2019 Formula One World Championship
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The 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship was the motor racing championship for Formula One cars which marked the 70th running of the Formula One World Championship. It is recognised by the governing body of international motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Starting in March and ending in December, the championship was contested over twenty-one Grands Prix. Drivers competed for the title of World Drivers' Champion, and teams for the title of World Constructors' Champion. The 2019 championship also saw the running of the 1000th World Championship race, the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix.[1][2]
Lewis Hamilton successfully defended the World Drivers' Championship for the second year running, winning his sixth championship title at the United States Grand Prix. Mercedes successfully defended the World Constructors' Championship, securing the title for the sixth consecutive year at the Japanese Grand Prix to tie Ferrari's record from 1999 to 2004.
The season also saw the debuts of future world champion Lando Norris, future race winner George Russell, and Alexander Albon.
Entries
[edit]Ten teams, with two drivers each, competed in the championship in 2019.[3] All teams competed with tyres supplied by Pirelli.[4]
Free practice drivers
[edit]Across the season, two drivers drove as a test or third driver in free practice sessions. Nicholas Latifi drove for Williams at six Grands Prix, while Naoki Yamamoto drove for Toro Rosso at the Japanese Grand Prix.[5]
| Constructor | No. | Driver | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda | 38 |  Naoki Yamamoto
|
17 |
| Williams-Mercedes | 40 |  Nicholas Latifi
|
7–8, 13, 18–20 |
| Source:[16][17] | |||
Team changes
[edit]Red Bull Racing ended its twelve-year partnership with Renault and switched to full-works Honda engines.[18] In doing so, Red Bull Racing joined sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso in using Honda power after the latter joined the Japanese manufacturer in 2018. Neither team was recognised as Honda's official factory team under the terms of the agreement. This was the first time Honda had supplied more than one team in the sport since the 2008 when Honda supplied both its own full works team and the customer Super Aguri team.[19]
Racing Point F1 Team completed their transition from the Racing Point Force India identity that they used after a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll purchased the assets of Sahara Force India in August 2018.[20]
Sauber was renamed Alfa Romeo Racing in an extension of the sponsorship deal that began in 2018,[21] though continued to operate from the same base in Hinwil and under the Swiss racing licence.[22] The Sauber name disappeared entirely from the Formula One grid, but was still used in the Formula 2 and Formula 3 support categories with Charouz Racing System for one year.[23][24] The Sauber name would return to the Formula One grid in 2024 as Kick Sauber after the expiration of the Alfa Romeo partnership.[25]
Haas F1 Team signed a title sponsorship agreement with energy drinks manufacturer Rich Energy for 2019 before the end of the 2018 season.[26] However, this agreement was later terminated on 9 September 2019, due to a series of off-track disputes between Haas and Rich Energy, and legal issues for Rich Energy.[27]
Driver changes
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The lead up to the 2019 championship saw several driver changes. Daniel Ricciardo moved to Renault after five years with Red Bull Racing,[28][29] replacing Carlos Sainz Jr. Ricciardo's drive at Red Bull Racing was taken by Pierre Gasly, who was promoted from Scuderia Toro Rosso, the team with whom he made his first Formula One start in 2017.[30] Daniil Kvyat rejoined Toro Rosso after last racing for the team in 2017.[31] He was partnered with Formula 2 driver Alexander Albon, who replaced Brendon Hartley.[32] Albon subsequently became only the second Thai driver to race in Formula One after Prince Bira.[33]
