Five years may not be much when you look at the entirety of Formula One’s history, but they surely brought us plenty of triumph, heartbreak and action that kept us, at ASN, on the edges of our seats the entire time.
2019 Season
Japanese Grand Prix
October 12, 2019 – the date ASN was founded, and it coincided with the Japanese Grand Prix, which ran a day later on the 13th.
It was no ordinary Grand Prix, however, as the Hagibis Typhoon was wreaking havoc in the Japanese coast, affecting Saturday’s running which saw all sessions cancelled, giving us a rare Sunday-morning qualifying just hours before the red lights went off.
At the start of the race, Sebastian Vettel, starting from pole, moved a fraction of a second too early but was able to stop before overstepping his grid line. However, this led to a poor start that allowed Valtteri Bottas to pass him. Though investigated, the German was not penalized.
Later, Charles Leclerc collided with Max Verstappen, damaging both cars, and while Leclerc stayed on track despite suffering front wing damage, debris caused problems for other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton.
Several incidents followed, including collisions involving Lando Norris and Alexander Albon. Verstappen then retired on lap 14.
Mercedes secured their sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship at Japan, as Bottas won the race, while Leclerc received post-race penalties for his collision and unsafe driving.
The Vettel penalty controversy in Canada
The 2019 Canadian Grand Prix was marked by a controversial incident involving Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
Vettel, driving for Ferrari, started from pole and led most of the race. However, on lap 48, while under pressure from Hamilton, Vettel went wide at Turn 3, rejoining the track just ahead of Hamilton at Turn 4.
Hamilton had to brake to avoid a collision, claiming that Vettel had re-entered the track unsafely. Despite crossing the line first, Vettel was handed a 5-second time penalty for “rejoining the track in an unsafe manner”, which gave Hamilton the victory.
The penalty sparked significant debate, with Ferrari and Vettel arguing that he had nowhere else to go when rejoining the track and that the penalty was too harsh. Vettel was visibly frustrated after the race, even swapping the 1st and 2nd place finish markers in parc ferme.
Despite the controversy, Hamilton’s win extended his lead in the championship, while Vettel’s penalty cost him what would have been Ferrari’s first victory of the season.
Charles Leclerc’s maiden victory in Belgium
Charles Leclerc’s first career win at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix was an emotional and defining moment.
Leclerc had been on the verge of victory earlier in the season but narrowly missed out. At Spa-Francorchamps, he finally broke through, holding off Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to secure his first win for Ferrari.
His victory came just one day after the tragic death of Leclerc’s close friend and fellow racer Anthoine Hubert during the Formula 2 feature race, making it an emotional triumph for the young driver.
2020 season
Coronavirus pandemic
The 2020 Formula 1 season was unlike any other, heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally scheduled to begin in March, the season was delayed for several months as host countries grappled with the health crisis.When racing finally resumed in July, teams faced strict health protocols, including regular testing, quarantine measures, and limited personnel at events.
The season featured a revised calendar with many traditional races canceled, replaced by other venues like Imola and Nurburging.
Romain Grosjean’s fiery crash in Bahrain
Romain Grosjean’s crash during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix was one of the most terrifying moments in modern F1.
On the opening lap, Grosjean’s car veered into the barriers after making contact with Daniil Kvyat. The Haas split in half and burst into flames.
Miraculously, Grosjean escaped from the inferno with only minor burns to his hands, thanks to the halo device and the quick response of medical personnel, including the medical car.
The incident shocked the motorsport world but also demonstrated the incredible safety advancements made in Formula 1 over the years. Grosjean’s survival was nothing short of a miracle, and his return to the paddock for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi was an emotional farewell to F1.
Lewis Hamilton’s record-tying seventh World Title
Lewis Hamilton dominated the 2020 season, securing his seventh World Championship title at the Turkish Grand Prix, tying Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record.
The race itself was memorable as Hamilton started from P6 on a wet and slippery track, but through a masterclass in tire management and wet-weather driving, he took the victory.
His seventh title solidified his status as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, and the win in Turkey was emblematic of his dominance during the season, despite challenging conditions.
2021 season
The 2021 Formula 1 season was marked by one of the fiercest and most contentious championship battles in recent history.
The British Grand Prix collision
The British Grand Prix was a defining moment in the 2021 season, as it showcased the fierce rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for the title.
It was a close start, with Hamilton tightly chasing Verstappen for the lead. Then, through the Copse corner, the British driver attempted an overtake on the Dutchman, resulting in a collision that sent the Red Bull crashing into the barriers at high speed.
Hamilton was given a 10-second time penalty for the collision, but he still went on to win the race, sparking a heated debate about driving standards, and as to whether the stewards were too lenient with their penalty.
Verstappen was fine, and criticized Hamilton’s actions from the hospital, adding tension to their championship battle and making the incident one of the most talked-about moments of the season.
They collide – again
But this time at the Italian Grand Prix.
It was another pivotal race in 2021, highlighted by a dramatic collision between Hamilton and Verstappen during a late-race restart.
Both drivers were vying for position when they collided at the first chicane, resulting in both cars retiring from the race. This allowed Daniel Ricciardo to take advantage, leading to his first victory since 2018 with McLaren.
