As the Formula 1 season comes to an end, it’s a great time to compile the many highs and lows of the season. With much interpersonal drama, team drama, and many team structure changes, there was not a dull moment during the 75th Formula 1 World Championship.
- Jack Doohan swapped for Franco Colapinto by Alpine after the 5th race out of 24
Bottom 5 moments of all time in F1 honestly. Alpine did this for hypothetical points, and ended up last in the Constructors’ championship. This reflects very badly on the team, and F1’s treatment of drivers as a whole.
- F175 Live at the O2 Arena
This was a brand new performance in the theatric event that is an F1 season. For the 75th anniversary of the sport, an event was hosted to show off the new liveries, race suits, and drivers on each team. There were also interviews held with the drivers and their team principals. All in all, it was interesting but largely unimportant, despite the importance of this anniversary.
- Bus on the track during pre-season testing
During the preseason testing in Bahrain, what appeared to be a regular non-race related shuttle bus managed to find its way onto the track. While funny, if a driver had happened to spin out of control where the bus was (former driver Logan Sargeant spun exactly in that spot in a previous season) it could have ended in catastrophe.
- Ferrari failing to win literally anything except one sprint race
In a particularly impressive show of incompetence, Ferrari has had a terrible season. With a combination of questionable strategy, an exceedingly mid power unit, and a nearly entirely non-acclimated driver, they somehow managed to clinch 4th in the Constructors’ championship.
- Benson Boone in the paddock in Abu Dhabi
I’m not even going to elaborate on my thoughts on this one. Max Verstappen took him on a lap around the track. Whatever. Moonbeam ice cream or something.
- Max Verstappen abandoning media day for the birth of his child
This was a very funny day on X (formerly Twitter). During the Miami Grand Prix race weekend, Verstappen failed to show up for his Thursday media duties. Red Bull Racing later confirmed that he had, in fact, been spending time with his girlfriend and newly-born child.
- Lewis Hamilton’s sprint race win in Shanghai
This display showed many that Lewis still has “it”, despite an 18-year F1 career and a less-than-optimal 2024 season. He was then unfortunately disqualified from the Grand Prix proper, along with his teammate Charles Leclerc, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
- Isack Hadjar’s Zandvoort podium
Isack Hadjar is one of my favorite rookies and drivers of the year. He’s the first Arab driver in the history of Formula 1, and thus is the only Arab podium-holder in the sport, along with being a very talented driver.
- Lando Norris’s first championship
This seemed like a long time coming. Lando Norris has been signed with McLaren Formula 1 Team as an official driver since 2019, and only achieved his maiden win in 2024.
- Nico Hulkenberg’s first podium at Silverstone
It might be controversial to put this one first, but I don’t care. Nico Hulkenberg raced in Formula 1 for 15 (yes, count ‘em, FIFTEEN) years without a podium. Possibly the most surprising and most celebrated podium of the season, even more than any of the rookies, considering that Nico’s team was one of the worst this season.