F1's 2024 alternative awards

It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2024 and the extraordinary F1 season that came with it. While the battles on track kept us gripped throughout the year, as well as the various driver market moves, it’s time now to celebrate the lighter side of the sport.

Here we have our 2024 ‘alternative awards’ – a made-up celebration where we can appreciate the weird and the wonderful aspects of the year gone by just for fun. Without further ado, here are our 2024 ‘winners’…

Most improved driver – Oscar Piastri

We start with a semi-serious – and subjective – ‘award’ with Oscar Piastri taking the imaginary crown this year. Not only did the McLaren man secure his maiden Grand Prix victories in his second full season, his consistency also helped the team win their first constructors’ championship in 26 years.

While an honorable mention could go to Yuki Tsunoda for his best-ever F1 campaign, the fact Piastri moved up three positions in the drivers’ top 10 drivers vote for 2024 gives this added validity.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 21: Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren poses for a photo — Piastri scored his first two Grand Prix wins in 2024, his second F1 season

Unluckiest driver – Alex Albon

Five retirements and one DNS in Brazil – oof. Williams’ Alex Albon comfortably takes this category with his Lap 1 crash in Mexico, from a P9 starting slot, and his DNS in Brazil – having secured P7 in qualifying no less – possibly enough to secure the unluckiest title on their own.

What’s more, if we were to have an ‘unluckiest team’ award then look no further than those Williams mechanics…

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2024 Mexico City Grand Prix: Albon and Tsunoda crash out on Lap 1 in Mexico

Funniest moment – Yuki Tsunoda’s ‘brown flag’

From Piastri ‘causing a scene’ to the use of the press conference couch as a bed, we’ve had plenty of funny moments to look back on in 2025 too. But the prize for 2024 goes to Yuki Tsunoda for his ‘brown flag’ moment in Las Vegas.

Speaking to F1 TV post-race about his unexpected incident in the pit lane – where the RB driver hit a polystyrene block on the way out – his answer, as is often the way with the Japanese racer, was straight to the point. Apologies once again.

ANALYSIS: The key factor that saw ‘raw talent’ Hadjar handed his shot with RB – and what it means for ‘bridesmaid’ Tsunoda

Best radio message – ‘You can win this George!’

The Austrian Grand Prix gave us one of the key flashpoints of the year between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris as they battled it out at the front for the lead – the pair eventually making contact that forced them both out of contention.

But that also gave us this year’s best radio message as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff immediately jumped onto the radio, bellowing towards third-placed George Russell: “You can win this George!”

“Just let me f***ing drive!” was the curt response from the Briton as he went on to take his first victory since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“My bad speaking through your braking, it just… got me,” chuckled an apologetic Wolff over the radio once that race win had been clinched, as Russell replied: “You got very excited there Toto, very excited!”

Sure enough Wolff would go on to call that radio message “the single dumbest thing I've done in 12 years in Mercedes.”

END OF YEAR REPORT: Mercedes – An inconsistent season and a bittersweet farewell for Hamilton

2024 Austrian Grand Prix: Russell snaps at Wolff after taking the lead in Austria

Best special livery – McLaren’s Senna-inspired Monaco livery

From Deadpool & Wolverine, to the sparkle of Las Vegas – there has been many an inspiration for the special liveries on show in 2024. But in the year where we marked three decades since the loss of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, the McLaren special livery in Monaco holds a special place in the memory.

Not only did those Brazilian colours look splendid around the streets of Monaco – a place where Senna showcased his spectacular talents regularly with six wins – but they also made it to the podium with Oscar Piastri finishing a deserved second behind home hero Charles Leclerc.

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McLaren would sport an Ayrton Senna-inspired livery in Monaco this year

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri drove the Brazilian colours around the streets of Monaco

Senna scored six wins in Monaco and became synonymous with the venue

Oscar Piastri would go on to take P2 at the Grand Prix

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McLaren would sport an Ayrton Senna-inspired livery in Monaco this year

Best special race suits – Ferrari’s blue in Miami

Because we couldn’t just have one design award this year, Ferrari’s special blue race suits and team kit in Miami deserve a special mention as well.

