The End of an Era: What you Need to Know Heading into the F1 Season Finale
It’s time to say goodbye, as the 2024 Formula One season is coming to an end at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As soon as the cars pass the checkered flag, F1 as we know it is over as 2025 breaks the status quo, forcing us to say goodbye to some of our favorites and hello to new faces.
Esteban Ocon won’t get a chance to say goodbye to the team he worked so hard with for the past five years, Alpine. He’s been with the team since before they even rebranded to Alpine; back when they were known as “Renault,” he gave the team their first win and multiple podiums, as recent as Brazil 2024, alongside teammate Pierre Gasly. And he can’t even get a proper send-off? We’re glad he still has a seat next year with the all-American team Haas. The decision was so abrupt that Ocon even had a special race helmet made that he wasn’t able to debut.
Over a decade of memories, it truly is the end of an era for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. A day fans dread Hamilton’s final race with the team he’s called home for the past 12 years. He won 7 world championships and broke stereotypes and records. But it’s time for a change, to find a new home in Maranello.
Lewis Hamilton and his teammate George Russell
To say goodbye to the team he’s called home for the past twelve years, he is taking his crew on hot laps, wearing a special race suit and helmet to thank not just the team but also the fans. His teammate George Russell also has a commemorative helmet to say goodbye to his teammate for the past three years.
It doesn’t seem like the Max Verstappen and the George Russell beef is going away anytime soon. Especially after the grid’s new gossip girl, Lando Norris confirmed that Verstappen and Russell were seated far away from each other at the annual driver’s dinner.
Going into Abu Dhabi, Verstappen has already won at life. He already won his fourth world championship, the pressure of winning the constructors is now off his chest, and he just announced that in 2025, alongside his long-time partner, Kelly Piquet, they will be expecting their first child together. I wouldn’t be so shocked if Verstappen retired on Sunday to focus on his growing family, especially after a season of going back and forth with the FÍA; Verstappen is just fed up.
His teammate, on the other hand, might not even be given the same choice. Despite still being optimistic that he will get to drive next season, Checo Pérez believes he is safe. But team advisor Helmut Marko begs to differ. At this point, it’s like we get these rumors every week: Checo is out, and someone new is in. I hope in 2025, these rumors are done with. By that, they do what’s best for the team and finally drop him.
The Iconic Boys in Red
It is also the end of the iconic Boys in Red, as Carlos Sainz will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in 2025. Sainz will go to Williams, replacing Franco Colapinto. We are so sad that we have to say goodbye to our iconic duo, C2, but these 2025 partnerships will definitely shake up the championship picture.
And with new rookies joining the grid and some old faces fighting for a spot back onto the grid, is anyone ever really safe in F1? Just ask Logan Sargeant or Daniel Ricciardo. And with the introduction of an 11th team in 2026, alongside new regulations, the 2024 season might be over in a few days, but that didn’t stop the 2026 silly season from getting a head start.