The 13-year Formula 1 streak that could quietly come to an end

As a seasoned gamer who’s been following Formula 1 since the glory days of Prost and Senna, I can confidently say that the 2024 season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The competitiveness we saw last year with Max Verstappen dominating the scene has indeed escalated this time around, with a driver battle so intense it’s making even the toughest of us spectators sweat!

Last year, when I declared that the 2023 Formula 1 season was remarkably undervalued in terms of competition compared to previous years, I wasn’t merely joking or trying to defend Max Verstappen. I truly believed it.

As a lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast who has watched countless races and followed the sport closely for decades, I must say that the 2021 season was one of the most captivating and underrated seasons I have ever witnessed. Max Verstappen’s dominance in nearly every race made it seem like a runaway championship, but the high level of competition was often masked by his impressive streak of victories.

At one point, he broke the winning streak record and reeled off 10 consecutive victories.

However, the struggle for the runner-up position was closer than ever before, with drivers from up to five distinct teams vying for the title of “top contender,” each taking turns holding this position across the span of the 22 races that comprised the season.

Despite the media often emphasizing Red Bull’s dominance whenever the Dutch national anthem was played on the podium throughout the year, some attempted to minimize Verstappen’s individual success. However, it should be noted that Verstappen could have won the constructor championship single-handedly, and he amassed more than double the points of his teammate Sergio Perez by season’s end.

The only thing a typical Formula 1 fan could have asked for is that that competitive battle be for P1 instead of P2.

Now in 2024, that epic season has indeed started to come to fruition for P1, not P2.

While it’s clear that Max Verstappen’s victories in 2023 weren’t solely due to the exceptional performance of the RB19, it’s been widely acknowledged that the 2024 model of Red Bull car hasn’t met the expectations many had for it. Given the high hopes surrounding the car and Verstappen’s strong start with four wins in five races, save for a mechanical retirement, fans had anticipated another successful season for the 26-year-old Dutch driver.

Indeed, Verstappen remains the front-runner in the world championship, a position he’s maintained since May of this year, and his lead extends beyond the number of victories achieved by three full races.

Indeed, he has triumphed in seven out of 14 contests. Moreover, although Lewis Hamilton has clinched two victories, Max Verstappen remains the unique racer who has won multiple races and graced the top podium step (George Russell’s disqualification led to Hamilton being awarded the victory in Belgium).

In a surprising twist, seven distinct drivers from four diverse teams have claimed victories this season, yet among these four teams, it’s Red Bull who find themselves in an ironic situation as they are the only team that hasn’t seen both their drivers stand on the top podium tier at any point.

As someone who’s been following Formula One for decades, I must say that the 2024 season has been particularly captivating. Unlike other years where the cars have often overshadowed the drivers, this year we have a fierce driver battle that has kept us on the edge of our seats. This intense competition has led us to where we are now, with only ten races left in a record-breaking 24-race calendar. It’s not just about who can drive the fastest car; it’s about strategy, skill, and determination. I can’t wait to see how this race unfolds!

The current season appears poised to possibly achieve a seldom-seen event that didn’t even occur in the intense 2012 competition. This is because the recent intensity of the 2024 season resembles the competitive spirit of 2012.

Not since the 2010 season has an entire season been contested without a single driver winning three races in a row.

Indeed, Verstappen had an impressive nine-consecutive victories earlier in the year, but it’s important to note that seven of those wins were towards the end of the 2023 season, making it 19 wins out of 20 races. However, throughout the entirety of 2024, no driver has managed to win more than two races consecutively, and Verstappen is currently the only one who has achieved this feat.

As a devoted racing enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the thrilling 2010 season that brought about the adoption of the contemporary scoring system (with the fastest lap point being introduced in 2019 as an exciting addition). The world championship saw the top four drivers hailing from three distinct teams, each separated by just 16 points. Over the course of the 19-race schedule, these champions claimed between three and five victories, but no driver managed to secure more than two consecutive wins.

Currently, Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris of McLaren by a significant margin of 78 points, and the top four drivers are spread apart by 110 points. Consequently, the competition isn’t nearly as close as it was 14 years ago.

Over the past six races, I’ve found myself not leading the scoring chart. Instead, it’s been a tie between me and Hamilton, with both of us sitting at the top spot in the latest standings.

2024 is proving to defy expectations for those who once saw Formula 1 as an “uncompetitive” or “predictable” sport, instead delivering a surprising degree of competition.

It’s uncertain if this season will be the 14th in a row without a driver winning three races consecutively, but the number of competitive drivers each week certainly makes it extremely difficult for any driver, no matter their team, to build such a streak.

The Formula 1 summer break concludes this weekend, leading up to the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on August 25th. Max Verstappen has triumphed from pole position in every year since its reinstatement in 2021. Tune into ESPN starting at 8:55 a.m. ET, and sign up for a free trial of FuboTV to catch all the action!

2024-08-21 14:02