Written by Eleana Cheshire, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
The 2024 Formula One season was one of the most chaotic seasons the sport has seen in years. With multiple different race winners and a new constructors champion, the surprising midfield moments seemed to have faded into obscurity.
The midfield delivered several stand-out performances across a thrilling season. So what were the unpredicted midfield moments this year?
Alpine’s shock double podium in Brazil
After a disappointing start to the season, big points seemed beyond reach for Alpine, let alone a podium. Before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Alpine stood second to last in the standings with just 14 points to their name.
However a wet qualifying and a wet race gave Alpine a huge chance. This was amplified even more so with Esteban Ocon starting the race in his highest grid position of the year in fourth.
Despite Pierre Gasly starting down in 13th, the French team fancied their chances at big points during the race.
Both drivers held their own throughout the race, and stayed out on a wet track as the rain picked up. A red flag called out gave the Enstone team a shot at a historic double podium, and both drivers took the opportunity with open hands.
This massive haul of points shot Alpine right up the standings into sixth, a position they held onto until the end of the season.
Sauber’s first points of the season
The 2024 season was not the ideal season Sauber had hoped for at the beginning of the year.
With slow pit stops and constant disappointing results dogging their charge, it seemed as though Sauber would end the year with both drivers failing to score points.
However, Zhou Guanyu drove an incredible race in Qatar, keeping out of trouble on a day of attrition. He brought home a respectable four points for the team and delivered his and the team’s highest race finish of the season.
Unfortunately, Valtteri Bottas was unable to replicate his teammate’s score, and ended what could be his final Formula One season with zero points to his name.
Haas: From zeros to heroes
After finishing 2023 dead last, Haas needed to make some changes and improvements within the team. The American team rang in the changes, promoting Ayao Komatsu to team principal. Later in the year, Haas also signed a technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Although Haas started the season slow, their form improved as the season progressed. Both drivers showed their skill and the improvement of the team. Nico Hulkenberg managed 11 Q3 appearances, and even had a highest qualifying position of fourth in Abu Dhabi before a grid drop.
Hulkenberg also scored his best result of sixth twice in the year, in consecutive weekends at Austria and Silverstone.
Though Kevin Magnussen did not have as much prosperity as Nico Hulkenberg, Magnussen still had multiple points finishes, and even had a highest finishing position of seventh in the Mexican Grand Prix.
It is also important to mention Oliver Bearman, who filled in for Magnussen twice. The British driver was able to score a point on his debut with the team in Azerbaijan.
Haas displayed a large jump in performance compared to 2023, and finished the season in seventh, having battled with Alpine for sixth at the end of the season.
Williams double points in Azerbaijan
Williams experienced an unfortunate 2024, with a mid-season driver swap and seventeen crashes, it was a surprise that the team could even afford to have both drivers finish the season.
However, Williams did have a moment of somewhat glory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team had their only double points finish of the season with Alex Albon finishing the race in seventh and newcomer Franco Colapinto finishing in eighth.
Though it was not the season the team wanted, there's hope that they can improve for 2025, with their new driver line up of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
An improvement for VCARB in 2024
Though VCARB finished in the same constructors position as they did in 2023, the sister Red Bull team gained over 20 points compared to their 2023 campaign. Fans’ praise for Yuki Tsunoda didn’t go unheard this season.
The Japanese driver was able to achieve his highest-ever grid position in his F1 career this season, with his third place grid start in Brazil.
The VCARB racer scored points ten times this season, including once in a sprint, comfortably beating both of his teammates in both qualifying and the races.
This was a relatively short season for Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix. Though he only finished in the points twice, Lawson impressed fans and Red Bull with his determination and skill, opening up an opportunity to join the Red Bull
Lawson was also able to achieve his highest ever qualifying result in Brazil, where he qualified in fifth. This season we also said goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo.
Though his performance was not at his best, he gave a moment for the fans to savour in the Miami sprint race, finishing fourth. Ricciardo was also able to score four points in the Canadian Grand Prix, his highest Grand Prix finish of the season.
The rise and fall of Aston Martin
The 2023 season was one to remember for Aston Martin, and the fans had hoped that the same performance would go into 2024. The start of the season was good for Aston Martin, with both drivers scoring points in the races.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix provided Fernando Alonso his best finish of the year, in fifth.
Alonso also had his highest qualifying position for the Chinese Grand Prix, starting third on the grid.
Though the car was not at the level Alonso had hoped, he still managed 16 Q3 appearances, the most of any midfield driver. Fernando Alonso also comfortably finished the season in ninth.
Lance Stroll however, found the going tougher in 2024. He had a couple of points finishes this season and finished a best of sixth in Australia.
Though Aston Martin could not continue their glory run from 2023, they finished a respectable fifth in the constructors.
The massive signing of Adrian Newey gives hopes of the British team’s future revival, returning to the podium and potentially having a race-winning car in the future.
The 2024 F1 season was certainly a season to remember. The highs and lows brought great drama to the fans and created an unforgettable season. Each team had their own form of glory, even if some of that glory was unnoticed.
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