2024 Year in Sports, Motorsports: Verstappen claims fourth title, Martin dethrones Bagnaia, an end to many winless droughts

The world of motorsport witnessed several milestones and major achievements in 2024. From historic achievements in various disciplines to significant news developments, the motoring fraternity delivered on the thrill and excitement factors yet again.

Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive World Championship title, Jorge Martin overpowered Francesco Bagnaia to claim his first MotoGP crown and many other victors reigned supreme.

While there were a huge number of events, moments and announcements that took place in the last 12 months, Sportstar takes a look at some of the happenings:

January

F1: Gunther Steiner leads Haas after 10 years

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner left his role after 10 years leading the US-based team. The 58-year-old Italian was replaced by the team’s former director of engineering, Ayao Komatsu. Steiner, a familiar face in the paddock, continued to engage in Formula One banter away from the track, often appearing in post-race interviews and other programs.

F1: Charles Leclerc extends Ferrari contract; signs multi-year deal

Ferrari and Charles Leclerc agreed to a fresh contract extension, with the Monegasque continuing to race for the team beyond the end of 2024. Leclerc enjoyed a long relationship with the Scuderia, having first joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. With improved performances each year, the Italian side decided to stay with the driver.

February

F1: Lewis Hamilton moves to Ferrari

After 12 years with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton made a shocking announcement that that he would be making a ground-breaking move to Ferrari, seeking a fresh challenge. With hopes to secure his eighth title and bring Ferrari back to championship glory, the seven-time World Champion chose to switch sides, thereby taking Carlos Sainz’s seat.

F1: Christian Horner’s alleged inappropriate behavior

Before the 2024 cars could have a feel of the track, a lot of tension began to brew in the paddock. Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s team principal, faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour that sparked significant controversy. While Horner denied the claims, pre-season testing went on as per schedule ahead of the record-breaking 24-race calendar.

March

Formula E makes its debut in Tokyo

Formula E made its debut in Tokyo, marking an exciting milestone for electric racing in Japan. Formula E’s Tokyo race was a decade in the making and it finally took place in the end of March. It also marked the first time the Japanese capital has hosted a motorsport world championship race.

F1 Academy second season gets underway; Susie Wolff files criminal complaint against FIA

The second season of the F1 Academy, the all-female series, featured seven rounds with all weekends running in support of Formula 1 for the first time. Meanwhile, Susie Wolff, managing director of the F1 Academy, filed a criminal complaint against the FIA over allegations made against her and her husband, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. There was an allegation that confidential information was being passed between a team member and a member of the sport’s owner Formula One Management (FOM).

April

F1: Return of China GP after five years

After a five-year hiatus, the China Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 calendar. Despite making it to the schedule the previous years, it was eventually scrapped due to COVID-19 restrictions. Making its way back in 2024, it meant that the sport’s first Chinese driver, Zhou Guanyu, got to drive in his backyard and was given a standing ovation at the end.

May

30 years since Ayrton Senna’s passing

The year 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s tragic death at the San Marino Grand Prix. Senna, one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, was commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track. A minute of silence was held and flowers were laid down at the Tamburello curve to observe the exact time and place.

F1: Leclerc breaks Monaco curse

Charles Leclerc finally conquered the Monaco Grand Prix, breaking a personal curse that had plagued him in his home race. After years of falling short, Leclerc’s victory meant he was only the second Monegasque driver to win in Monte Carlo and the first-ever in the World Championship era.

June

Le Mans WEC: 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans

A year after winning the Centenary edition, Ferrari secured another victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024. It was the team’s second consecutive win, and the Italian marque’s 11th, in the world’s most famous and prestigious endurance race.

July

Atiqa Mir becomes first female racer to win at Rotax Challenge

Atiqa Mir, the nine-year-old racing prodigy from Kashmir, created history at the Le Mans Kart International circuit, by becoming the first-ever female racer to win the Challenge International Trophy. This win placed her among an elite list of drivers, including the current F1 champion Max Verstappen.

Atiqa Mir: Nine-year-old karting prodigy from Kashmir races to the top with dreams of F1 breakthrough

Formula E: Pascal Wehrlein becomes World Champion

Pascal Wehrlein claimed the Formula E World Championship at the final race, in the tenth season of the sport. It was a landmark victory for the Porsche Formula E Team, taking its first ever drivers’ World Championship title. Jaguar TCS Racing took its first World Teams’ Championship and also won the inaugural Manufacturer’s Cup.

August

Indian Racing Festival: Third season of India’s motor racing league sets off

The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2024 saw its third season begin at the Madras International Circuit. It hosted two of the five rounds of the two competitions – Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC). The city-based teams featured Indian and international drivers including several female drivers competing in the same category.

Indian Racing Festival: How the gender gap is closing in motorsport

September

IRF: India’s first night street race inaugurated in Chennai

Chennai hosted India’s first-ever night street race during the second round of the IRF. The historic racing spectacle, which was scheduled to take place in 2023 but was disrupted due to a cyclone, brought in more than 10,000 people to witness racing on roads located near the iconic Marina Beach.

Alex Palou has won three IndyCar titles in four years

Alex Palou continued to dominate the IndyCar series, securing his third championship title in just four years.  Entered the season as the defending champion, he became the first three-time and back-to-back IndyCar champion in the Dallara DW12 chassis era

Leonardo Fornaroli crowned 2024 Formula 3 champion

Leonardo Fornaroli won the F3 title in his second year with Trident to become the first champion in the sport’s history to not win a single race in his campaign and entire Formula 3 career. The 20-year-old was also the first driver to be announced for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 grid.

October

FIA Motorsport Games holds its third edition

The third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games brought together drivers from various disciplines to compete in a multi-sport motorsport event. It includes competitions from multiple motorsport disciplines and is entered by national motorsport authorities under their national flags. 

Rivaan Dev Preetham becomes first-ever Indian to win a race at FIA Motorsport Games

Rivaan Dev Preetham made history as the first-ever Indian driver to win a race at the FIA Motorsport Games. India sent a total of 9 drivers to the games. The 11-year-old two-time Indian National Karting Champion from Chennai was also the first Indian to win a race at the FIA Motorsport Games.

November

Crowning of champions

While November saw most racing leagues end, it meant several champions were crowned, some for the first time, after a long winless slump and even back-to-back ones.

• Max Verstappen – F1 champion
• Gabriel Bortoleto – F2 champion
• Jorge Martin – MotoGP champion
• Joey Logano – NASCAR champion

Grand Prix Drivers’ Association

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), the union of Formula One drivers, released a public statement outlining several grievances against the FIA including the issue of drivers swearing during races, the tone and language of the FIA President (Mohammed Ben Sulayem) in public statements, and the policy surrounding driver fines.

December

McLaren wins World Constructors Championship after 26 years

McLaren won the World Constructors’ Championship after 26 years on Sunday, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the finale of the Formula One season. With six wins and 16 podiums this year, McLaren has been consistent, bagging double-digit points every weekend. 

McLaren’s triumph, Hamilton’s farewell, and a thrilling finish: The 2024 F1 season comes to an epic close

FIA awards

Since 2011, the FIA Awards (previously the Prize-Giving ceremony) have served as the traditional closing event of FIA General Assemblies week, offering a memorable and spectacular celebration each year. It brought together champions from every major branch of international motorsport to receive their official FIA awards during a unique, star-studded evening.