalty for impeding Russell who now started on pole. However, for Russell, his chances of leading the race disappeared into Turn One with Verstappen taking the lead and Norris 2nd. Further back, the drama began early, with Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Colapinto colliding at the first corner. Replays would show that Hulkenberg lost his rear, collecting Ocon and Colapinto in the process, with the latter two DNFing in what would become the last race Ocon would compete in in 2024. Alex Albon and Lance Stroll would also collide on lap one, both coming away unscathed bar a ten second time penalty for Stroll and a later retirement. The opening lap was easily foreshadowing the drama (and controversies) that was to come.

You heard right. The main talking point from this race was yet another controversy regarding race director decisions after Albon's right wingmirror came flying off on the start/finish straight, with no action immediately taken to remove it. A yellow flag would briefly appear, with Norris becoming the unlucky being to be slapped with the first stop/go penalty for some time after not lifting in the yellow zone. Valtteri Bottas would eventually run it over, with Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz both receiving punctures from the debris. After some questionable decisions, the Safety Car was finally deployed. This has been anything but a good look for our new race director.

Elsewhere in the race, Keving Magnussen and Yuki Tsunoda would have a very intriguing wheel to wheel battle, with the former coming out in front. There would also be time penalties for Liam Lawson, Hamilton and Albon. Hamilton would also receive the first drive through penalty for some time, continuing the trend of harsher penalties throughout this race. Fernando Alonso was extremely unhappy and vocal about his car's straight line speed. While Russell would be the victim of a slow pitstop at nearly 7 seconds long. And, after a tussle between Magnussen and Albon, Magnussen would give us a very "fruity" radio message about his then race rival.

But, of course, would this be an F1 race review without a mention for Perez. The struggling Mexican seemed to be on better form over the course of the Qatar Grand Prix. However, at the Safety Car restart he would lose control of his car, coming to a halt in the run off area before joining Colapinto, Ocon, Stroll and Hulkenberg as race retirements.

Returning to the action, this race could have been the race to determine the outcome of the Constructors World Championship, and was looking pretty decent for McLaren with Norris in 2nd and Piastri getting past both Ferrari's - the team's closest rival. However, with Norris' stop/go penalty, he would fall to last place before eventually finishing 10th. Piastri would finish 3rd with the Ferrari's of Charles Leclerc and Sainz finishing in 2nd and 6th respectively, meaning the battle would go onto Abu Dhabi - the final race of the season.

Verstappen would win the race, leading from lap one to the finish, returning to form after their mid to late season dip. The outstanding driver of the day, however, would be that of Zhou in the Sauber. Despite his unlucky Sprint race, he would make up for it in the Grand Prix, taking advantage of the carnage happening around him. He would finish in 8th position, scoring Sauber's first points of the season and being the fans choice of Driver of the Day.

Looking forward to the 2024 finale in Abu Dhabi, Ocon will be replaced by Alpine's 2025 driver Jack Doohan. Ocon will return in 2025 with Haas.

Next up: The Season Finale!