Sainz, who was on loan to Renault in 2018, did not have his deal with Red Bull renewed and subsequently moved to McLaren to replace two-time World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso,[34] who had earlier announced that he would retire from Formula One in 2019, albeit he returned to the sport in 2021.[35][36] Sainz was partnered with 2017 European Formula 3 champion and Formula 2 runner-up Lando Norris,[37] who replaced Stoffel Vandoorne, who would move to Formula E to race with the Mercedes-affiliated HWA Racelab, as well as join Mercedes as a reserve driver.[38][39]
Charles Leclerc left Alfa Romeo Racing after one year with the team, replacing 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari.[40] Räikkönen returned to Alfa Romeo, previously named Sauber, with whom he had started his career in 2001.[41] He was partnered with Antonio Giovinazzi, who made two starts for Sauber when he replaced the injured Pascal Wehrlein in 2017.[42][43] Marcus Ericsson moved to race in the IndyCar Series in 2019 with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports but remained with Alfa Romeo as a third driver and brand ambassador.[42][44][45]
Lance Stroll would join the Racing Point UK F1 team,[46] replacing Esteban Ocon, who joined Mercedes as a reserve driver. Ocon shared the role of simulator driver with Stoffel Vandoorne.[47][48] Reigning Formula 2 champion and Mercedes junior George Russell joined Williams[49] replacing Stroll. Sergey Sirotkin would depart Williams due to his backer deciding to stop sponsoring Williams due to the lack of performance and development of the car.[50] Sirotkin returned to Renault as a reserve driver. He would be replaced by Robert Kubica; Kubica's return comes after an eight-year absence brought on by a near-fatal rally car crash in 2011 that left him with serious arm injuries.[51][52]
Mid-season changes
[edit]In the build-up to the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing announced that Pierre Gasly would be demoted to Toro Rosso and Alexander Albon would be promoted in his place so that his performance would be evaluated in view of the team's 2020 line-up.[53][54] The decision to demote Gasly was criticised as he had only completed twelve races with the team, while Albon and Toro Rosso team-mate Daniil Kvyat had both previously been released from contracts with the Red Bull Junior Team and Red Bull Racing respectively.[55]
Calendar
[edit]
The 2019 calendar features the same twenty-one Grands Prix as the previous season. Each race was run over a minimum number of laps that exceeds a total distance of 305 km (189.5 mi); the only exception to this is the Monaco Grand Prix, for which the distance is 260 km (161.6 mi).[56]
Regulation changes
[edit]Race Director and Technical Delegate Charlie Whiting died days before the opening race of the season in Australia.[60] Deputy Race Director Michael Masi was named as his successor for Race Director.[61][62]
Technical regulations
[edit]In a bid to improve overtaking, teams agreed to a series of aerodynamic changes that affect the profile of the front and rear wings. The front wing endplates were reshaped to alter the airflow across the car and reduce the effects of aerodynamic turbulence and winglets above the main plane of the front wing have been banned. The slot in the rear wing was widened, making the drag reduction system (DRS) more powerful.[63] The agreed-upon changes were drawn from the findings of a working group set up to investigate potential changes to the technical regulations in preparation for the 2021 championship. The front wing was made 200 mm (7.9 in) wider, 20 mm (0.79 in) higher, and moved 25 mm (0.98 in) further forward. The rear wing was made 100 mm (3.9 in) wider and 70 mm (2.8 in)[64] higher, with a 20 mm (0.79 in) larger DRS opening.[65]
Parts of the technical regulations governing bodywork were rewritten in a bid to promote sponsorship opportunities for teams.[66] The agreed changes are to mandate smaller bargeboards and limit aerodynamic development of the rear wing endplates to create more space for sponsor logos. The changes were introduced as a response to falling revenues amid teams and the struggles of smaller teams to secure new sponsors.
