The 2024 Formula 1 season saw Max Verstappen complete a rare four-peat. Besides the Dutchman’s triumph, this year has been exciting because of the intense constructors’ title battle, and race fans also got to see some of the sport’s icons’ last hurrahs with their current teams. McLaren won their first constructors’ title since 1998. Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz Jr., Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu have said their goodbyes.
At the same time, this season has also seen a couple of drivers performing beyond their expectations with their positive run of Formula 1 2024 results. On the flip side, there have also been a few drivers who had a forgettable campaign.
SBOTOP presents some of the top breakouts and flops as we reflect on the 2024 season.
The Breakouts – George Russell & Oliver Bearman
George Russell bounced back with aplomb this season after finishing sixth in the drivers’ standings. The 26-year-old driver outpaced his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, recording 245 points, four podiums, and two race wins in Austria and Las Vegas.
The Mercedes driver notched his first podium of the season during the Canadian Grand Prix, and he has picked up momentum since then. George Russell won his second career race in Austria for being in the right place at the right time, taking advantage of the collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
He did have a couple of downers in Silverstone and Spa, but he picked up momentum again in Baku, where he tallied another P3 finish. George Russell had his best weekend during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as he won the race after taking pole position. Russell will be the veteran next season because Kimi Antonelli replaces Lewis Hamilton. It’ll be interesting to see how the British international does in his new role.
Oliver Bearman burst into the scene during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The 19-year-old replaced Carlos Sainz Jr., who was out due to appendicitis, and Bearman raised eyebrows when he finished seventh on the grid after an impressive defensive stand against Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
After defying the Formula 1 2024 odds to become the youngest driver to score points on his Formula 1 debut, Bearman secured a new multi-year contract with Haas last July. Bearman made an early debut for Haas at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Kevin Magnussen received a race ban, and the youngster finished 10th on the grid. He deputised for Magnussen (who was ill) again in Sao Paulo and beat teammate Nico Hulkenburg in two sprint sessions. Bearman finished outside of the points for the first time ever (P12).
The Flops – Sergio Perez & Valtteri Bottas
After securing a new multi-year deal to extend his stay at Milton Keynes, Sergio Perez is reportedly on his way out of the team, with Liam Lawson as his apparent replacement.
Since he recorded podium berths in four of his first five races, including P2 finishes in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, Checo’s form has fallen off and never recovered. The Mexican racer failed to get in the points eight times, including four DNFs. Sergio Perez finished eighth in the drivers’ standings with 152 points – a far cry from his 285-point haul (good for second place) in 2023.
Sergio Perez was supposed to challenge Max Verstappen, but the Mexican just didn’t have it. If the reports are true that he’ll be replaced by Liam Lawson, Checo will likely take an ambassadorial role and retire from Formula 1 altogether.
Valtteri Bottas was the worst performer on the grid after failing to get any points throughout the season. The highest position he secured was a couple of P13s in Monaco, Canada, and Sao Paulo. Even his teammate Zhou Guanyu secured points in the Qatar Grand Prix (P8).
As expected, Bottas and Guanyu are no longer employed by Kick Sauber, who went with Nico Hulkenburg and Gabriel Bortoleto, next season. It’s a big fall from grace for Bottas since he finished 15th in the drivers’ championship last year after getting into the points four times.
Bottas’ career has never been the same after he left Mercedes. The Finnish international insists “he’s not yet done” with Formula 1, but it’s difficult to envision him competing in another race anytime soon. Because Bottas is not getting any younger, don’t be surprised if he retires from Formula 1. However, he can walk away from the sport knowing he has achieved a lot in his career, including 10 Grand Prix victories and two runner-up finishes in the drivers’ championship as a member of Mercedes.
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