Formula One frenzy: an overview of events, past, present, and future Premium

Exciting F1 season with Red Bull dominance, Verstappen's lead, driver market buzz, and crucial upcoming races for championship battle.

This weekend, the Formula One bandwagon prepares for the first triple-header of the season, starting in Spain, followed by races in Austria and Great Britain over the subsequent two weeks. From Sunday’s Spanish GP at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to the Italian GP at Monza in early September, F1 will be racing across some of the most iconic circuits in the sport’s spiritual heartland across Europe.

With one-third of the season done, F1 2024 has already delivered some exciting action on and off the track. The Hindu gives a lowdown on what has transpired so far and what to look forward to in the remainder of the season.

This is the third year of the new rule cycle that began in 2022, and Red Bull stole a march over its rivals two years ago. The team had a handy lead over Ferrari and Mercedes and cruised to back-to-back championship doubles, winning the driver’s (Max Verstappen) and constructors’ titles.

So when Verstappen won four out of the first five races in 2024, all with a healthy margin over the opponents, it portended another year of Red Bull domination. However, over the last few races, it has become clear that Ferrari and McLaren have caught up to Red Bull, fighting for wins and podiums. Even though Red Bull has won six out of the nine races, its advantage is reducing, and a Red Bull win is not a foregone conclusion before the weekend, as was the case last year.

For now, Red Bull and Verstappen might not have to worry about a protracted title fight for a couple of reasons. One, the reigning champions still have the fastest car on the grid, and Verstappen has a healthy lead of 56 points over Charles Leclerc in second. More importantly, although Ferrari and McLaren have won races this year, it is still unclear whether they can be consistently quick over a range of tracks to threaten the leaders.

Even though Verstappen doesn’t have the same car advantage he had last year, the three-time champion is sitting pretty in the driver’s championship with a handy lead. He has shown time and again this season why he is paid the big bucks and considered one of the best drivers the sport has seen. In the last few races, Verstappen illustrated the value he brings to Red Bull, and it can be safely said that he has proven to be the difference between winning and finishing in the lower end of the top-10. In Canada, Verstappen barely put a foot wrong. Despite McLaren having a slightly faster car overall, the 26-year-old showed how to execute a race flawlessly, even in challenging conditions because of rain. Similarly, in Imola, it was Verstappen’s pace and race management skills that helped him starve off a late challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris.

In contrast, teammate Sergio Perez has struggled in the last two events in the same car, crashing out in Monaco and Canada. The Mexican driver’s qualifying performances have been underwhelming, failing to qualify for the top-ten shootout in the last three races. Perez’s underperformance in 2023 did not hurt Red Bull, as its dominant car in the hands of Verstappen won 19 out of the 22 races, and the Milton Keynes-based outfit cruised to the constructors’ title on the Dutchman’s coattails.