Sergio Perez
Unsurprisingly, the primary driver beneath essentially the most stress heading into F1 2024 is Sergio Perez.
Whereas the Mexican did safe his best-ever championship end in 2023 – runner-up behind Max Verstappen – it was arguably Perez’s worst season in F1.
You will need to acknowledge that whereas Perez does have a generational expertise as his teammate, Perez isn’t doing himself any favours.
Perez’s kind within the mid a part of F1 2023 was past acceptable for a somebody driving essentially the most dominant automobile within the historical past of the game.
Between Monaco and Brazil, Perez completed on the rostrum simply 4 occasions – Lando Norris for McLaren scored six high three finishes, as a comparability.
The excellent news for Perez is that there’s no apparent alternative.
Daniel Ricciardo nonetheless wants to indicate he’s on the degree required to tackle Verstappen – to date alongside Yuki Tsunoda, he hasn’t been in a position to take action.
Norris is unlikely to depart a resurgent McLaren – plus is he going to wish to go up towards his greatest pal at this stage of his profession?
Group boss Christian Horner says Perez’s future is in his personal fingers – and he’s proper.
Logan Sargeant
For 2024, Logan Sargeant was the twentieth and ultimate driver to be confirmed as a driver for the upcoming season.
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Sargeant’s rookie season was underwhelming as he was whitewashed by teammate Alex Albon in qualifying.
Given the shortage of options for Williams to select from, Sargeant being retained was in the end inevitable.
With Williams seemingly on the rise when it comes to tempo, the workforce can not afford to have one other season the place Sargeant struggles to attain factors.
If AlphaTauri had Ricciardo-Tsunoda as their line-up for the whole thing of 2023, it’s possible Williams would have completed behind them.
With a second 12 months of expertise beneath his belt, Sargeant ought to be higher for it.
Zhou Guanyu
Despite the fact that Theo Pourchaire received the 2023 FIA System 2 title, Zhou Guanyu was saved on alongside Valtteri Bottas.
Zhou’s lack of efficiency went beneath the radar within the latter a part of the 12 months, out-qualifying Bottas simply as soon as after the summer season break.
The Chinese language driver appears to fare higher within the race, and to his credit score, hardly ever makes main errors.
Nevertheless, his ceiling doesn’t appear to be excessive sufficient to warrant a fourth season on the F1 grid ought to he not get the higher of Bottas extra typically.
Sauber have already referred to as on Zhou to be “extra constant” in 2024.
“In some circumstances, it has been a battle a bit extra and we’re making an attempt to know what we can provide him with the automobile and the way we are able to work with the tyres, simply to verify he is extra constant,” commented Sauber head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar.
“In some circumstances, he is a little more delicate to what he’s feeling. The variations should not massive however when it comes to positions they’re massive, so we have to work on that for subsequent 12 months.
“There isn’t a room for any small drop or mistake.”
A cynic could argue that Zhou was solely retained due to the return of the Chinese language Grand Prix in April.
Unfair, maybe, however he has to enhance forward of 2025.
Kevin Magnussen
Whereas Haas did end backside of the constructors’ championship, Kevin Magnussen endured a poor 12 months in 2023.
Magnussen was constantly the slower of the 2 Haas drivers, notably over one lap.
The Dane brazenly admitted the VF-23 didn’t swimsuit his driving fashion, explaining the substantial deficit to Nico Hulkenberg.
Magnussen is a confirmed driver, and on his day, is able to some standout drives, Miami 2023 for instance.
However with Oliver Bearman doubtlessly ready within the wings – the 18-year-old Brit is a part of Ferrari’s driver academy – a change for 2025 is a no brainer for Haas if he can safe the F2 title.
Daniel Ricciardo
The entire level of Ricciardo’s F1 comeback is to return to Pink Bull – that’s why he’s beneath immense stress in 2024.
Ricciardo’s sole ambition is to return to race-winning equipment and finish his F1 profession driving for a high workforce.
2024 will in the end outline that.
It’s exhausting to learn what degree Ricciardo is at provided that his comeback was disrupted by his wrist damage.
When he did come again, other than Mexico, he and Tsunoda have been evenly-matched.
The quantity of stress Perez is beneath can be decided by his personal performances but in addition how nicely Ricciardo is faring at AlphaTauri.
There’s an open purpose for Ricciardo – let’s see if he can take it.
