F1 November Race Recap

Formula One (or F1) is a highly competitive and exclusive international car racing sport, that consists of the world’s 20 best drivers and 10 luxury teams that drive in races called a ‘Grand Prix’ (or GP) across more than twenty different countries from February to December. This style of racing combines competitive rules, regulations, and risk of the sport, with innovative and advanced auto mechanical engineering.

As the 2024 Formula One season is beginning to come to a close, this month of November held a few of the last races before winter break. This month two races took place took place in both American continents, first in Brazil and then in Las Vegas. Aside from these Grand Prix, the World Drivers’ Championship title for 2024 was claimed by Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Team Red Bull) after a brutal fight throughout the season against British driver, Lando Norris (Team McLaren). This is now Verstappen’s 4th consecutive win in the WDC, a season-long point-based competition for the individual drivers. There is still more victory to go around though, as there remain two races yet to be won in the month of December. There is also the World Constructors’ Championship that is still full force ahead in its competition--another title like the World Drivers’ Championship, but it is for each respective team based off of their efforts (where points are rewarded through driver’s placements in Grand Prix), and simply put, construction of their cars. Follow along for December’s Grand Prix in Qatar on the 1st, and Abu Dhabi on the 8th.

Brazilian Grand Prix:

On November 3rd in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, a 69 (instead of its traditional 71) lap Grand Prix took place that resulted in, arguably, the most unexpected victory this season. This was led up to by a series of unexpected results, as during the only free practice race over the weekend 19-year-old Formula 2 driver, Oliver Bearman was announced to drive for Haas’ team only the day before, in place of driver Kevin Magnussen. Bearman proved himself worthy of his seat in Haas’ team for the 2025 F1 season as he took the podium in 3rd place. In front of him on the podium was George Russell (Mercedes) in 2nd, and in 1st Lando Norris.

Following this, the Brazilian Grand Prix hosted a Sprint, which could be summarized as a mini standalone race, which was dominated by drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (Team McLaren). Piastri taking 1st and Norris in 2nd for the Sprint’s Qualifying race, and then Norris in 1st and Piastri in 2nd for the actual Sprint itself.

Qualifying for the Grand Prix itself was much more grueling than the Sprint as the rainy weather provided harsh conditions for the drivers to perform in. Qualifying determines the starting order for the race itself, through a series of three elimination rounds. Throughout these rounds, multiple drivers went spinning and even off the track itself. Further, five drivers ended up causing red flags on the track as they crashed into the barriers of the course, unable to remain driving in the qualifying laps. These drivers included Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso (Team Aston Martin), Carlos Sainz (Team Ferrari), and Alex Albon (Team Willima). Qualifying resulted in a partially shocking top 5 on the grid arrangement for the Grand Prix, with RB’s (not to be mistaken with Red Bull) Liam Lawson, a new addition as of October, following Daniel Riccardo’s departure, in 5th and other driver Yuki Tsunoda in 3rd. The 4th spot was claimed by Esteban Ocon (Team Alpine). The top two spots on the grid for the Grand Prix were taken by George Russell in 2nd and Lando Norris in 1st.

After an already eventful weekend, the Grand Prix rolled around. Just as eventful as Qualifying, the Grand Prix proved the same as during the formation lap, Stroll crashed which resulted in an aborted start. Upon confusion, multiple drivers took off behind Norris in a second formation lap against proper procedure, resulting in the McLaren driver and a few others being put under investigation. Throughout this race, only 18 drivers truly started the Grand Prix after Stroll’s incident and Albon’s team failing to repair his car after his crash in Qualifying. This race was full of spin-outs and cars sliding off track as the conditions were harsh with heavy rain, making it difficult to drive. The weather even resulted in a few collisions that rewarded penalties to few drivers. Furthermore, Sainz and Colapinto crashed into the barriers, causing their retirement from the race altogether. Nico Hulkenburg (Team Haas) served a disqualification after about lap 32, following the red flag of Colapinto’s crash. The real shock was in the podium results for the Brazil Grand Prix, as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly took 2nd and 3rd (Team Alpine). This was Alpine’s first podium this year. And finally, coming out on top in 1st was Verstappen.

Las Vegas Grand Prix:

On November 23rd in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the 3rd Grand Prix held in the United States of America this 2024 season. This nighttime race consisted of 50 laps, on a street circuit/track, of significantly less drama than the Brazilian GP, where there were no major events during the free practice rounds. Unfortunately this did not hold up for long as during Qualifying, Franco Colapinto crashed harshly into the barriers of the racetrack. After both crashes in Brazil, this incident was far from ideal for Williams’. The final grid position results for this Grand Prix had George Russell starting in 1st, followed by Carlos Sainz, and then Pierre Gasly in 3rd.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix in comparison to this month’s other Grand Prix was fairly uneventful, aside from Gasly’s retirement from the race after claiming over the radio that he ‘lost power’ around lap 16 of the race. The race ended in a Mercedes 1-2 on the podium with drivers George Russell in 1st followed by Lewis Hamilton in 2nd. Following them up was Carlos Sainz in 3rd. This was also the race in which Verstappen earned enough points to secure his victory and title as the 2024 World Driver Champion.