Why the 2024 F1 season has the makings of a blockbuster Premium

Exciting mid-season Formula One championship sees Red Bull challenged by McLaren and Mercedes, setting stage for thrilling second half.

Last weekend’s British Grand Prix at the iconic Silverstone circuit served up one of the season’s best races so far. The famed fickle British summer — periods of glorious sunshine interspersed with spells of rain — helped spice things up at the front. As many as five drivers across three teams were in contention for the win before Lewis Hamilton took a record ninth victory on home soil — the most by any driver at one circuit — and his first since 2021.

With 12 races completed, the 75th Formula One championship has reached its midpoint. A lot has changed since the start of the year, and the dramatic upheaval in the pecking order means an intriguing second half of the year beckons.

Dispiriting early signs 

In 2023, F1 saw the most one-sided campaign in the sport’s history. Max Verstappen won an astounding 19 of the 22 races en route to his third drivers’ crown, while Red Bull won 21. And when the same combination won four of the first five races in 2024, there was trepidation it would be a repeat of the last two years, with Verstappen sleepwalking to the title without a fight.

However, things have turned exciting over the last seven races. After the Chinese GP, four different drivers and three teams other than Red Bull have climbed onto the podium’s top step.

The recent uptick in the form of McLaren and Mercedes — Ferrari is somewhere in the mix, having won two races but is on a downward trend — has reinvigorated the championship.

At the season’s halfway stage, Verstappen and Red Bull lead the drivers’ and constructors’ standings. Verstappen is 84 points ahead of Lando Norris, and Red Bull has a 71-point lead over Ferrari. The frontrunners might appear comfortable, but the competitive order, much like the British weather, has become unpredictable, whetting the appetite for the 12 remaining races.