Category: Motorsport

In a major shake-up for the Formula One calendar, the Spanish Grand Prix is set to move to a new circuit in Madrid from next year. The iconic race currently takes place at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, just under 20 miles from the city centre.

The Spanish Grand Prix is one of the oldest races in the world, having celebrated its 100-year anniversary back in 2013. After a brief pause for the Spanish Civil War, the race was revived in 1967 and has been a mainstay since.

Both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have won the race a record six times, while Max Verstappen has won the last three on a spin. In fact, you’d have to go back to Nico Rosberg’s triumph in 2015 for the last time neither Hamilton or Verstappen came out on top in Spain.

The race has been held at several venues over the years, including Pedralbes, Jarama and Montjuïc, Jarama, Jerez and Catalunya, which has been its home since 1991. A year after its maiden outing, the 1992 race was dubbed ‘the Grand Prix of the Olympic Games’.

It’s one of only four tracks to have featured on the F1 calendar every year since 1991. However, as of next year, the Spanish Grand Prix is moving to a new track in Madrid. The switch to the capital was due to take place this year, but was ultimately pushed back to 2026.

A new era begins in Madrid

The Spanish Grand Prix will take place in Madrid for at least 10 years after a long term deal was signed until 2035. The new circuit spans 5.47km and features 20 corners, with both street and non-street sections and two short tunnels. It’s set to be a quick circuit, boasting a projected qualifying time of 1 minute and 32 seconds.

The Madrid course will be among the largest venues on the Formula One calendar. Initially, there’s expected to be a capacity of around 110,000, although this could grow to 140,000 as it expands during the opening years.

The track is just a stone’s throw from the airport and is set to be among the world’s most accessible tracks. Organisers believe that 90% of visitors will be able to access the venue by public transport, with Formula One aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030.

It’ll be the first Grand Prix in the Madrid region for 45 years, with the last taking place at Jerez back in 1981. It’s still unknown whether the Catalunya circuit will be retired – it could still host a race, giving Spain two spots on the calendar. This was the case from 2008 to 2012, when a race took place in Valencia.

Join us for the final Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona!

The last Spanish Grand Prix at the Catalunya track is just a few weeks away. This year’s event takes place on Sunday 1st June and if you fancy a weekend of sun and sport without the stress of planning it all, we’ve got you covered.

With our exclusive ROAM package, we’d be delighted to host you in Barcelona for a luxury break, where you can take in all the thrills of the race, explore the historic streets of Spain’s second city and enjoy a cocktail or two on the beach.

The package includes a three-night stay at Sofitel Skipper five-star hotel in Barcelona, with double or twin occupancy accommodation. All breakfast and city taxes are included and we’ll provide return circuit transfers to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on both the Saturday and Sunday.

Once you’re at the track, you’ll be treated to two days of fully inclusive, shared lounge-style hospitality, with full catering and an open bar. As well as incredible food and drink, you can enjoy the race from the best seats in the house in Grandstand H, as well as a covered hospitality area on the final corner of the track with views down the finishing straight.

Engage staff will be on hand throughout to ensure you receive the best experience possible and you’ll be a part of history as the Spanish Grand Prix waves goodbye to Barcelona. If you’d like to make the most of this unmissable opportunity, enquire today to reserve your place.

We’re five races into the 2025 Formula One season and the standings are starting to take shape. After winning the last four consecutive titles, Max Verstappen looks to have his work cut out in his bid to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five on the trot.

There could be a new champion emerging this year, with McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris leading the way so far. But there are still 19 races to go, with plenty of movement in the rankings still to come.

F1 standings after five races

Oscar Piastri secures third win in Saudi Arabia

While all the pre-season talk focussed on a potential title charge from Norris, at the moment it’s his McLaren teammate that looks the most likely. Piastri raced to his third win in five races with another phenomenal performance in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

After winning in Bahrain the previous week, the Australian secured two wins on the spin after second-placed Verstappen was given a five-second penalty. Verstappen recovered to claim his third podium of the campaign but he didn’t quite have enough to regain the lead from Piastri.

