Chase the Red Bull: 2024 F1 season approaches

Sakhir, Bahrain, February 29-March 2

For a fourth consecutive year, Bahrain hosts the Formula 1 season opener. The 2023 race set the tone for the season to come, with a Red Bull 1-2 led by Max Verstappen, paving the way for a dominant near-whitewash of 21 victories from 22 races for the Milton Keynes outfit.

With little in the way of regulation change coming in for 2024, it will take a titanic effort to dethrone Red Bull and Verstappen. However, the reigning team will be aware of threats from across the grid, with Ferrari hoping to finally maximise the flashes of speed it showed across last season.

Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore along with Charles Leclerc’s five pole positions in 2023 showed the potential remains for a Scuderia resurgence.

Mercedes also enters the season with renewed hope after finally ditching its maligned zero-sidepod concept. Toto Wolff and his team have been promising a revolutionised car for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell – but will the winter work at Brackley pay off and allow the Silver Arrows to challenge for titles once again?

After a series of successful upgrades helped McLaren re-find its form last season, the immensely impressive pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could very well be the ones to finally bring McLaren back to their rightful place as championship contenders.

And following a remarkably quiet off-season in the drivers’ market, the grid remains unchanged – but that might not be for long… As has been widely reported, Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull seat will be under immense scrutiny if he doesn’t turn results around following a disappointing 2023.

And where does Fernando Alonso fit in to all this? The Spaniard is embarking on his 21st season and has showed a renewed lease of fight and speed at Aston Martin.

While some may think the script is already written, a new season of F1 will always throw up new questions and surprises.

WRC – Rally Sweden
Umeå, Sweden, February 15-18

The winter wonderland of Umeå hosts Rally Sweden for a third consecutive year. The only full snow rally on the WRC calendar provides an unparalleled test for the drivers as their 500bhp hybrid monsters take on sheet ice and freezing temperatures.

Supercars – Bathurst 500
Mount Panorama, Australia, February 22-25

A favourite track of any petrolhead, it returns to play host to the Supercars Championship season opener. Expect plenty of shunts and V8 action along the twists and dives of the 3.8-mile-long circuit – one of the unique spectacles in racing.

WEC – Qatar 1812Kms
Lusail, Qatar, March 2-3

The highly anticipated new season of the World Endurance Championship begins in Qatar as WEC visits the Lusail circuit for the first time. The ever-growing Hypercar class has brought new life to the series and the arrival of Lamborghini, BMW, Alpine and Isotta Fraschini will provide more action than ever before.

Indycar – St Petersburg Grand Prix
St Petersburg Street Circuit, St Petersburg, Florida, March 8-10

Álex Palou begins the defence of his IndyCar crown, while ex-Formula 1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson have both changed teams
for 2024. Arrow McLaren has brought in the promising young gun David Malukas to partner Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi.

MotoGP – Qatar GP
Lusail, Qatar, March 8-10

It’s a busy month at the Lusail circuit as MotoGP also kick-starts its 2024 season in Qatar. Marc Márquez was the star of pre-season testing and is expected to fight for the championship once again with a competitive – albeit year-old – Ducati bike.

More events

Mar 7-9 F1 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Mar 8-10 Super Formula – Suzuka
Mar 13-16 IMSA – Sebring 12 Hours