With F1 heading into its traditional summer break, and an action-packed first half of the season coming to an end, it seems like the perfect time to take stock of what has happened in the opening 14 races and what might happen in the remaining 10. Will Buxton, Lawrence Barretto, Alex Jacques and David Tremayne look back at the 2024 campaign so far and share their predictions for what might happen next.
What has been your best race so far this season?
Will Buxton (F1 Digital Presenter): We had some great races – Miami, Imola, Canada, Silverstone, Hungary – all of which put me on the edge of my seat. But Spa was the best for me. It didn’t seem to have the most passes or the most thrilling, but what stood out to me was that at the flag the top three were just over a second apart, and the top six were less than 10 seconds ahead. And all of this on the longest lap of the year, in a race without the safety car. It showed how competitive the competition is this year and it’s got me excited for the second half of the season.
Poll: What is the best Grand Prix of the 2024 F1 season so far?
Lawrence Barretto (F1 Correspondent and Presenter): Fortunately, there are so many to choose from, but I would go with Austria. The battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen for the lead was exciting and set the tone for their rivalry. It was unfortunate that they were together, but George Russell drove brilliantly to take his first win of the season and was in a position to take third place, so it didn’t matter.
Alex Jacques (F1 TV commentator): Silverstone is at the top of my list. It is really unusual to have five drivers with a chance of winning a Grand Prix. The overtaking skills of many on both wet and dry were impressive, and it was a special Grand Prix to see Hamilton end his winless streak in an emotional scene.
David Tremain (Hall of Fame F1 journalist): For me, it’s the British GP without a doubt. Three of the top four teams (Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull) competed in challenging weather conditions on one of the fastest and most demanding tracks on the calendar. And home hero Lewis Hamilton was there to drive his on-form Mercedes for his best race since Abu Dhabi ’21, mastering the tricky tyre management on different stages, reminding the world of his enduring talent and taking the incredibly emotional record-breaking win that the crowd came to see. Who doesn’t love a happy ending?
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