Race Review: Brazilian Grand Prix 2024

If there is one Grand Prix to look forward to over the course of a Formula One season it has to be the Brazilian Grand Prix. And, once again it lived up to all expectations, with another nail biting race as we inch ever so closer to the end of a fantastic Formula One season. In fact, this may just turn out to be a pivotal race in 2024, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull reaping the rewards come Grand Prix Sunday, as McLaren and Lando Norris' pole position failed to materialize into nothing more than 6th position, thanks to plenty of on-track drama and the typical Brazilian Grand Prix wet weather that always guarantees an unpredictable race to the chequered flag.

In 2024, the action began as early as the formation lap when Aston Martin's Lance Stroll found himself in the barrier before then beaching himself in the gravel as he attempted to return to the track. This would lead to an aborted start of the race for the remainder of the field who had now made it back to the grid, as well as extreme confusion between drivers, teams, fans and pundits alike when Norris would lead the field off on a second formation lap - one that shouldn't have happened. He, alongside several other leading drivers, would find themselves under investigation for this infringement; all getting away with either a fine or a slap on the wrist. Regardless, it's another prime example of how some F1 rules need a bit of clarification, to avoid meaningless mistakes like this in the future.

With the race finally underway, the opening lap appeared cleaner than many would have expected on a damp track. Norris would lose his lead to George Russell, while Red Bull's Sergio Perez would find himself in a spin before recovering in last position, continuing his string of diabolical performances while making his uncertain F1 future even more so. As for Lewis Hamilton, some early race rain would see him take to the run off on lap twelve, before losing positions to Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman after a lock up. Sainz would also later lock up, falling behind Bearman and Franco Colapinto.

Rain would, in theory, become one of the biggest talking points of this year's Brazilian Grand Prix, with it reaching it's highest intensity by Lap 27. Pit stops would be triggered with many pitting for a change of intermediate tyre, while others, mainly back markers, would take a failed gamble on full wets. And, with the track becoming as wet as it would, drama was inevitable. Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson would come together at turn one, the former receiving a 10 second penalty for the collision. Esteban Ocon and Yuki Tusnoda would battle it out for 3rd with Ocon getting the better of the RB in the wet conditions. The same being said for Norris on Russell after pitting at the same time. Nico Hulkenberg would spin his Haas off the track in Sector One, coming to a halt, bringing out the Virtual Safety Car. He would get going again, with illegal help from the marshals, resulting in the first Black Flag in a Formula One race since 2007. Eventually, the Race Stewards would deploy the Safety Car, the first of two in this race. The second coming in the latter stages when Sainz, fresh from his Mexico Grand Prix win, found himself in the barrier on Lap 40.

Did the drama end there? Oh no. Several drivers, including that of Norris and Charles Leclerc, would lock up their tyres on the restarts. Bearman would also find the barriers before continuing on his way. And, Fernando Alonso, with immense back pain, would take an unscheduled trip through the run off. However, it would be Colapinto that would spin into the barrier in the final sector, writing off his Williams and bringing out a red flag. Driver was ok.

For some, take the Alpines of Ocon and Pierre Gasly as well as Verstappen, for example, the red flag was a "god send." For others, Norris and Russell, it was the worst thing that could happen to their race. Again, the debate rages on as to whether drivers should be allowed free tyre changes under a red... I'm sure in this situation Verstappen would be all for it. It played a part in his win after all, as he took the lead from then leader, Ocon, at he restart. The Red Bull would then hold off both Alpines until the very end, taking the chequered flag and firmly placing a hand on the Championship trophy. Ocon and Gasly would finished 2nd and 3rd in an impressive race for the Alpine team.

This race was a classic Brazilian Grand Prix, on par with the likes of 2012. It's still such a shame that it is no longer the season finale because what a season finale it used to be! Anyway, 3 exciting races to go. Next up: Vegas!

