Threat to the Throne: Formula One 2024 Season - Red Bull's Reign Under Threat

Formula One is a high-adrenaline sport, but at times it can be really boring when a few drivers or constructors dominate with a superior car. Every Formula One fan supports a set of drivers, but they love to see more competition—that's what makes the sport interesting. After three consecutive Drivers' Championships and two Constructors' Championships, Red Bull Racing's throne is finally under threat, with McLaren and Ferrari giving a tough fight, the former inching closer to the Constructors' Championship.

While we have seen Red Bull dominate for four years between 2010-2013 and Mercedes rule the circuit from 2014-2020, and even winning the Constructors' Championship in 2021, Red Bull seemed invincible from 2021 to 2023.

With nine races left after the Dutch Grand Prix, a 30-point gap in the Constructors' Championship is nothing.

https://www.skysports.com/f1/standings

The last time when I wrote something about F1 season was back in 2019 Summer Break

https://santoshmishra1994.wixsite.com/explorermishra/post/the-summer-break-update-f1-season-2019

The biggest plus for Mclaren is their consistency and upward movement where both their drivers are performing in tandem and closing the gap whereas the opposite for RedBull which can be clearly seen in the graph below. While 2023 was a cakewalk with Max winning 19/22 races the path was going to be difficult. When we closely look at the Drivers ranking then we can see a huge gap between Max and Checo whereas be it both drivers of Mclaren or Ferrari who are working in tandem

This season is particularly intriguing due to several key dynamics among top Formula 1 teams:

Red Bull's Second Driver Dilemma

Under Christian Horner's leadership, Red Bull struggles to find a consistent second driver to support Max Verstappen. Sergio Pérez's inconsistency has sparked speculation about potential changes, making this a key issue for the team's success. While they do have Daniel Ricciardo available, they extended Pérez's contract for two more years.

McLaren's Faith in Young Talent

Andrea Stella's McLaren has boldly placed its trust in young drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This commitment to emerging talent adds excitement and the potential for surprising results this season. Zak Brown will be the happiest to dream such things during the first season of Drive to Survive.

Ferrari's Transformations

Under Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari is undergoing significant changes to reclaim its former glory. With Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz leading the charge, the team's new strategies and car updates are closely watched, making Ferrari's performance a critical storyline this season.The neck to neck fight is interesting and Carlos will definitely end at a higher position.

While the end of the season will see Hamilton move to Ferrari, leaving a vacant seat that could potentially be filled by someone from outside or by Carlos Sainz, Red Bull might also consider making a bold move with Sainz, who has already made the first move to Williams without any commitment from the top three teams. 

It would be interesting to see what happens if Carlos Sainz finishes higher than Leclerc and still moves to Williams, which is currently 9th in the Constructor Rankings.

While the Constructors' Championship looks close, the gap in the Drivers' Championship, which is currently 70 points, will make it interesting if, in the next 4-5 races, Lando dominates and Max does not finish in 1st or 2nd place. Who wouldn't love an Abu Dhabi race where the top two drivers are again tied on points or close to it, with Michael Masi no longer serving as race director?

Bringing an interesting aspect to the drivers lineup is that Helmut Marko has confirmed that Max Verstappen has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave Red Bull if the team began to underperform.

Someone who loves Checo for being a consistent driver and a great second fiddle would love to see him come back strong in the last 9 races and ensure Red Bull keeps both trophies, as anything less would definitely not make Horner or Max happy.

The 'Drive to Survive' season is going to be absolutely thrilling this year, with so much action on and off the track. Netflix will definitely be thrilled with the intense action sequences and all the dramatic changes. I’m already set with my popcorn, eagerly waiting to watch it all unfold. And this is just the prequel! Imagine the 2025 season, where the top four drivers are all fiercely competing for both trophies—it's going to be incredible!

Learn more about me here -https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshmishra7/