Norris’ race looked to be in jeopardy when he suffered a crash in qualifying but he worked his way up from 10th to secure a respectable fourth-place finish and may well have overtaken Charles Leclerc with a bit more time.

It’s still early days but Piastri will have his eyes on a maiden Drivers’ Championship in just his third season on the F1 grid. The 24-year-old has improved dramatically each year, finishing 9th and 4th in previous campaigns, and if he continues his current form then Verstappen has a huge problem on his hands.

2025 F1 Podiums

Can Verstappen turn things around?

Verstappen was by no means at his best last year compared to his dominance in 2023. The Red Bull maestro failed to win a lot of races in the second half of the campaign, with his closest rivals failing to capitalise.

The difference in 2024 was that he started strongly and built up a healthy lead before fading away. In fact, Verstappen won seven of the opening 10 races last time out and was storming away at the start of the campaign.

The same can’t be said this time around. He’s won just once so far and will need to reverse his strategy and mount a comeback if he wants to challenge in the title race at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Norris finds himself in a good position after five races. While he would have wanted to be top of the pile, he’ll be able to work with teammate Piastri to prevent Verstappen from taking control. Next up is Miami, the scene of the Brit’s first ever Grand Prix victory last year and he’ll be looking to repeat the feat next weekend after a week’s break.

Elsewhere, it’s been a baptism of fire so far for Lewis Hamilton in his first season for Ferrari after making the switch from Mercedes. He’s recorded a highest finish of fifth so far, although he’s been in the top 10 each time. While he’s not disgraced himself, he’ll need to step up quickly if he still dreams of securing a record eighth title this year.

Upcoming F1 races

With so many races still to come, you can enjoy the action in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. Whether you fancy a day out at Silverstone or a trip to Miami, we’ve got you covered – enquire today to reserve your place.

Miami Grand Prix– Sunday 4th May
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix– Sunday 18th May
Monaco Grand Prix– Sunday 25th May
Spanish Grand Prix– Sunday 1st June
Canadian Grand Prix– Sunday 15th June
Austrian Grand Prix– Sunday 29th June
British Grand Prix– Sunday 6th July
Belgian Grand Prix– Sunday 27th July
Hungarian Grand Prix– Sunday 3rd August
Dutch Grand Prix– Sunday 31st August
Italian Grand Prix– Sunday 7th September
Azerbaijan Grand Prix– Sunday 21st September
Singapore Grand Prix– Sunday 5th October
USA Grand Prix– Sunday 19th October
Mexican Grand Prix– Sunday 26th October
Brazilian Grand Prix– Sunday 9th November
Las Vegas Grand Prix– Saturday 22nd November
Qatar Grand Prix– Sunday 30th November
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix– Sunday 7th December

The wait is almost over – the Formula One 2025 season gets underway in just over a fortnight. It’s all change on the grid, with Lewis Hamilton switching sides, while there are a few new faces set to make their F1 debuts.

But will there be a change in the standings at the end of the year? Max Verstappen is targeting a fifth consecutive world title. Can anyone get the better of him this time? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the new season.

Can Max Verstappen be stopped?

It was the same old story in 2024 as Verstappen raced to yet another Formula One world title. The Red Bull superstar has now won four Drivers’ Championships in a row and is looking to become just the second person to claim five on the trot after Michael Schumacher achieved the feat in 2004.

Verstappen now finds himself just three titles shy of Shumacher and Hamilton at the top of the pile and with age on his side, you’d fancy his chances of ending his career with the most wins in history. The 27-year-old was imperious once again last year, winning nine races and achieving a further five podium finishes.

He wasn’t quite as dominant as his 2023 glory, where he won 19 of the 22 races, but he was still head and shoulders above the competition. Verstappen endured phases of poor form last year but crucially his nearest challengers weren’t able to capitalise when it mattered. And he’ll have learnt from those mistakes, meaning this year he could be even more imperious than ever.

