A Dramatic Grand Prix: Has F1 started to meet fans’ expectations in the first half of 2024?
The Hungarian Grand Prix proved that in the 2024 season, F1 enthusiasts could admit that Red Bull’s domination is shaky. In the 2023 season, statistics showed that Max Verstappen’s victories decreased interest in the sport.
For this reason, people expected that “Mad Max” would continue his wins nonstop to break new world records. In the Hungarian Grand Prix, chaos was enough to please Drive To Survive producers that has only one meaning: the F1 we missed is back.
Red Bull’s early pit stop strategy has caused Max Verstappen to lose his 3rd place, and he found himself in a battle with Lewis Hamilton. Interviews and the team radio proved that Verstappen wasn’t satisfied with the strategy and believed the team made a great mistake that cost him a second win.
Can anyone blame him? Every other driver had a plan with their teammates while Sergio Perez was fighting for a place in the top 10.
The Mclaren Duello
The Hungary weekend also has hosted a McLaren strategy drama. Lando Norris, who started from P1 and Oscar Piastri, who started from P2, battled for the win. Piastri led the race for almost 50 laps, and because of the pit-stop strategy, Norris took his first place back in the last ten laps. In this case, McLaren had to choose between Piastri’s first win and Norris’ World Championship.
The team made their decision on Piastri’s first win. If we consider Piastri’s leadership for almost the whole race, the question is: Was it a risk to McLaren’s Championship? Max Verstappen is still the leader of the championship standings, and his biggest rival is Lando Norris. Winning the Hungarian Grand Prix might help him to get closer to Verstappen.
What’s Next?
McLaren has its trust towards the updates they brought the car, but that doesn’t mean RedBull will sit still and look pretty. Red Bull, even with the recent strategy mistakes, is still the most powerful and dominant team on the grid. Every decision should be towards bringing down the Verstappen. It won’t be easy.
The most loved team of the grid is struggling, too. Ferrari announced crucial updates and raised the expectations for the SF-24. But not only in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the previous weekends were full of trouble for the Ferrari team. The engine problems have continued and put the drivers in serious situations.
F1 fans can admit the tea on the grid is hot, and what’s next is unknown. Perez and Sainz have a future unclear, and everyone has their eyes on their steps. It is delightful to watch competition, rivalry and drama. Of course, everyone is excited for the next races.
All eyes on Verstappen at the Spa weekend, on the 28th of July. Is he going to go Mad Max mode on? What can fans expect from McLaren? Is it the start of a new age that we can call McLaren domination and the Lando Norris World Champion?
What’s waiting for the F1 fans might be a secret, but we all know we will be watching.
