The crew for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, pushes the car down pit lane before the first practice session for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
After a long winter filled with rumors, shocking headlines, and endless speculation, the new Formula 1 season is finally upon us. The grid heads to Shakir, Bahrain, for the opening race of the season to kick off what promises to be another exhillerating year of action.
An offseason of chaos
The offseason used to be a grueling wait until preseason testing begun, but that couldn’t have been farther from the truth this time around. The theatrics started when Formula One decided to decline Andretti Team’s bid to join the grid by 2026. The door is reportedly still open for them to take ownership of a current team, or to work something out for 2028 and beyond, but the iconic name will not be taking to the grid as a team anytime soon.
After what felt like just heartbeats later, it was revealed that Lewis Hamilton would be jumping ship to Ferrari for 2025, making this season his last with Mercedes, whom he has now spent over a decade with. The seven-time World Champion will join the biggest name in Motorsport alongside Charles LeClerc, but that in itself caused shockwaves.
For one, where will Carlos Sainz go, and how will it impact the team’s morale in 2024? Ferrari looked poised to be the one team who can hang with Red Bull, and if Sainz gets off to a flyer, do the Scuderia instead focus their efforts on the development and success of the driver they’ve hung their hat on?
But these are all things that will spark debates after this coming season. We have a 24-race schedule to get through first and that will inevitably bring with it plenty of twists and turns.
What about 2024?
Red Bull storm into this season as the clear favorites to retain the Constructors Championship for a third-consecutive season, but a dark…
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