Who are his likely challengers?

Despite a disappointing campaign last year, Hamilton will have a renewed energy as part of a new-look Ferrari team and he’ll fancy his chances. Prior to Verstappen’s period of dominance, Hamilton won four titles on the spin and he’s achieved a second and third place finish since then.

Elsewhere, there could be a challenge from fellow Brit Lando Norris. The McLaren driver was a surprise contender in 2024 and he ultimately finished as runner-up after winning four races. Charles Leclerc wasn’t too far behind and he’ll be looking to win the championship for the first time after three consecutive top five finishes.

A new era for Lewis Hamilton

After switching sides from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton will be hoping that a new environment will bring about a change to his fortunes as he targets a record eighth world title. The legendary 40-year-old spent 12 years at Mercedes, winning all but one of his championships there, but he made the move to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season.

Hamilton endured his lowest ever finish last year as he came seventh and he’ll be hoping to rediscover some form as he looks to edge ahead of Schumacher before he calls it a day. And he’s not the only driver set to don new colours this year.

Sergio Perez has left Red Bull following the expiration of his contract, meaning Verstappen is set to be joined by Liam Lawson. The 23-year-old rookie has been promoted, having spent the last two years as the team’s reserve driver.

Meanwhile, the Hamilton-shaped hole at Mercedes has been filled by another inexperienced face. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will join George Russell on the grid this year and at just 18 years old, he’s set to become the third-youngest driver in F1 history.

Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz Jr, who finished fifth in the standings last year, has joined Williams. The Spaniard had previously been at Ferrari but he’s been replaced by Hamilton.

When does the 2025 Formula One season start?

There’s not long to go now! The action gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 14th March. We’ll then be set for nine months of thrilling racing action, with 24 events to look forward to. The season comes to a close in Abu Dhabi on 7th December.

F1 season schedule

There are only 4 weeks to go until the start of the 2025 Formula 1 Season. Melbourne, Australia, will be taken over for the weekend by some of the best drivers in the world, in the hope that they can get off to a positive start in what is a very special year for F1. In 2025, Formula 1 are celebrating their 75th anniversary in what is expected to be one of the best seasons yet!

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is one of the most iconic weekends of the Formula 1 season. This year it will mark the 12th race and the halfway stage in the campaign and here at Engage there is a lot of excitement about what to expect. In this blog, we talk you through what to expect including the favourites, past winners and the hospitality options on offer!

About The British Grand Prix

The British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 and has made up part of the Formula One World Championship every year since 1950. It is held at Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire and is one of the most iconic weekends in the motor racing world. Winners of the Grand Prix include Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, Jim Clark and record holder, 9-time winner Lewis Hamilton.

The weekend attracts thousands of people every year from all over the world to the Northamptonshire countryside in the hope that they can get a glimpse of the action as the cars fly past. Silverstone has witnessed some of the all time great moments in F1 including Jackie Stewart’s emotional victory in 1969 a year after the death of Jim Clark, Ayrton Senna rather comically hitching a lift when his car ran out of fuel in 1991 and Lewis Hamilton’s memorable victory with a punctured tyre in 2020. It’s safe to say this track has played host to some of the best races in history!

The British Grand Prix 2025

So what can we expect from this year? The 2025 British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone as usual from the 4th-6th July 2025. The event will be the 12th race of the Formula 1 2025 season, also making it the halfway stage of the Championship. In what is expected to be a thrilling year of racing action with no clear or established favourite, how do you think the drivers will get on?

In 2024, Max Verstappen was winner of the Drivers’ championship once again but he didn’t have it all his own way, with 7 different winners across the season. Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc ensured that the Dutchman had a less comfortable season than 2023 as he only won by 63 points, as opposed to the 290 point margin the year before.

Last year it was Briton and one of the greatest F1 drivers ever, Lewis Hamilton, who took the honours at the British Grand Prix claiming his 9th title at Silverstone. This year Hamilton will be keen to add to his illustrious British Grand Prix record with Ferrari in his debut year with the team.

