5) Carlos Sainz #55, Scuderia Ferrari
Carlos Sainz sits fifth in Formula 1’s driver standings, with five podiums and a sole victory at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne this season. Sainz has established a successful career at Scuderia Ferrari accumulating three race wins over three years. His tenure with the Prancing Horse will end at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton taking his seat at season’s end.
His season is not over yet, as he sits fifth in the driver standings with 190 points. While he is 141 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen, it is not impossible. His main goal is battling for his team in the constructors standings as they sit 34 points behind Red Bull Racing for second place.
4) Oscar Piastri #81, McLaren
Oscar Piastri has stood out as F1’s youngest new star. McLaren has aided his progress in turning around a car that was last in the standings after the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the season, into the fastest car on the grid in 2024.
He has seven podiums and two race wins: the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix and the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Piastri still has many years to develop his career as an F1 driver but has developed into a star. He currently sits fourth in the driver standings with 237 points, 94 points behind the leader.
3) Charles Leclerc #16, Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc is in the midst of a tight points battle for the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. Leclerc picked up his first win of the season winning the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, a race that eluded him since his F1 career began. It has been 93 years since a Monegasque was their home grand prix.
He picked up his second win at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, launching him closer to the championship fight. After the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, he sits third in the driver standings with 245 points, 86 points behind Verstappen.
2) Lando Norris #4, McLaren
Lando Norris is the driver who has the best shot of catching three-time defending champion Max Verstappen. He is one of only two drivers who has more than two wins on the season.
He won his first race this season at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. This momentum has carried over into a late-season title charge gaining points on Verstappen since the summer break.
Norris’ skill combined with McLarens recent vehicle upgrades has made him uncatchable over the last few races as his gap in his last two wins has been over 20 seconds. Norris has the confidence to get the job done, however, can he execute?
1) Max Verstappen #1, Red Bull Racing
The three-time world champion is under pressure for the first time in two years in his title defense. Max started strong winning the first two races of the season. Since then he has struggled to win races and is now facing pressure from Lando Norris for the top spot. Max Verstappen has had an easy go for the last few years and he could’ve thought the same thing this year.
Verstappen rattled off seven wins over the ten races to start the season. He has not been able to return to the top of the podium since the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, only achieving three podiums since that point.
I know Verstappen has the skill to take the title. It’s just a matter of what upgrades Red Bull Racing can implement so he can remain in the lead and take the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.
