With the first images of the single-seaters, and the winter tests in Bahrain this weekend, we know a little more about what the 2024 Formula 1 grid will look like. If the 20 drivers entered remain the same for the first time in the history of the premier category of motor sports, the single-seaters of all the teams have evolved well.
The proof in pictures.
1. Red Bull – the RB20 focuses on change
The Red Bulls leave with a new car and the intention to continue to dominate the paddock.
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To continue to widen the gap with the competition, Red Bull wanted to continue to innovate.
Victorious last year in 21 GPs out of 22 with its RB19, the team carried out a major change in aerodynamic concept, particularly around the sidepods, as well as at the level of the cooling inlets.
During the unrepresentative winter tests, the Red Bulls, still powered by Honda, dominated the rest of the competition quite widely.
2. Mercedes - the W15 “is no longer a diva”
The new Mercedes, which regains its silver finery of the great years.
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“More pleasant”, “more efficient”.
Compliments are raining down on this new Mercedes W15 which is “no longer the diva of the last two years”, according to George Russell, even if it still lacks pure performance.
Inspired by the design of the RB19, the Silver Arrows abandoned the “zero pontoon” concept while presenting the most original front wing in the paddock.
And while returning to the silver gray of the glorious years.
3. Ferrari – The SF-24 of the title?
The Ferraris hope to achieve better performances than last year, in the wake of their notable increase in power.
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Half-Red Bull, half-Ferrari.
This is how we could summarize the concept of this SF-24, largely inspired by the RB19, while retaining the main lines of the Scuderia at the end of last season, the one which returned to the forefront and made Carlos Sainz win in Singapore.
Color wise, yellow is taking up more and more space over red.
4. McLaren - An MCL38 still performing well?
Watch out for the underdog McLaren this season.
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Far from the leading teams at the same time last year, McLaren has now caught up.
Ultra-high performance at the end of the season, the new MCL38 will be a continuation of the single-seater which worked miracles with Norris and Piastri at the wheel.
5. Aston Martin - the AMR24 has not changed
Fernando Alonso will occupy the seat of an Aston Martin which can still be improved.
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Externally, it is difficult to note any notable changes compared to the AMR23.
However, the Aston Martin single-seater has evolved well.
The biggest objective: gain top speed in a straight line.
“We were lagging behind, always among the last.
(…) Being more efficient, faster in a straight line, that would especially help us on Sunday,” warned world champion Fernando Alonso.
Response on track.
6. Alpine - a brand new A524
Alpine has clearly innovated for this next season.
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The new Alpine has indeed changed from A to Z as Bruno Famin, the team boss, had warned.
The single-seater now displays a “more aggressive” line, with a wider nose and front wing, a redesigned rear suspension and a completely new chassis.
Otherwise, blue and pink are always out.
But for what level of performance?
7. Williams - the FW46, a new rocket?
A blue rocket will take off at the GPs.
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Faster than ever in a straight line in 2023, the FW46 must take on a new challenge this year: performing on other sections of the circuits.
For this, no major changes to the design of the car... apart from a much darker navy blue, in homage to the team's greatest moments.
8. Racing Bulls - the VCARB 01, a second Red Bull?
The Racing Bulls car will get people talking.
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A single-seater that risks causing controversy.
Closer to Red Bull in its operation, the new Racing Bulls team (formerly Alpha Tauri) has recovered as many parts as possible from the RB19.
Color wise, we return to the dark blue and red of Toro Rosso's early years.
9. Sauber - the C44, a neon green look
Will the biggest change to the C44 be purely aesthetic?
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The C44 will be visible from very far away.
For the change of name and its sponsor, the new Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber team (its full name, formerly Alfa Romeo), thought big with a fairly impressive fluorescent green, to make you forget the main characteristics of the single-seater.
Hopefully its radical visuals aren't the car's only positive point.
10. Haas - the VF-24 trying to exist
The Haas are not expected to dominate F1 circuits this season.
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Darker, and that's it?
Accustomed to the back of the grid for several seasons, Haas has not revolutionized its car for 2024, apart from a return to black tones which recall its arrival in F1 in 2016.