Meanwhile, fellow Britons, Lando Norris and George Russell will also be looking to impress in front of the home crowd when they take to the track in July. Russell claimed his maiden victory in 2024 at the Austrian Grand Prix and will be keen to add to his win in 2025. Norris, on the other hand, will be eager for a Championship win this year. After steering McLaren to the Constructors’ Championship in 2024, Norris will be keen for an individual title this year having placed second last season. He will certainly be focused on making Silverstone a stepping stone in achieving that feat.

Hospitality on offer

Fancy being there to see if any of the Brits can win at the British Grand Prix in 2025? Celebrate Engage Hospitality’s 20th birthday as well as Formula 1’s 75th anniversary from Engage’s ICON facility. Engage are offering some of the best hospitality for the F1 at Silverstone in 2025 with ICON which comes with premium seating; a complimentary bar; fine dining including afternoon tea, breakfast and lunch; guest speakers from the motorsport world and much more!

ICON by Engage is not the only hospitality option on offer including the McLaren, Alpine and Oracle F1 Team Paddock Clubs, the Fusion Lounge, the Octane Terrace and more! Enjoy this fantastic event and access exclusive seating areas with Engage offering hospitality catering for everyone’s needs!

Be part of history with Engage Hospitality and witness the 75th anniversary of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone!

It was only last month we were saying goodbye to a fantastic Formula 1 Season, yet already, there are only two months to go until another exciting campaign is upon us. A nail-biting 2024 season saw Max Verstappen retain his 2023 World Championship, however, unlike 2023, he didn’t have it all his own way. Verstappen picked up only 9 wins in 2024, halving his dominance from 2023, with a more even spread of victories and podiums across the grid. Meanwhile McLaren won their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, fending off Ferrari for the title in a thrilling Abu Dhabi finale.

So what will happen this year? Here at Engage we take you through all you need to know for the Formula 1 2025 Season including the drivers lineup and the racing calendar for 2025! Not only that, the 2025 F1 Season marks the 75th anniversary of this historic championship with Engage providing hospitality for every F1 event this year!

Driver Lineup

After what was a turbulent 2024 season with seven different winners throughout the campaign, who might we see lining up on the grid this March? There are two big talking points in terms of changes on the grid for 2025. Sergio Perez’s poor form for Red Bull sees him decide to step away from the team, as promising New Zealand youngster Liam Lawson will fill his place, joining Max Verstappen from Racing Bulls. 

After a twelve year stint with Mercedes and 6 Driver’s titles to show for it, Lewis Hamilton announced last year that he will be joining Ferrari for 2025. Arguably the greatest driver of all time, Hamilton will be teaming up with Charles Leclerc, having replaced Carlos Sainz, in the hope that the pair can help steer Ferrari to their first Constructors’ Championship since 2008. Ferrari pushed McLaren all the way last year only missing out on the title by 14 points. With Hamilton’s winning experience and Leclerc’s formidable talent, can they go all the way this year?

Elsewhere on the grid, there are a number of debutants looking to impress their respective teams in the F1’s 75th anniversary. Andrea Kimi Antonelli steps up from F2 to replace Hamilton at Mercedes while F2 Champion and runner-up Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar join Stake F1 Team and Racing Bulls respectively. Jack Doohan and Oliver Bearman also make the jump to Formula 1 as race drivers for the first time with Doohan joining Pierre Gasly at Alpine while Bearman joins a fully changed Haas team alongside Esteban Ocon.

Carlos Sainz will team up with Williams and Alex Albon as they hunt for a better points total than 2024. In fact, it is only McLaren and Aston Martin that are unchanged in 2025 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri committing their future to the Constructors’ Champions while Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso remain at Aston Martin.

With a star-studded lineup and some new faces on the grid, who do you think will reign supreme, in what is sure to be a scintillating 2025 Formula 1 Season?

