[Aditya]

The 2024 Formula 1 season is nearing its end. With 24 races in total, it has been a long one for the constructors and drivers.

There is still 1 race remaining, but the World Drivers' Championship has already been wrapped up. Despite the season having a multiple winners over the races, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) has ruled supreme and secured an unassailable lead in the World Drivers' Championship. In a distant second place is Lando Norris (McLaren) with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) just 8 points behind, which means second place will be decided in the final race of the season. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), George Russel (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sergio Perez (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), and Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) complete the top ten. This season also saw veteran Daniel Ricciardo exiting Formula 1.

Coming to the World Constructors' Championship, it is still up for grabs. Ferrari is trailing leaders McLaren by just 21 points with Red Bull in a distant third place with Mercedes and Aston Martin in fourth and fifth places respectively.



Image Source: RN 365

So who was your F1 driver of 2024?

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[AtheK]

Max for me while he had the dominant car for early part of the season, he still continued to be on podium and kept the challenge to the other cars and drivers. We all know how perez has fared in the same car, talks volume about Max talent.

And the race win in Sao Paulo, the way he drove like mad max in rain is a race that will be remembered for a very very long time.

[It's Magic]

Originally Posted by Aditya

So who was your F1 driver of 2024?

I voted for Lewis Hamilton.

He's been around for a while and is still competing with the new kids on the block.

He has won in 30 different countries and holds the joint record for Formula One World Driver's Championship titles. He also holds the record for the most wins as well as pole positions.

There are many names that make the news for a while, but only a few remain in one's mind for a long time, and he is one of them.

[VW2010]

There are many names that make the news for a while, but only a few remain in one's mind for a long time, and he is one of them.

Don't get me wrong but he was not the best in 2024. The voting is for the year 2024.

To me it has to be Max followed by Hulkenberg followed by actually Piastri.

Max epic race while being Brazil, his ability to drive that car which definitely was not the fastest and yet avoided losing many points inbetween.

Brazil made him a legend in the likes of Senna and Schumacher.

Max made this season watchable for me.

[wanderernomad]

Voted for Lewis because he is literally the Driver. He is old but still is giving a run to all the young ones out there on the track. Today also starts from way down the grid to finish P-4. Amazing, can't wait to see how he fares with Ferrari next season. It should be exciting.

[PetrolHead2272]

Well I started watching Formula 1 back in 2011 when I was just 4 years old, Lewis has been the obvious choice ever since. Seeing him win championships after championships just became a habit and I was one happy F1 viewer every weekend until the incompetence of Michael Masi snatched away my goat's 8th WDC.

However as much as I hate Max, he has clearly been the best driver this year. The car checo (hope it was his last ever time wasting that Red Bull seat) couldn't even reach Q3 with during qualifying, Max took it to pole at times. Despite having at times the 4th most quickest car, he still managed to minimise the damage in the drivers championship. Also imo Lando Norris has got to be the worst driver this year (not counting back runners.) He had the car, he had the pace and he certainly has the opportunity to take away the WDC, but the only thing he is good at is being a crybaby over the radio.

The drive in Sao Paolo was a testament to the fact that Max has got to be the most skilled driver on the grid currently.

But as always, I'd love to see Lewis on top again. Another person I am looking forward to is Kimi, I feel he's Max 2.0.
Cheers

[Sensible_Speed]

Max Verstappen had the stiffest competition in a while from the Mclarens. His car was clearly inferior in most ways, but boy did he turn it up at the track this year. That Brazil race was a masterpiece for years to come. He showed us all why he deserves to be World Champion.

[gopi_rm]

Voted for Max!

Even though I am a die hard Alonso fan and hate Max’s divebombs, still he is on another league when it comes to raw pace, calculated risks and situational awareness. The way he drove in Brazil was not matched by anyone else. He took the WDC single handedly with his own efforts inspite of being in a non-dominant car.

[Mad Max]

Voted for Gasly, moreso for Alpine. They have come a long way from the back of the field and their recent drives are exciting and they are able to challenge the front runners on a good day. Looking forward to their 2025 campaign with their added Constructor's loot.

[PhiGolden]

Voted for Alonso. Considering his age and the car at his disposal, he certainly had his moments this year.

[amg5610]

Voted for Gasly. Considering how alpine started the year and how Gasly had performed since the Austin race. To bag a podium and finish in the Top 10 in the driver's standings is a remarkable year imo.

McLaren will be team of the year, the first year in the fight after 26 long years off the top...a P2 finish would have been a great achievement but they bagged P1 so that is a remarkable achievement. Looking forward to see how strong they come out of the block next year.

[chhotagujju]

I would have loved to vote for Sergio Perez, for single handedly spicing up the Constructors championship by not getting enough points for Redbull.

Jokes apart, voted for Charles LeClerc. He has been driving really good and with a better car and strategies, can definitely give tough competition to Max. He needs to start a bit of thinking (like Sainz) and not completely rely on his team for instructions (strategies) though.

[Sudarshan42]

Voted for Perez. He singlehandedly made this season watchable after the halfway mark. And gift-wrapped the Constructors trophy to Mclaren. Unbelievable talent, one to watch out for in the future.

[Vikki@Hyderabad]

Voted for Carlos Sainz. To know that he's been kicked out of the team, which would be the biggest demotivator apart from the uncertainty of being able to secure a seat for 2025, 3 DNFs and one race less, his score was just 2 points shy of Piastri - whose feat of completing and scoring in every race (at least sprint) is admirable in itself.

Although Max's performance in an inferior car (unless Checo has forgotten how to drive) is praiseworthy, he's not the driver for me because his racing wasn't clean, at least to me. I cheered for him when he scored his first championship, but he's not the same driver. If points alone were the criterion, then he would be it. But this being subjective, my vote goes to the Smooth Operator.