Race Review: Mexico City Grand Prix 2024

With Formula One now entering the tail end of the season we would, as per previous years, start to see the championship battle come to an end. But, not in 2024. If anything, it is hotter and it is spicer than any other season during this era of Formula One car regulation. And, this past weekend’s outing in Mexico City did nothing to extinguish the heat between our championship leader; Max Verstappen, and his rival; Lando Norris.

The opening laps of the Mexico City Grand Prix were full of drama, with turn one on the first lap catching out both Yuki Tsunoda and Alexander Albon, who collided in a racing incident, eliminating them both and bringing out the Safety Car. Elsewhere, Verstappen would pass Carlos Sainz for the lead, while hometown hero; Sergio Perez, would be on the receiving end of a five second time penalty after jumping the start in his lonely position of 18th. Although, he thought his start was great…

With the Safety Car returning to base after several laps, the real action would kick off come lap nine with Sainz retaking the lead from Verstappen, now leaving the Red Bull driver in the clutches of Norris. Would we get a repeat of Austin? You bet. The duo would battle over the course of a lap before Norris would make his move the next time around. Verstappen, being Verstappen, was having none of it and squeezed the McLaren off, not once, but twice, in moves that could easily have ended both of their races. The second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc would have the best view in the house of this battle, taking advantage of the squabbling to propel himself up into 2nd. With the Red Bull team already carrying a five second penalty thanks to Perez and his start, things were about to get worse with the Race Stewards decision to slap Verstappen with two separate ten second time penalties, totaling it to twenty. Verstappen, on the other hand, did not seem fazed in the slightest. Kind of odd, if you ask me.

Things weren’t any easier for Verstappen’s teammate either. Perez’s race would go from bad to worse, with the Mexican driver’s struggles continuing to show him up. He would find himself battling with Liam Lawson, getting relatively aggressive with his defence. This would eventually result in contact and damage to Perez’s Red Bull car, leaving him nowhere but right at the back of the field. Lawson would get his revenge, however. Firing past Perez on the start/finish straight, the VCARB driver would show his new found rival the “finger.” The youngster is definitely a fully fledged F1 driver now. As for Perez, it was a last place finish at his home race.

In all fairness to Perez, did anyone actually have a trouble free race? There were plenty of front wings getting knocked about with carbon fibre littering the track in places. Franco Colapinto reported steering issues with his Williams - “it’s going stiff and then soft,” dont laugh, we’re all adults here. Alongside Verstappen’s woes, he struggled to get his hard tyres to work. Leclerc was repeatedly told to lift and coast, before having a moment in the final corner in the closing stages that almost saw him in the wall. Fernando Alonso would DNF on his 400th race in Formula One. And, fellow Spaniard and leader of the race; Sainz, reported that his engine was misfiring out of turn three on lap thirty seven. Phew.

However, it was Sainz who started how he meant to go on. From pole to another F1 win; his fourth, to be exact. After strong a weekend from practice to qualifying to the race, the Mexico City GP 2024 was always going to be his, and well deserved indeed. Will he win again in 2024 before jumping ship to Williams in 2025, who knows. Joining him on the podium was Norris in 2nd and Leclerc in 3rd, with Norris continuing to close in on Verstappen in the drivers championship. Also, maybe it’s time we turned our heads to the constructors championship as well, with Ferrari getting ever so closer to McLaren for the lead, while Red Bull drift away. Oh, it’s all such fun!

Next up: Brazil!

Race Review: US Sprint and Grand Prix 2024

Howdy ya’ll! It’s Round 19 of the 2024 Formula One Season, with the sport returning to the USA for the second time this year. And, with the championship battle getting ever so hotter, Austin was sure to be an exciting race weekend. Indeed, exciting it was!

Kicking off the weekend’s motorsport festivities was the return off the Sprint race. Something we haven’t seen since the Austrian Grand Prix, all the way back in June. And, I know we’re not all fans of the concept of a Sprint race, but the Austin Sprint gave us some entertaining on track action that would surely reassure us of anything but a boring Grand Prix come Sunday.