Race Schedule

The 2025 Formula 1 Season kicks off in Melbourne as drivers travel to Australia to commence proceedings on March 14th for a very special campaign.

From there the races come thick and fast as fans can expect to see drivers battling it out around the globe almost every week. The same 24 Grand Prixs as 2024 Grand will feature on the calendar with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marking the grand finale on the 7th December as usual.

Other fan favourites that you may want to mark in your diary are the iconic Monaco Grand Prix from the 23rd-25th May, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone from the 4th-6th July and the historic Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the oldest track of them all, from the 5th-7th September.

With a bumper lineup expected, you don’t want to miss out! The 2025 season marks Formula 1’s 75th anniversary and you can be there to see it for yourself! Be part of history with Engage Hospitality who are offering fantastic packages for you to watch Formula 1 wherever you may be in the world.

With fine dining, complimentary drinks and the chance to meet stars of the sport, you will not be disappointed wherever you decide to watch. Enquire now to find out more and immerse yourself in this unique Formula 1 season!

After nine months of thrilling racing action, the Formula One season finally came to a close at the weekend. Despite not being quite at the races compared to previous seasons, Max Verstappen fought off the rest of the grid to claim his fourth consecutive title.

But he faced stiff competition, with the likes of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc running him close. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has driven his final race for Mercedes after 12 years – the British icon will be making the switch to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 F1 season.

F1 final standings 2024

Verstappen races to glory yet again

After winning 19 of the 22 races in the 2023 season, few could see anybody toppling Verstappen this year. But while the Red Bull driver ultimately secured a fourth title on the trot, it wasn’t as plain sailing as he’d have hoped.

This time around, Verstappen won just nine races and finished 63 points clear of his nearest challenger, compared to the 290-point triumph he recorded in the season prior. A combination of poor form, uncharacteristic mistakes and a much stronger field made the season a lot more competitive this time around.

Yet ultimately, Verstappen’s class prevailed and it goes to show just how formidable he is that he was able to go 10 races in a row without a win and still maintain top spot. The 27-year-old won two of the final four races – in Sau Paolo and Qatar – and sadly for his competitors, it’s likely he’ll learn from his mistakes and be even stronger when the new season gets underway in the spring.

Norris and Leclerc run Verstappen close

Having previously achieved a best-ever finish of sixth, Norris was the surprise package of the season and looked like he could be set for a shock win at one stage. Ultimately he finished as runner-up to Verstappen with four wins, including the final race in Abu Dhabi, and a phenomenal 13 podium finishes.

Leclerc also excelled, finishing 18 points shy of Norris, claiming three wins and 13 podium finishes as well. It wasn’t quite the Ferrari star’s best showing, after he finished second two years ago, but alongside Norris he provided strong competition for Verstappen.

It remains to be seen how Ferrari will prioritise their drivers next season, with Hamilton set to join as Leclerc’s teammate. Yet the experience of Hamilton alongside should only benefit his performances and he’ll be a contender to go all the way, as will Norris.

Hamilton bids farewell to Mercedes

By the time the 2025 Formula One season gets underway, Hamilton will be 40 years old. Yet he’s always maintained that he’ll continue driving until he claims a record eighth title and his switch to Ferrari may give him a new lease of life.

He achieved six of his seven titles at Mercedes and will hold fond memories of his time with them – but it’s clear a change is needed following a stagnant few years. In fact, the 2024 season saw him achieve his lowest ever final position of seventh.

Hamilton did enjoy a mid-season resurgence this year, claiming top spot in the British Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix. But his season ultimately fizzled out and he achieved just one podium finish in the final 10 races of the season.

Looking ahead to the 2025 F1 season

The 2024 Formula One season has barely ended but we’ve already got one eye on next year. The 2025 season gets underway in March, with Australia hosting the opening race for the first time since 2019.

All eyes will be on Melbourne on 16th March for the Australian Grand Prix, where Verstappen will be looking to win the race for the second time. As ever, the British Grand Prix coincides with the midway point of the season, with the 12th race of the year taking place on 6th July.

