It's that time of year again for F1 fans.
After an action-packed off-season that is poised to change the sport, racing resumes this week as the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2 marks the start of the 2024 season.
And the sixth season of Netflix's hit show Drive To Survive, released on Friday, sheds new light and adds depth to F1's biggest stories after new cars took to the track for pre-season testing last week. In addition, it provides a glimpse of future developments. Will Red Bull's three-time world champion Max Verstappen continue to maintain his dominance, or will rival teams like Ferrari and McLaren be able to thwart his winning ways?
For fans just catching up from the end of the 2023 season, here are the biggest storylines of the offseason.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has announced a surprise move from Mercedes to Ferrari from 2025.
The earthquake for F1 came out of nowhere on February 1st, when Hamilton triggered a disclaimer to defect to a rival team in a shocking vote of no confidence in the team that built his dynasty.
For Hamilton, it has ranged from fairy tale (he broke Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher's red championship record and finally brought glory back to Maranello) to tragedy (if Mercedes continues to build winning cars and he wins). It's a fascinating gamble with a variety of hidden outcomes. He missed out on the record he had been seeking for so long).
The root of Hamilton's dissatisfaction can be seen in Episode 6, called “Leap of Faith,” in which Hamilton reveals that Mercedes will listen to Hamilton on how to design the car so that it can become a title contender again. I am dissatisfied with the fact that I did not receive it. And ironically, the episode ends with a triumphant Toto Wolff celebrating Hamilton's decision to re-sign with the team until 2025. “The idea of Lewis wearing red overalls in a Ferrari would not suit him,” the Mercedes team said. The principal says with a smile. Hamilton added: It's my home. It's my family. ” Oops.
Hamilton's change of heart opens up an interesting new chapter for both teams and shakes up the driver market. Who will replace Hamilton after his final dance with Mercedes? Will George Russell establish himself as a clear favorite on the team? Will Ferrari's gamble to hire two Alpha drivers pay off or will it fail?
Team principal Christian Horner is facing charges and is being investigated by Red Bull.
Details are unclear and there is no specific timeline for a conclusion, but Red Bull's parent company said in a statement to NBC News that it takes the matter “very seriously” and that Horner Intense speculation is mounting about the future of
Will Mr. Horner shake off the suspicions and keep his job? If he were to leave the team he has led to numerous titles since its founding in 2005, the organization would be shaken to its core. There will always be questions about whether Red Bull's ace car designer Adrian Newey and three-time world champion Verstappen remain committed or whether they are eyeing an exit. If Horner were to leave Red Bull, it would be the same as NBA coach Phil Jackson leaving the Chicago Bulls in the midst of the Michael Jordan dynasty.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris are looking to the future.
Leclerc has re-signed with Ferrari until 2029, while Norris has re-signed with McLaren on a “multi-year contract”. It is not uncommon for F1 contracts to include caveats and disclaimers. But they nevertheless represent a vote of confidence from two of the most coveted drivers on the current team, even if neither of them were winning races on a regular basis.
Leclerc's newfound determination comes after two disappointing years at Ferrari due to a combination of failed team strategy, problems with the car and his own mistakes.
In the new 'Drive To Survive' season, Norris' decision becomes more complicated after it was revealed that Horner had said Red Bull were 'interested in him' earlier in the season when McLaren were struggling. became. “I admire Lando's loyalty to McLaren, but that will wear off at some point,” Horner says. “I think he will adapt to our environment in the long term.” This is a sign that Norris would prefer to build a team around himself rather than be based in Verstappen – the Netherlands in early 2023. This is despite the fact that he said he was “ambitious” to become the driver's teammate. Did McLaren's resurgence upset him?
F1 rejected Andretti's offer to join the grid.
F1 wants American fan base and money, but F1 turned down a prestigious American racing franchise that was keen to add a promising new team to its roster, with Cadillac as its power unit manufacturer.
This caused some people to scratch their heads and sparked speculation that the team simply didn't want to share in the increased revenue. Even more bizarrely, F1 management said Andretti ignored requests for a face-to-face meeting. The Associated Press reported that there was no response because the email went into spam. F1's rejection of Andretti in 2025 prompted a backlash from racing teams, who announced they would redouble their efforts to enter the sport the following year in 2026.
Charismatic team boss Günther Steiner is sacked by Haas.
The chatty and charismatic team principal became a fan favorite and well-known in the United States for his starring role on Drive To Survive. He's so synonymous with the show that he named his 2023 book after it. But last month, American team owner Gene Haas announced that he had decided not to renew Steiner's contract in the offseason due to the team's continued struggles.
Steiner's unhappiness is evident in the show's new season. He laments that Haas won't give him the resources he needs to improve the car's performance, and has clearly hinted that he could walk away from the sport. “I don't know if I'm going to do this for another year,” Steiner said on the show. “Maybe I have to make up my mind. There is life outside of F1. Maybe it's time to do something different.”
It remains to be seen whether Haas' new manager, former engineering director Ayao Komatsu, will be able to move the team forward in a way that Steiner could not, or whether the situation will worsen further.
The format of the “Sprint” weekend is changing again.
For the six races in 2024, F1 officials have announced that one practice session will take place on Friday, followed by sprint qualifying. A sprint race will be held on Saturday, followed by qualifying for the Grand Prix. And the main race remains on Sunday. (For other races, the format will be free practice sessions on Friday and early Saturday morning, qualifying later on Saturday, and the Grand Prix on Sunday.)
Teams change names to cater to sponsors.
Red Bull's junior team, AlphaTauri, is now called VisaCash RB. Alfa Romeo is now called Stakes F1 Team Kick Sauber. Its purpose is no wonder. Despite the criticism and ridicule that arises, it's about getting the sponsor's name on the lips of fans and commentators to sweeten the deal.
The future race calendar takes shape.
Clark County, Nevada has announced that the Las Vegas Grand Prix will return in 2024, despite controversy over its impact on the city. Conversations began about future races in Chicago. Britain's famous Silverstone circuit has renewed its contract for a further 10 years. The Spanish Grand Prix, currently held in Barcelona, is scheduled to move to Madrid in 2026.