The shoey was back!
A controversial finale in Abu Dhabi
The stakes couldn’t have been higher approaching the season finale, as Hamilton and Verstappen were tied on points at 369.5 each. The championship was set to be decided based on the outcome of a single race – an immense pressure for both drivers.
Hamilton started the race from pole position, looking to secure his eight World Championship. He led the majority of the GP and appeared to be in control, maintaining a comfortable gap ahead of Verstappen.
However, on lap 53, William’s Nicholas Latifi crashed, bringing out the Safety Car and dramatically altering the dynamic of the race.
As the SC deployed, Verstappen, who was in second place, took the opportunity to pit for fresh tires, while Hamilton stayed out on his older hard tires. This decision put Verstappen in a prime position to challenge for the lead.
Then, confusion struck over the handling of the lapped cars behind the Safety Car.
In a controversial move, Race Control allowed only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to un-lap themselves. This meant that Verstappen was directly behind Hamilton for a one-lap shootout for the Championship, rather than having to pass multiple lapped cars.
This decision sparked outrage from Hamilton’s team and fans, as they claimed it violated the normal protocol for Safety Car restarts.
When the SC finally came in with one lap remaining, Verstappen, on his fresh tires, had the advantage over Hamilton. The Dutchman swiftly overtook the Mercedes at Turn 5, clinching his first World Championship title in a dramatic finish. An electric moment, but the manner in which it unfolded left many questions and criticisms regarding the race director’s decisions.
2022 season
The 2022 Formula 1 season marked a new era in the sport, featuring significant technical changes aimed at enhancing competition and promoting closer racing.
Max Verstappen’s record-breaking wins
Verstappen achieved a remarkable milestone during the 2022 season by securing 15 victories. His dominance was on full display, showcasing Red Bull’s superior performance and consistency.
The Dutch driver won his second Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix in a confusing situation, was Charles Leclerc was given a penalty that dropped him back from P2 to P3, allowing Verstappen to claim the title as no one could catch up with him in points anymore.
George Russell’s first F1 victory in Brazil
George Russell achieved his first Formula 1 career victory at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, driving for Mercedes.
The race was a significant moment not just for Russell but also for Mercedes, which had struggled to match Red Bull and Ferrari in performance for most of the season.
Russell took the win after an intense battle which saw him fend off pressure from his teammate Lewis Hamilton, delivering Mercedes’ first win of the season.
Magnussen’s first pole
The highlights from Brazil continue as it was where Kevin Magnussen took his first career pole for Saturday’s Sprint race.
Changing weather conditions benefited Magnussen and Haas, who knew how to take advantage of the situation. The Danish driver set a lap early in Q3 before a red flag caused by an off-track moment from Russell.
Rain then worsened after the red flag, and no other driver was able to beat Magnussen time when the session resumed, giving him the pole.
2023 season
Fernando Alonso’s resurgence with Aston Martin
One of the highlights of the 2023 season was the resurgence of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, who found new life at Aston Martin.
After years of struggle in the midfield, Alonso returned to the podium multiple times throughout the season, delivering exceptional performances.
His second-place finish in Bahrain and subsequent podiums reignited the excitement surrounding the veteran driver, proving that even in his 40s, he could compete at the highest level.
Alonso’s form helped Aston Martin become one of the top teams in the early part of the season, although the British squad’s performance began fading away as the year progressed.
McLaren’s impressive mid-season comeback
McLaren’s 2023 season started off in an underwhelming fashion, but the team made a remarkable mid-season turnaround, particularly in the hands of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
A series of updates to their car catapulted McLaren as a top-performing team, with Norris finishing on the podium multiple times.
One of the highlights was the British Grand Prix, where Norris finished second in front of his home crowd at Silverstone. Piastri also secured a podium in Japan, marking the rookie’s first top-three finish.
Verstappen’s incredible dominance
The dominance from Red Bull and Max Verstappen grew stronger in 2023, with the Dutch driver winning 19 out of the 22 races in the calendar.
A whopping 86.35% of victories for Verstappen during the season, completely annihilating the previously-held record by Ascari from 1952, which stood at 75% (winning six out of the eight races that year).
2024 season
The season is still underway, and it’s going to be one for the books.
Bearman’s debut in Jeddah
Ferrari academy driver Oliver Bearman was called for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in replacement of Carlos Sainz, who was diagnosed with appendicitis. The Spaniard, feeling extremely unwell, drove the first practice sessions on Friday but was diagnosed and underwent surgery on Saturday.
Bearman had an incredible debut with the Scuderia, one that earned him a seat for 2025. The British driver not only made an impressive qualifying outing, but finished inside the points in P7.
McLaren’s strong fight against Red Bull
McLaren in 2024 is unlike any we’ve seen in recent years. The British-based squad, with the help of Norris and Piastri, is putting an intense fight against the leaders Red Bull, who started the year strong but are now falling behind.
McLaren even overtook Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, and it’s a fight that will be closely followed until the season end.
We thank you for being with us these past 5 years! We’ve lived incredible moments together, and we can’t wait to see what the next 5 years bring us.