Meanwhile, the final race of the season takes place in 12 months’ time, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 7th December. At Engage, we offer hospitality at every single race on the calendar and you can join us in the best seats in the house for any race of your choice.

Whether you fancy a trip to Miami, Japan or Brazil, or you’d prefer to stay closer to home at Silverstone, enquire today to discuss the best package to suit your needs.

Alternatively, why not take advantage of our exclusive ROAM packages? As well as watching the racing action, you can make a weekend of it and enjoy luxury accommodation, food packages and plenty more at both the Italian Grand Prix and the Spanish Grand Prix.

As we approach the end of the Formula One season, Max Verstappen is very much in the driving seat to secure his fourth title in a row.

The calendar takes the world’s best drivers to Las Vegas this weekend and after finally winning again in Brazil a fortnight ago, the Red Bull driver has a healthy points lead with just three races left.

It’s a measure of just how good Verstappen is that he went 10 races without winning and nobody was able to catch him. What’s scary for the rest of the grid is that he’s unlikely to endure a repeat of his bad form in 2025.

However, in Lando Norris, Formula One has found a worthy challenger. The British driver has excelled this year, with three wins and a further 12 podiums, and he’s established himself as a clear title contender in the future.

Barring a miracle, he won’t take Verstappen’s throne this time around. But after three years of the ‘Max Verstappen show’, it’s a relief that he finally has some competition and the pair are set to resume their competitive rivalry in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The race for the title

Verstappen finally got back to winning ways last time out as he finished first in Brazil two weeks ago. The reigning champion uncharacteristically went 10 races without winning but he put an end to his disappointing form with a long-awaited victory.

The win edged Verstappen further ahead of Norris in the standings. The Brit had been steadily making ground but he wasn’t able to capitalise enough, only winning two races during Verstappen’s sticky patch.

Norris did get four other podium finishes in the time but he only managed to finish sixth in Sao Paulo. He remains more than 60 points behind so it’s unlikely that he’ll claim his first F1 title this year. Verstappen appears to be back on form and he’ll want to end the season in style, having won the final seven races a year ago.

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc is breathing down Norris’ neck having won two of the last six races, with another two podiums. The pair have been models of consistency this year – the British Grand Prix, nine races ago and way back in July, was the last time either of them finished outside the top five.

In his final year racing for Mercedes before switching to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton had hoped to mount a late charge for a record eighth title. But those dreams disappeared a while ago.

A mid-season flurry that had seen him win at Silverstone and in Belgium, while claiming third in Spain and Hungary, had given him faint hope. But it didn’t last long – the 39-year-old has achieved no podiums since and he’s slipped down to seventh in the standings.

F1 standings after 21 races

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Next up on the Formula One calendar is the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Sin City’s inaugural race took place last year and it’s set to return to the iconic streets, with parts of the unique night race taking place along the Vegas strip.

The race takes place this Sunday, 24th November, with Verstappen looking to come out on top for the second year running. There’s still time to take your seats in our exclusive hospitality area on the breathtaking Drai’s Las Vegas rooftop.

As well as unrivalled views of the race, you’ll get the chance to experience all this:

●      Access to Vista Terrace viewing with track view
●      Access to lower deck viewing circle and Drai’s nightclub
●      Hosted service, food stations, canapés and cheese station
●      Complimentary bar with Champagne, local beers, wine and spirits
●      TV in your private suite

Enquire today to reserve your place.

What’s next?

Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we head to the Middle East for the final two races of the 2024 season. First up is Qatar on Sunday 1st December before the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi a week later.

Verstappen won both races back in 2023 and if he repeats history, he’ll finish the year with a fourth consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship.