One of the bigger talking points come the start of the Sprint was Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s return to pole position and, like more traditional times, were the favourite to take home the Sprint race win. However, it quickly became evident, with Lando Norris - Verstappen’s closest Championship rival, was not going to let him get away with it that easy, jumping from 4th to 2nd come Turn 2 on the opening lap. And of course, the excitement and dramatics did not end there.

The Sprint race proved that on track battles can still be quite intense in Formula One, with stunning wheel to wheel racing from George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The battle between the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Sainz, in particular, was worth the watch considering Sainz’ departure from the team is looming ever so closer. He was out to beat his teammate, and beat him he did, finishing in 2nd compared to Leclerc’s 4th.

Elsewhere, while Norris was battling for a podium position, his teammate, Oscar Piastri, was having quite the mare, finding himself starting the Sprint from the back end of the field, before incurring a five second time penalty in the race for forcing the Alpine of Pierre Gasly off track. Piastri would eventually finish in 10th position and out of the points. Liam Lawson, on his return to Formula One with RB, would also finish out of the points, all the way down in 16th. Although for Lawson, his race would get very spicy while battling Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin, with the latter later spotted “having some words” with the New Zealand youngster. Have we just witnessed the start of a new rivalry?

But, of course, despite plenty of on track battles, this Sprint would ultimately be Verstappen’s, with Sainz and Norris joining him in the top three. A great set up going into Sunday’s Grand Prix!

After a qualifying session that was maimed by a stricken George Russell in the barrier at Turn 19, it would be Championship rivals, Norris and Verstappen, who would line up side by side on the front row. However, it would be Ferrari and Leclerc that would take an early lead into Turn 2 on the opening lap, dropping pole man Norris down to 4th and Verstappen into 2nd. Elsewhere, in what was a dramatic start to the race, Esteban Ocon would spin at Turn 1 while Verstappen and Sainz; both with issues that were later resolved, would battle it out for 2nd. Lewis Hamilton, who started towards the back of the grid, hit the gravel trap on Lap 3, bringing out a long awaited Safety Car that was last seen during the Canadian Grand Prix earlier on in the season.

With the Safety Car's only appearance during the US GP over with, normal on-track business resumed with plenty of action up and down the field. At the back of the pack it would be Russell versus Ocon, Alexander Albon and Lance Stroll, with the latter skimming the gravel before getting noted for gaining an advantage, an occurring theme for many a driver throughout the race. Whereas Stroll would get away this, others weren't so lucky with 5 second time penalties being slapped on Russell, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda and Norris. More on the latter later.

This race, in particular, gave us some fantastic wheel to wheel action, including the continuation of the Lawson/Alonso battle from the Sprint race. Lawson would be the eventual winner between this pairing. Red Bull's Sergio Perez would continue to struggle on track, finding himself stuck behind Tsunoda before finally getting past on Lap 18. He would later be stuck behind Franco Colapinto also, before making it past to finish 7th in a race that would do nothing to help the rumours surrounding the future of this career.

Most drivers would find themselves stopping for fresh rubber twice in this race, with many taking advantage of a strong undercut. Two examples of this would be Kevin Magnussen undercutting Gasly, and Sainz undercutting Verstappen for 2nd in what helped set up a fantastic, nail biting battle between Verstappen and Norris, while leaders; Leclerc and Sainz, would drive off into the distance.

If previous races are to go by, your typical F1 aficionado would be well aware that things were about to get spicy as Norris, on fresher tyres, hunted down Verstappen for the final podium position. And, after several close calls, both drivers would take to the run off at Turn 12, with Norris reemerging ahead in 3rd position. Verstappen, frustrated by this, was adament that Norris should give the place back. However, Norris and the McLaren team did not agree with this, continuing as they meant to go on. Norris would eventually succumb to a "controversial" 5 second time penalty, dropping him to 4th behind Verstappen.

But, this race belonged to Leclerc and Ferrari, as he crossed the finish line in 1st to take his 3rd win of the season, while closing in on Norris in the championship battle. Sainz would come home 2nd, with Verstappen in 3rd, closing out another fantastic weekend of Formula One racing.

Next up, F1 hits Mexico!