A season full of records: that's what Formula 1 was in 2024
12/30/2024 03:28 PM
The 2024 F1 season concluded just a couple of weeks ago, and even though we’re already looking ahead to 2025, it’s inevitable to reflect on what we experienced this year, when the Grand Circus reminded us of previous eras where competitiveness was at its peak.
And when there’s competition, there are always impressive statistics to examine. While it’s true that we often focus only on the most relevant figures—like positions in the World Championship, podiums, and so on—F1 is much more than that. After gathering and compiling the year’s most remarkable stats, many unknown and intriguing details emerge, showcasing the beauty of this sport.
The endless season: 24 races
The 2024 season was the longest in Formula 1 history, with 24 Grands Prix contested in just 281 days. The cars covered a total of 1,444 laps. But if anyone claimed the glory of consistency, it was Oscar Piastri: the Australian driver completed every single lap, totaling 7,314 kilometers, the maximum possible distance.
The king of pole and qualifying
When it comes to pure speed, Lando Norris takes the crown. At the Temple of Speed, Monza, he claimed pole position with an average speed of 262.897 km/h in his McLaren MCL38, a feat reminiscent of the best days of the Italian Grand Prix. But that's not all: Norris also dominated qualifying with an average starting position of 3.42, better than any other driver. With eight pole positions, he shared the top spot for most Saturday pole positions with his rival and friend Max Verstappen, who had an average starting position of 3.54.
Las Vegas: crowned as a spectacular GP
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was not just a spectacle in terms of atmosphere; it also broke track records. With 56 overtakes, it was the most thrilling race of the year. At the other extreme, the Monaco GP saw only four position changes. Monaco has never been known for overtakes or nail-biting battles due to the circuit's layout. It remains a historic Grand Prix and the location where "Qualifying" was first introduced.
Red Bull: the pit stop queen
If anyone thought Formula 1 pit stops couldn't get any faster, Red Bull proved otherwise. In Shanghai, the team's mechanics released Max Verstappen in a record time of 1.90 seconds—precision to the millisecond. Two Grands Prix share the record for the highest number of pit stops this year, with 45 stops during the Spielberg and Silverstone GPs.
Additionally, the safety car played a less prominent role this year. It was deployed only 14 times, with Bernd Mayländer enjoying a long break between the Canadian GP and the U.S. GP.
Penalty chaos: record fines and penalties
2024 was the year of penalties. Race stewards imposed 62 penalties throughout the season, with drivers and teams racking up fines totaling €332,900—almost triple last year's amount. Stricter rules led to penalties that sparked frequent debates.
The kings of crashes
The Williams drivers had a season to forget in terms of crashes. Of the 34 race-ending incidents during the year, they were involved in 11.
The “kings” of upgrades
McLaren was undoubtedly the most effective team in terms of upgrades introduced. However, some teams introduced far more components without achieving significant progress. Teams made 420 individual modifications this season, with Racing Bulls leading the way with 49 changes.
Top speed
At the Mexican Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri stunned everyone with a top speed of 362.5 km/h. With a McLaren optimized to perfection, the Australian reminded everyone why he is one of F1's most promising drivers.
Four titles in record time
The statistics also favor Max Verstappen, who claimed his fourth world championship just 1,077 days after his first title, beating Sebastian Vettel‘s pace by a single day. A winning machine continues to make history, even though this year, Max made the difference during Red Bull’s moments of struggle.
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