If you’d like to join us to watch either of the final two races in style, we’d love to help make that happen. Our travel and concierge team are on hand to help you get to either the Qatar Grand Prix or the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where you can enjoy the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

The Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday saw Carlos Sainz take his second victory of the season marking the 20th race of the 2024 Formula 1 Campaign. The Spaniard took the win over McLaren’s Lando Norris to win vital points for Ferrari in the Constructors’ title race. The result means with only four races to go, it is all to play for. Here at Engage we take a look at how the rest of the season may pan out.

A great race and a vital win for Ferrari saw them close the gap on McLaren but Mexico certainly wasn’t without its drama. Three-time World Champion, Max Verstappen, finished in 6th place after he was awarded a 10-second time penalty for two separate incidents involving Lando Norris.

It was the second consecutive week the pair had clashed after an incident the week prior in the US when Norris tried to overtake Verstappen and both ended up off the track. The incident in Mexico only added fuel to the fire for an already bubbling rivalry, with Damon Hill describing Verstappen’s racing as like Wacky Races’ character ‘Dick Dastardly’. The spat saw Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship over Norris go down to 47 points with four races to go.

Who will win the Drivers’ Championship?

Max Verstappen’s dominance from last season seems to be a thing of the past this year, however, he still leads the way with seven victories. There have been seven different winners this year across 20 races this season, suggesting the playing field is levelling out compared to his 19 wins last year, an astonishing record.

Lando Norris is in hot pursuit of the Dutchman as the Brit tries to claim his first ever World Championship, however, with at least 12 points per race more needed to surpass Verstappen, is it just out of his reach?

Norris is closely followed by Charles Leclerc with the pair tied on 3 wins while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz round up the top 5 with two victories.

The title race is certainly closer than last year and it’s safe to say if Norris can get substantial points this weekend in Brazil, the last three races will be gripping.

Who will win the Constructors’
Championship?

There is a three-way battle for the Constructors’ Championship with Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all in the race for the title. Red Bull find themselves in third place on 512 points, a far cry from their comfortable victory in 2023 where they won by an astonishing margin of 451 points. With seven wins in 2024, all courtesy of Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez risks his future in the team as the Mexican has only 4 podiums in 2024. Perez, who finished 17th in his home race on Sunday, may see his Red Bull career coming to an end.

After Carlos Sainz took victory on Sunday and Charles Leclerc finished third, Ferrari saw both drivers take to the podium finding themselves in 2nd place with four races to go. The team in red have been quietly consistent this year with 5 victories and 18 podiums in 2024. For their efforts they have gained 537 points and certainly hold a good position going into the last four. Could they win their first title since 2008?

However, leading the way is McLaren. The team consisting of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, lead the Constructors’ with 566 points. McLaren haven’t won the title since 1998 and after a 26 year absence at the top, they will be looking to change that narrative. With 5 wins and 19 podiums, they are certainly looking likely to do it, but can they hold on with only four races to go?

Next Up

So will Verstappen defend his title? This weekend the F1 heads to Brazil as drivers will battle it out to gain points for themselves and their team. Will we see more drama as Norris and Verstappen go head-to-head? Or will their rivalry prove too much for the pair to handle, opening up the opportunity for Ferrari to snatch the Constructors’ title?

It’s safe to say all three teams will be cautious of a possible upset if Verstappen and Norris carry their spat into the final four races, something Ferrari will definitely be looking to take advantage of.

Fancy finding out for yourself how the final races will pan out? Check out Engage Hospitality’s brilliant Formula 1 packages to watch the rest of the season live from Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi! Don’t worry if you can’t make the rest of the 2024 campaign, after the battles of this season, Formula 1 in 2025 is about to be a cracker. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of Formula 1 and Engage have you covered for every single race! Don’t miss it!

The Formula One season is heating up and with just six races to go, the pressure is on Max Verstappen as he looks to secure a fourth title win in a row. Lando Norris is his likeliest challenger following a phenomenal season so far.

The latest Grand Prix took place in Singapore over the weekend and for the second time in four races, Norris finished first as Verstappen could only claim second place. With the final race of the season set to take place in Abu Dhabi in just under 10 weeks, here’s everything you need to know about the final months of the 2024 F1 season.