With the outfits mainly decked out in the light blue of Azzurro La Plata – which was Argentina’s official race colour in the 1950s – they echoed the colour worn by legendary driver Alberto Ascari during his most successful seasons in Formula 1 as he became Ferrari’s first world champion, winning the title in both 1952 and 1953.

Ferrari had special blue race suits for the Miami Grand Prix weekend

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc also sported special blue kit throughout the weekend

The Ferrari cars also had hints of blue on their liveries in Miami

The Ferrari team also had their own special blue kits

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Ferrari had special blue race suits for the Miami Grand Prix weekend

Best stat – McLaren were deposed as reigning constructors’ champions by Ferrari 13 days before Lando Norris was born in 1999

If anything demonstrates just how long a wait it has been since McLaren last won the constructors’ championship, then this is the stat via our virtual statman Sean Kelly. Without a doubt, a first triumph in 26 years for the papaya squad was one of the stories of the season.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 08: Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and — Norris' victory in Abu Dhabi secured McLaren their first constructors' title since 1998

Best chase – Singapore marshals vs the lizard

While the Canadian marshals’ running race during the wet conditions in Montreal is a candidate here, the prize undoubtedly has to go to the gripping battle of man vs lizard in Singapore.

With the pesky reptile bringing practice proceedings to a temporary halt, the lizard demonstrated an apt turn of speed as the marshals tried to get it to safety away from the track. Look at those legs go!

2024 Singapore GP FP3: Final practice red flagged after lizard is spotted on track

Best argument – Verstappen vs Russell

This award looked like a shoe in for Liam Lawson thanks to his on-track spats with Sergio Perez, something the New Zealander would later apologise for. But right at the end of the season we had Max Verstappen and George Russell’s war of words over their Qatar stewards’ room fallout.

After Verstappen said he had “lost all respect” for the Mercedes driver following the hearing – which resulted in the Dutchman losing pole position to the Briton – Russell hit back the next weekend in Abu Dhabi by saying Verstappen had “made it personal”. A brewing rivalry for the future perhaps?

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LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and — Verstappen and Russell have exchanged words following their Qatar stewards' room hearing

Most emotional moment – Daniel Ricciardo’s Singapore interview

We didn’t know it at the time, but Daniel Ricciardo’s interview post-race in Singapore seemed to suggest that was it for the Australian’s current stint in F1.

Sure enough the fan favourite was later replaced at RB by Liam Lawson for the remainder of the season, but we’ll never forget that emotional moment at the TV pen as he faced up to the realisation that could be it.

ANALYSIS: Why Red Bull chose Lawson instead of Tsunoda as Perez's replacement

Ricciardo gives in to ‘a flood of many emotions’ as he faces uncertain F1 future

Best joker – Fred Vasseur

The Ferrari team boss won this award last year too – quite simply the Frenchman is the master of the practical joke.

Look no further than Norris’ maiden F1 win celebrations in Miami and Vasseur couldn’t help but get involved, priming a bottle of champagne ready to launch once the celebration photos were done. McLaren and Ferrari infiltrating each other’s photos became something of a theme as the year continued!

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 05: Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur speaks to the media after the F1 — Fred Vasseur was just as keen to get involved in Norris and McLaren's celebrations in Miami

Best example of perseverance – Lawrence Barretto and his vocal cords

As the season finale in Abu Dhabi arrived, it’s probably not a surprise to know there were a few tired eyes and brains following a thrilling and action-packed year. But many of us – including this here editor – can hide that behind a screen.

Less so for our resident F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto, who lost his voice in Abu Dhabi but soldiered on regardless despite some baffled looks from the drivers. Kudos.

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Best addition to the F1 family – Leo Leclerc

While we appreciate the arrival of rookies in F1 – and we have plenty to look forward to seeing next year – hands down there is one outstanding winner for 2024 in Leo Leclerc. Just look at him!

THE BIG QUIZ OF 2024: 20 questions on the 2024 Formula 1 season