The mandated maximum fuel levels were raised from 105 kg (231 lb) to 110 kg (240 lb) to minimise the need for drivers to conserve fuel during a race.[67] Driver weights are no longer considered when measuring the minimum weight of the car. This change was agreed to following concerns that drivers were being forced to lose dangerous amounts of weight in order to offset the additional weight of the post-2014 turbo-hybrid engines.[67] Drivers who weigh less than 80 kg (176 lb) are required to make up this weight with a ballast, located around the seat to minimise possible performance gains. The changes were introduced to eliminate the advantage drivers with a naturally smaller body shape had over taller and heavier drivers and to discourage unhealthy diet and exercise regimes to improve performance.[68]
Sporting regulations
[edit]Reintroduction of fastest lap point
[edit]The regulations introduced a bonus point to the driver (and the constructor) that sets the fastest lap in a race. The point is only awarded if the driver is classified in the top ten at the end of the race. This makes 2019 the first time since 1959 that a bonus point gets awarded for setting the fastest lap.[69][70]
Driver safety
[edit]The FIA introduced a new standard for driver helmets with the intention of improving safety. Under the new standard, helmets will be subjected to a more thorough range of crash tests aimed at improving energy absorption and deflection as well as reducing the likelihood of objects penetrating the helmet's structure. All certified helmet manufacturers were required to pass the tests in advance of the 2019 championship to have their certification renewed. Once introduced to Formula One, the new standard will gradually be applied to all helmets used by competitors in every FIA-sanctioned event.[71]
Tyres
[edit]Tyre supplier Pirelli renamed its range of tyres following a request from the FIA and the sport's management. The governing body argued that the naming conventions used in 2018 were obtuse and difficult for casual spectators to understand.[72][73] Under the new plan, names given to particular compounds, such as "hypersoft" and "ultrasoft", were replaced by referring during each race to the three compounds teams have available for that race as soft, medium and hard. This was intended to aid fans in understanding the tyre compounds used at each round. The actual compounds for the season were referred to by number, from the firmest ("1") to the softest ("5"). Seven compounds were available in 2018, although only six of the seven were used, the "superhard" not being used at all.[74] Pirelli continued to decide which three compounds are made available for each race. The practice of using colours to identify the specific compound (such as pink for the hypersoft) was discontinued, with white, yellow and red being used for the three compounds available for each race where white denoted the hardest available compound and red the softest. As all five compounds were available in testing there were slight variations in the details on the tyre sidewalls to distinguish between the different compounds during testing.[75][76]
Season report
[edit]Opening rounds
[edit]The season started with the Australian Grand Prix, won by Valtteri Bottas from second on the grid in dominant fashion, finishing 20 seconds ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton who himself only narrowly beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen to second.[77] Verstappen's third place marked the first podium for a Honda powered car in over 10 years, last achieved at the 2008 British Grand Prix.[78]
The second race of the season was the Bahrain Grand Prix. Ferrari topped every practice session and then went on to lock out the front row in qualifying. Charles Leclerc earned the first pole position of his career by setting a lap time 3 tenths of a second quicker than his teammate Sebastian Vettel. In the race, Leclerc fell down to 3rd in the 1st corner behind Vettel and the championship leader Valtteri Bottas. However, he then climbed back up the order to take the lead despite being told by his team, Ferrari, not to overtake his teammate. Late in the race, Leclerc was leading by around 10 seconds before his engine developed an issue, allowing Lewis Hamilton to take the race lead. A few laps later, Valtteri Bottas also overtook Leclerc pushing him down to 3rd and making it a Mercedes 1–2. Just as it was looking like Max Verstappen was going to overtake Leclerc as well, a safety car was called out due to both of the Renault cars of Nico Hülkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo having engine and power issues at turns 1 and 3. The race finished behind the safety car for the eighth time in F1 history.[79] As a result, Lewis Hamilton won, Valtteri Bottas came second, and Charles Leclerc came home third for his first podium and Ferrari's first podium of the season. After the race Valtteri Bottas led the Drivers' Championship by 1 point over teammate Lewis Hamilton.
At round three, the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton led away at the start and won the Grand Prix, resulting in him taking the championship lead by 6 points over his teammate Bottas, whilst Mercedes extended their lead over Ferrari, becoming the first team since Williams in 1992 to start a season with 3 consecutive 1–2 finishes.[80] Pierre Gasly set the fastest lap and finished in sixth, after pitting with 3 laps remaining as Ferrari got their second podium of the season with Vettel.