The story so far

After winning 18 of the 21 races in 2023 on his way to a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen picked up where he left off to start this season. The Red Bull star won seven of the opening 10 races and another title seemed inevitable.

Yet a drop off in form combined with stronger competition has seen his lead at the top lessen. Verstappen’s last win came in the Spanish Grand Prix back in June and he’s without a win in seven races, with only two podium finishes in that time.

In the meantime, the British drivers have been enjoying themselves, with Norris and Lewis Hamilton claiming four of the last seven races between them. Since our last update, four races have taken place, with Norris coming out on top in two of them.

The McLaren driver triumphed in the Netherlands, finishing more than 22 seconds ahead of Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc made up the podium. Hamilton had started to show a bit of form and would have had dreams of an unlikely comeback but his chances are all but over having finished eighth, fifth, ninth and sixth in his last four outings.

Leclerc was the victor in Italy, with Oscar Piastri second, while Norris took third place and condemned Verstappen to yet another race without a podium finish. That trend continued in Azerbaijan where Piastri and Leclerc swapped places in the top two and George Russell came third.

The drivers headed to Singapore over the weekend and with Verstappen starting to look over his shoulder in the standings, it was the perfect opportunity for Norris to pounce. And he didn’t disappoint, storming to victory ahead of his rival, with Piastri securing another place on the podium.

F1 standings after 14 races

Can Verstappen be caught?

While Verstappen is still sitting pretty at the top of the standings, his lead is rapidly decreasing by the week. He now finds himself just 52 points clear of Norris and risks throwing away a fourth consecutive title if he’s unable to get back to winning ways.

However, with six races to go, he’ll be confident of reproducing last year’s performances in the remaining races. In a phenomenal end to the 2023 season, Verstappen won all of the final seven races after failing to triumph in Singapore.

Those seven wins included races in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, all of which are still to come before the end of the year. But he’s not the same driver at the moment and the pressure of Norris in his rearview mirror could scupper his hopes.

Norris’ best-ever Formula One final finish is sixth but he looks set to obliterate that this season and could still pull off the ultimate comeback before the year is out. While Verstappen has form at each of the remaining tracks, Norris does too and finished on the podium in Qatar, the USA and Brazil in 2023.

There’s still an enormous gap to make up but he’s been slowly closing that in recent weeks and if he can continue his trajectory, a few more slip-ups from Verstappen could make for an incredibly entertaining final few weeks of the season.

Why is there a summer break?

The Formula One season has been paused for a hiatus that’s set to last for almost a month. The break in the racing calendar gives everyone involved, from racers to staff, a much-needed opportunity to rest and recharge.

The first half of the campaign has been a gruelling affair, with 14 races packed into just 21 weeks. As well as the intense competitiveness of each grand prix, there’s also been a huge amount of travelling. Teams have been flying across the globe to compete ever since the season kicked off in Bahrain in March, with races in the likes of Australia, Japan, Miami, Canada and throughout Europe.

The relentless racing and travel often takes a toll on all involved, so the break ensures everyone can take a step back, relax on the beach and spend some time with their friends and family.

While some of the break will be used to make plans for the rest of the season, it also includes a mandatory 14-day ‘summer shutdown’ for all teams. During this period, all teams must completely down tools, with no meetings allowed and no work on improving car performance permitted.

Only essential maintenance and servicing can take place, which ensures that everybody gets an equal amount of time off and nobody gains an unfair advantage. Failure to comply with the shutdown regulations can result in severe punishments.

When are the final six races?

While it feels like the 2024 Formula One season has only just begun, we only have six races left. That means you’ve only got six more opportunities to enjoy the action from the best seats in the house.

Whether you fancy a trip across the pond to the USA, a Brazilian adventure or a trackside seat at the curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi, we’ve got you covered. Join Engage and take advantage of our exclusive hospitality experiences, with food, drinks and plenty more on offer. Enquire today to book your place.