F1 Q&A: Andrew Benson answers your questions before the start of the 2024 season

[CharlieH]

 

The 2024 Formula 1 season starts in Bahrain this weekend - but what are the big talking points ahead of the new campaign?

BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson answers your questions about what we can expect this year.

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What is the point of watching this season if the winner of pretty much everything is already known?

Andrew: It's easy to feel that way, especially after last season. But sometimes sport is like this. Fortunately, it is also unpredictable. That's part of its beauty.

Yes, Max Verstappen and Red Bull look strong favourites and everyone believes they have the fastest car. But it's the fastest car now.

Within Red Bull, there is a feeling that they will reach a plateau with development this season, where gains are harder to find. In theory, that should happen to them before it happens to other teams.

So there's still hope they could be caught in what is after all the longest season ever. Whether that happens soon enough to affect the championship is a different question.

As Lando Norris has said: "Are they beatable? You have to say yes, because we were very close at certain times (last year) and at certain times we did. But the question is, are they beatable over a season? I think that will be very difficult."

If Verstappen does win the title again, who is going to push him closest?

Andrew: If the Red Bull is as good as it looks, and it keeps that advantage all season, no-one will be pushing him.

His team-mate, Sergio Perez, doesn't have Verstappen's quality, and as yet it appears those who could rival him - Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Norris - don't have fast enough cars.

If the questioner is asking who will be the closest team to Red Bull, right now that looks like a toss up between Ferrari and Mercedes, with Aston Martin next in line.

But remember the huge progress McLaren made last year. They believe they can keep up that trajectory. If so, they, too, will be in the mix at the front.

 

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