Best individual performance – Max Verstappen
Max’s Brazil drive has to win here as well. With the championship on the line, this was undoubtedly the drive of the season. To be aggressive and yet clean, to be on the attack yet make no mistakes along the way – this was his champions drive, just as it looked as though the season was turning. For me, it was Max’s best ever win.
Best comeback drive – Carlos Sainz
Of course Max could have a claim to best comeback as well, 17th to first isn’t bad. But I’ll give it to a driver that went from DNS to first instead. It’s been a long season and it’s easy to forget that Carlos Sainz missed race two in Jeddah with appendicitis.
His return in Melbourne was brilliant though as he interloped once again into the latest run of Verstappen victories to drive through the discomfort and seal victory for Ferrari. It was a superb season for Sainz who must have found it tough, knowing he was out of a drive in 2025. This drive encapsulated his battling 2024.
Feel-good moment – Lewis Hamilton
Now this is a tricky category for 2024. Charles Leclerc had two home win contenders, particularly his Monaco victory, which in any other year would have claimed it. I’ve had to go for Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone instead though. Being at both of these races this year was a privilege, to witness what it meant for the victorious driver, but there’s just something different for Hamilton at Silverstone.