At the next round, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it was a different story. In the first practice session, George Russell's Williams made contact with a drain cover down the straight on the floor after Charles Leclerc, who was fastest in the session because it was suspended, also made contact with the drain cover but with his left front tyre. The next two practice sessions were all about Leclerc, being fastest in all three practice sessions. In qualifying, Pierre Gasly was fastest in the first session but did not set a time in the second because it was irrelevant since he would start in the pitlane for not stopping for the weighbridge in one practice session. Charles Leclerc, the favourite for pole, timed 2nd in the first session and was 5th in the second session, but crashed at turn 8 in the same session, locking up his tyres and missing the apex, going into the barrier. This meant that Leclerc's qualifying was over, at least physically; he did make it into the final session but did not set a time as a result of the crash. Valtteri Bottas took pole ahead of championship leader Hamilton. Kimi Räikkönen originally qualified ninth, but started from the pitlane after his car failed a front wing deflection test and joined Red Bull driver Gasly in starting in the pitlane as his teammate, Antonio Giovinazzi, received a ten-place grid penalty for using a third control electronic in his power unit and started 17th. In the race, Lewis Hamilton did get the better start, but Bottas had better pace and stayed in the lead. Charles Leclerc, who started 8th, was 4th after losing two spots in the opening lap and was getting steady pace with leader Bottas on the fresh set of medium tyres he got as a result of his crash during qualifying. After Bottas, Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel pitted for tyres, Charles Leclerc took the lead and led the race for a long time. Eventually, Bottas retook the lead from Leclerc who had not pitted yet at that time. A virtual safety car was deployed after an incident with Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat at a runoff area. Bottas won the race by 1.5 seconds over teammate Hamilton and took a 1-point lead in the Drivers' Championship. Charles Leclerc took his 2nd fastest lap after pitting with less than 5 laps remaining as his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, took 3rd place for the team.[81]
Middle of the season
[edit]At the Spanish Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas dominated the entire qualifying session, finishing in first place each time, thus giving him his third consecutive pole of the 2019 season. Hamilton, however, got past him quickly at the first corner in the race. The safety car was deployed on lap 44 after a collision between Racing Point's Lance Stroll and McLaren's Lando Norris, which ultimately did not change the positions of the top 6 runners. Mercedes finished again for their fifth 1–2 finish as Hamilton took the chequered flag (along with the fastest lap point) and Bottas four seconds behind. Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed the podium.[82]
At the Monaco Grand Prix, teams and drivers honoured the memory of F1 legend and Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, who had died the week before the race. Mercedes painted their halos red and other teams and some drivers memorialised Lauda on their cars and helmets. Mercedes locked out the front row of the grid again, with Hamilton on pole and Bottas in second. During the race, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was released unsafely from his pit box and impeded Valtteri Bottas, resulting in a five-second time penalty for Verstappen. In the second half of the race, Hamilton was on the radio complaining about his graining tyres, but his team kept him out. Second-placed Verstappen kept the pressure on Hamilton, with Verstappen coming close to Hamilton in the final laps of the race at the Nouvelle Chicane. Hamilton went on to win the race and although Verstappen was second, his penalty was applied and it demoted him to fourth place. This promoted Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to second and Mercedes's Bottas to third, ending Mercedes's 1–2 winning streak.[83]
At the Canadian Grand Prix, free practice was eventful. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton made contact with the wall at turn 8, damaging his car, and some other drivers made contact not just there, but also at the Wall of Champions. Qualifying 2 was red-flagged after Kevin Magnussen slammed into the Wall of Champions, which also affected some racers trying to improve their times. At the end of qualifying, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel won pole position ahead of Hamilton. Vettel led from the start until lap 48, when he lost control of his Ferrari and slid across the grass at turn 3, regaining control as he came back onto the circuit and nearly colliding with Hamilton. The stewards controversially gave Vettel a five-second time penalty for this incident as they deemed it an unsafe re-entry to the track and impeding Hamilton. Although Vettel crossed the finish line first, Hamilton was less than five seconds behind, so was promoted to first place after the penalty was applied. Vettel's teammate, Charles Leclerc finished in third place, and Mercedes's Valtteri Bottas received the fastest lap bonus point. Although Ferrari had intended to appeal the ruling, they withdrew but reviewed the evidence further. During free practice at the next race, the stewards announced that they would not review Ferrari's new evidence, thus the final standings stood with Hamilton in first and Vettel in second.[84]
