In 2024, Formula One finds itself at a point that it hasn’t seen in 14 years. As the title race winds down to its final eight races, Max Verstappen remains the clear favorite. However, there are no fewer than four teams capable of securing victories. Super Max and his Red Bull have been hunted down by McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, with those three combining to win the last five races and leaving the reigning world champion without a victory in three months, his longest drought since 2020.
In recent years, the sport has only known complete domination, be it Lewis Hamilton and his Silver Arrow throughout the 2010s, or Verstappen and his Red Bull over the last three years. However, it wasn’t always that way. With this season taking an unforeseen turn back to competitiveness, let’s take a look at the last time numerous teams and drivers were battling it out for the title.
The Rise of Sebastian Vettel
Verstappen remains the favorite for the title with online Formula One odds providers this season, but the fact that he has fallen to a +265 second-favorite for victory in the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix speaks volumes as to how far his Red Bull has slipped. But 14 years ago, the Austrian team wasn’t fading away throughout the second half of the season, they were getting stronger. Particularly a young upstart by the name of Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull’s talented young German managed to remain in contention despite a rocky start to the season with several mechanical issues and driver errors. He reeled off podium after podium in the middle of the campaign, before winning two of the final three races heading into the grand finale in Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull Civil War
Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber, was equally determined, often challenging Vettel and leading the championship during the mid-season. He had outperformed his younger teammate in terms of points and race finishes, but it was clear that his brash understudy had the better raw speed.
This internal battle vying for control of the Red Bull Racing team added a layer of intensity to the title fight, as both drivers were equipped with a car that was the fastest on the grid, thanks to its superior aerodynamics and innovative designs. But despite that, they didn’t head to the Arabian Gulf for the decider as the championship leader.
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber came together at the 2010 #TurkishGP! 🇹🇷#SkyF1 | #F1 pic.twitter.com/j820KLN4T8— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 25, 2020
Alonso Drags a Poor Ferrari to the Brink of the Title
That was an honor that went to former two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard was in his first year with Ferrari, but the Prancing Horse he found himself at the wheel of was a dreadful car in comparison to the ones that led both Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen to the championship.
Despite that, the former Renault driver drove supremely throughout the season, picking up victories despite his much slower car and heading to Abu Dhabi as the championship leader and favorite for glory. Unfortunately for him, things would take a disastrous turn.
Abu Dhabi Showpiece
As the season unfolded, pivotal races set the stage for the dramatic finale. The Turkish Grand Prix – with its infamous Red Bull collision – and the strategic tussles in races like Singapore and Korea, where Alonso and Vettel showcased their race-craft, were moments that defined the season. The internal dynamics at Red Bull were particularly compelling, with team orders and on-track incidents testing the relationship between Vettel and Webber.
Everything combined perfectly to culminate with a breathtaking four-way championship showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Alonso led the standings, with Webber close behind, while Vettel and Hamilton were still in contention, albeit as outsiders. The race unfolded with unexpected twists; Red Bull’s tactical error of putting Webber early triggered Ferrari to follow suit, but both cars ended up stuck behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov and unable to overtake.
That allowed Vettel to seize the opportunity. He won from pole position – his third victory in the final four races – to secure his maiden world championship. Could the 2024 campaign have a similarly shocking conclusion?