The 2024 Formula 1 season for Racing Bulls was not entirely positive. Compared to last season, more points were scored, but the team’s position remained unchanged. Throughout the championship, there were phases where scoring points was a significant challenge.
The start of the season met expectations, with the car performing well in the midfield and breaking into the top 10 being a feasible task. However, in the middle phase of the championship, the team struggled to find the right balance, which affected performance. While rival teams made improvements, the Italian team remained stuck in its development.
In the final part of the year, the team recovered, thanks in particular to updates introduced at the Austin Grand Prix, where new driver Liam Lawson also joined. Still in the United States, at the Las Vegas GP, the team received the complete rear suspension package from Red Bull, along with a new sidepod configuration. With the new front wing profile brought to Abu Dhabi, the Racing Bulls concluded their development for the 2024 season.
The team finished the championship in eighth place in the Constructors’ standings, securing 46 points. The battle with Alpine and Haas for sixth place ended poorly, largely due to the struggles during the middle phase of the season.
The most memorable weekends in terms of results were Australia, Miami, and Brazil, where the team scored 6, 12, and 8 points, respectively. At the beginning of the season, Yuki Tsunoda delivered excellent performances, while his teammate Daniel Ricciardo struggled. In the latter part of the championship, Lawson replaced the Australian, demonstrating the character needed to become Red Bull’s next driver in 2025.
The contribution of drivers in the 2024 championship
The driver who undoubtedly contributed the most to Racing Bulls’ results this season was Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver showed significant improvement in speed, consistency, maturity, and providing feedback to the team. Much of this progress stemmed from Daniel Ricciardo’s influence on team operations.
Daniel Ricciardo’s contribution was mainly limited to this. On the track, the expected results did not materialize, and the Australian seemed noticeably out of his depth. His inability to score points for the team heavily influenced the decision to replace him just before the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Liam Lawson stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo. The New Zealander had already raced in F1 the previous season with the Italian team (then still called AlphaTauri). Lawson immediately showed his potential, with on-track battles against Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez proving he lacks no courage. Despite participating in only a few races, his performances were enough to secure a seat at Red Bull for 2025.
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