sportskeeda
The leading contender for speed in the 2024 Formula One season has been revealed.
This month saw the thrilling conclusion of the 2024 F1 season, during which Max Verstappen secured the drivers’ championship title and McLaren took home the constructors’ championship.
3
3
3
The season featured seven distinct race winners and 10 drivers who made it to the podium, with three rookies surprising fans with their early showings, despite the initial driver lineup remaining unchanged from 2023.
The first rookie, Ollie Bearman, is poised to join the grid as a full-time competitor next season after making three substitute appearances.
Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan stepped in to fill the seats of Logan Sargeant at Williams and Esteban Ocon at Alpine, respectively.
Despite his standout performance, Colapinto did not manage to secure a spot among the six rookies set for the 2025 season – the others being Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson.
Notably, the 21-year-old Colapinto was the highlight of the season, achieving the record for the highest speed.
He notched the fastest speed at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, reaching a remarkable 356.4 km/h (221.5 mph).
In second place, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso recorded a speed of 353.5 km/h (219.7 mph) during the Italian Grand Prix, also known as the Temple of Speed.
Third place was taken by another driver lacking a seat for the 2025 season, Daniel Ricciardo, who achieved a speed of 353.2 km/h (219.5 mph) at the Monza track in Italy.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Nonetheless, Colapinto’s highest speed falls short of the qualifying record established by Valtteri Bottas in 2016 at the European Grand Prix, where he clocked an incredible 378 km/h (234.878 mph).
However, achieving top speed alone does not guarantee points in the race.
F1 sensation, 21, is set to be Max Verstappen’s teammate and is currently dating Wanda Icardi’s 32-year-old former rival
Following his record speed during qualifying in Las Vegas, Colapinto crashed into a wall.
The pole position for that race was claimed by Mercedes’ George Russell, who set a time of 1:32.312, while Colapinto’s best lap time was 1:33.746 during the first session.
Throughout the season, the majority of pole positions were divided between Verstappen and Lando Norris, with each securing eight pole positions.
Although seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton did not earn any pole positions, he did manage to achieve the fastest lap in two races.
Norris distinguished himself in this category, recording the quickest lap in six races.
F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver lineups for the F1 2025 season:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
RB: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar
Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon
