The 2024 Formula 1 (F1) World Championship–where engineering and adrenaline meet–is the pinnacle of motorsport. Rounds 17 and 18 were held in Azerbaijan on Sep. 15 and Singapore on Sep. 22, respectively. F1 is the highest level of open-wheel, single-seater auto racing, featuring 10 teams with 20 drivers competing on circuits worldwide.
Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan
With its twisty sections and tight corners, the Baku City Circuit is regarded as one of the most challenging street circuits. Only one driver has won there twice: Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez of Red Bull, in 2021 and 2023. His teammate, championship leader Max Verstappen, claimed victory in 2022.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc started from the pole position for the fourth consecutive time but remained unable to convert it into a win. Lando Norris of McLaren, second in the championship, started 17th on the grid due to a yellow flag in the first qualifying period. Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, started second. In lap 20, Piastri took the lead, with Leclerc fighting for it back but ultimately was unable to get past him.
Formula 2 (F2) driver Ollie Bearman replaced Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who was serving a race ban after accumulating 12 penalty points on his super license. Bearman made his debut in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, stepping in for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined with appendicitis. Bearman finished in the points in both races, becoming the first driver in F1 history to score points for two different constructors in his first two races.
On the penultimate lap, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez, battling for the final podium position, collided. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) ruled it a racing incident, and neither driver was penalized. This collision allowed George Russell of Mercedes to finish in third place. With Piastri winning his second victory and Norris finishing fourth, McLaren surpassed Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, marking their first lead since 2014. Red Bull has led the standings since their victory in Spain in 2022.
Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
The Marina Bay Street Circuit, a night race, is physically demanding for drivers due to the intense heat they face over 62 laps. This year marked the first time the race did not have a safety car or yellow flag. Norris started from pole and led every lap until the end, making it his third career victory. Despite having started on pole five times before, this is the first time he maintained the lead after the first lap. He is the fifth different winner in five years at this circuit, the previous year being won by his former teammate, Sainz.
Verstappen finished second. Anything except first place is unusual for the Dutch driver and the team since they dominated the 2023 season, winning all but one race. Piastri secured third, making it a double podium for McLaren. Daniel Ricciardo of Racing Bulls took the fastest lap. Taking 13th in Baku and 18th in this race, Ricciardo did not gain the extra point for the fastest lap because he was not in the top ten. However, he took the point away from Norris, which in turn helped out his old teammate, Verstappen, for the driver’s championship. Rumors were brewing previously of this being his last race after 13 years of being in this series. As a token of appreciation, fans voted him driver of the day. These rumors were confirmed true on Sep. 26, and Liam Lawson, the reserve driver of the same team, will replace him.
With Norris not being awarded the extra point for the fastest lap, the fight for the championship is still wide open. McLaren has caught up to Red Bull, and the gap between them is increasing. For the first time in over two years, Red Bull’s dominance has ceased. There is a three-week break before the next race in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 18. Competition is there, and it is anyone’s race.
