Motor racing-Formula One talking points ahead of the 2024 season

Liberty Media

26/02/2024 12:16

By Alan Baldwin
       Feb 26 (Reuters) - Formula One has plenty to talk about
as it heads into a record 24-race season that starts in Bahrain
on March 2 and ends in Abu Dhabi on Dec 8.
    Haas boss Guenther Steiner's exit provided a surprise in
January, followed by the shock announcement of Lewis Hamilton's
move from Mercedes to Ferrari for 2025 and Red Bull's
investigation of team principal Christian Horner's conduct.
    Charles Leclerc has extended his contract with Ferrari while
McLaren have secured Lando Norris for years to come.
    The following looks at what are likely to be the main
talking points of the year ahead.
    
    RED BULL DOMINATION
    The champions enjoyed the most dominant season ever last
year, with 21 wins in 22 races and triple world champion Max
Verstappen winning 19 of them. How far ahead will Red Bull be
this year and when will rivals close the gap, if at all?
    
    HORNER INVESTIGATION
    Horner has denied allegations against him, which have not
been revealed, but will he stay or go? The departure of the
longest serving team boss and one of the most successful would
be seismic and have serious implications for the champions.
    
    HAMILTON'S MERCEDES FAREWELL
    Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton is starting his
last season with Mercedes before donning the red overalls of
Ferrari for at least two years. Has the 39-year-old made the
right call, can he win again with Mercedes? Have Mercedes
finally got it right after two years of struggling?  
    
    SILLY SEASON
    This one is likely to run and run, with more than half the
grid out of contract at the end of 2024 and some top seats
available. Who replaces Hamilton? Where will Ferrari's Carlos
Sainz end up? Will Daniel Ricciardo take Sergio Perez's place at
Red Bull Racing? Is Williams' Alex Albon set for a move? Who is
going to end up without a seat for 2025?
        
    FERNANDO ALONSO
    The double world champion turns 43 in July. How much longer
will the Spaniard go on for, can the most experienced driver of
all time add to his tally of 32 wins and where will he be
driving next season?
    
    B TEAM
    AlphaTauri's morphing into Visa Cash App RB has also come
with new leadership and closer ties with sister team Red Bull
Racing. McLaren's Zak Brown has questioned Red Bull's ownership
of two teams and the advantages that brings.
    
    BURNOUT
    With 24 races to get through, some team members including
mechanics could be feeling the strain as the months go by.
Expect this to become an increasingly discussed subject.
    
    SPRINT RACES
    A new schedule this season so that Saturday is no longer a
standalone sprint day. The sprint qualifying 'shootout' is now
on Friday and the 100km race on Saturday morning before
qualifying for the grand prix later that day. 
    
    FIA AND F1
    Relations between the sport's commercial rights holders and
the governing body were combative at times last year. Expect
more of the same in 2024.
    
    ANDRETTI
    Turned down by F1 as a potential 11th team for 2025, but
with a door held open for 2028, the General Motors-backed
Andretti Cadillac bid is not about to go away. What will be the
next steps?
    
    FIRST WIN
    Is this the year that McLaren's Lando Norris takes his first
win after six second places in 2023? Or will he claim the
outright record for most podiums without a win, one he shares
with retired German Nick Heidfeld (13). 
    
    NEW BOSSES AND NAMES
    Ayao Komatsu has taken over at Haas and Laurent Mekies at
RB. Sauber-run Alfa Romeo are now competing as Stake F1, where
betting laws permit, or the alternative name of Kick. Expect
many fans to just refer to them as Sauber.  

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))