Formula 1 Season Preview 2024: Drivers, Schedule & More

With the 2023 Formula One (F1) season reaching its climax in Abu Dhabi last month, attention has quickly shifted to the upcoming 2024 campaign.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominated once again proceedings this year, while McLaren and Ferrari improved their cars towards the end of the season.

Verstappen has signed a new deal with Red Bull, keeping him tied to the F1 team until 2028, although speculation persists about who will join him on the roster.

Sergio Perez is expected to keep his seat until the end of the 2024 campaign, but a change in personnel is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Alfa Romeo is poised for a name change in 2024 after its current title sponsorship expires, adopting the Sauber brand before transforming into the Audi Works team in 2026.

Red Bull’s junior team, AlphaTauri, will also undergo a name change in 2024, aiming to return to a non-branded identity like its former Toro Rosso guise – rumours suggest it may be called Racing Bulls.

While there are not many significant changes heading into the new season, the introduction of a record-breaking 24-race calendar makes 2024 the biggest year in the championship’s history.

F1 Drivers Line-Up 2024

The F1 grid remains unchanged for 2024, with every team retaining their drivers from the previous season, although several contracts will expire at the end of the year.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who has been linked with a move to Red Bull, has secured his place at AlphaTauri after the team axed Nyck de Vries midway through 2023.

While the grid maintains stability from the latter part of last season, the prospect of a more intriguing 2024 looms as drivers strive to secure new deals.

F1 Schedule 2024

The first race of the F1 2024 season is the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2, which kicks-off an unprecedented 24-race calendar.

To enhance sustainability, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has regionalised the schedule, with notable changes such as moving the Japanese GP from its traditional September slot to April, creating a more defined Asian leg.

Anticipation surrounds events such the Australian GP in Melbourne and the Hungarian GP in Budapest, which take place in March and July respectively.

Verstappen secured victories at both tracks last season and will likely be the bookmakers’ favourite to repeat the trick in 2024. Another win in Hungary would be particularly noteworthy as it would complete a hat-trick of successes at the iconic Hungaroring.

The Chinese GP is set to make a return after a four-year hiatus in Aprill, and it will be intriguing to see how the drivers fare in Shanghai.