At the French Grand Prix, Mercedes dominated the free practice sessions. Hamilton was summoned to the stewards' office for rejoining the track unsafely, forcing Red Bull's Max Verstappen off the track, but no penalty was issued. Mercedes locked out the front row again in qualifying with Hamilton on pole and Bottas in second. Mercedes secured their sixth 1–2 of the season with Hamilton finishing 18 seconds ahead of Bottas, and Leclerc completing the podium less than a second behind Bottas. At the end of the final lap, fifth-placed finisher Vettel set the fastest lap for a bonus point.[85]
At the Austrian Grand Prix, some drivers spun off the track in free practice due to wind. In qualifying, Leclerc secured his second pole position. Verstappen was promoted to second and Bottas third after second-placed Hamilton was given a grid penalty for impeding Kimi Räikkönen in Q1. In the race, Leclerc led away as Verstappen lost a few positions at the start. However, Verstappen found power for his car and managed to come back, passing Leclerc with just a few laps left. An investigation followed after contact was made between the two at turn 3 on lap 69, but the stewards deemed it a racing incident. All drivers finished the race, with Verstappen winning the race for a second consecutive year as well as setting the fastest lap. Leclerc finished second and Bottas finished third. It was the first win for a Honda-powered F1 car since Jenson Button in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, and the first non-Mercedes win in 2019.[86]
At the British Grand Prix, the newly resurfaced track surface caused plenty of eventful moments throughout the weekend, with Romain Grosjean crashing his car on the pit exit and Kimi Räikkönen's Alfa Romeo stopping on the Wellington straight, the latter of which brought out a red flag. The drivers all struggled with track grip levels throughout the session, and although there was some brief rain, it had little impact on the running in the session. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was chasing for a 6th consecutive pole position at Silverstone but Bottas pipped him to pole by 0.006 seconds, almost as close as the 0.002-second time gap by which Vettel beat Fernando Alonso in the 2010 German Grand Prix. The opening laps did provide for some battling between the two Mercedes drivers, but the safety car played a crucial role in the Mercedes battle when Giovinazzi became stuck in the gravel trap at the penultimate corner and Hamilton pitted under the safety car, whereas Bottas had already pitted a few laps earlier during open racing. Thereafter, Vettel and Verstappen were battling for 3rd when Vettel misjudged his braking point at Vale corner and rammed into the back of Verstappen, resulting in a 10-second penalty, which led Vettel to finish behind the two Williamses. It also promoted Pierre Gasly to a joint career-best finish of 4th. Leclerc took 3rd, Bottas took 2nd, and Lewis Hamilton won his 6th British Grand Prix, equalling the record for the most home grand prix wins with Alain Prost. Hamilton also set the fastest lap on the final lap with the hardest tyre, which he ran for most of the race.[87]
At the German Grand Prix, Mercedes ran a special one-off livery to commemorate their 125th anniversary in motorsport. Ferrari looked set to be the favourites for pole, having been fastest in every practice session, but both hit technical difficulties during qualifying, leaving Hamilton to take pole. Vettel started the race from last place. Everything changed in the race as it rained heavily before the start, leading the race to have a standing start for the first time. As the race progressed, many drivers spun off or crashed, particularly at the final two turns of the track, where Nico Hülkenberg and Charles Leclerc ended their races. Hülkenberg was on course to take his first ever podium before he crashed out. Hamilton also fell victim at the same place, but managed to keep going with a broken front wing. He was later penalized for entering the pit lane outside the bollard, later having a spin, and ended up 11th. Max Verstappen went on to claim victory in the race, with Vettel recovering from last to second, and the third podium place went to Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, who made a stop for slick tyres late in the race to claim his third career podium and Toro Rosso's first since the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, after a close battle with Racing Point's Lance Stroll. Post-race, both Alfa Romeos, which finished 7th and 8th, were penalized for technical infringements, promoting Hamilton and Williams's Robert Kubica into the points, the latter scoring Williams's first – and what turned out to be only – points of the season, as well as his first since the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[88]
Verstappen took his maiden pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix, equalling the record with Sir Jackie Stewart for taking the most victories before a maiden pole. An unexpected extra stop for Hamilton soon led him to winning the race and beating Verstappen in the closing laps, who was suffering from graining tyres late in the race, having been battling with Hamilton previously.[89]
The two tracks immediately after the summer break were more suited to Ferrari's top speed advantage, with Leclerc winning both the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix from pole position. In both races, Leclerc was under strong pressure from Hamilton throughout, winning the Belgian race by less than a second, before Hamilton ultimately dropped back after missing the first chicane in Italy. This enabled Bottas to finish second and slightly close up in the title race. Leclerc won his first two career wins consecutively and within the timespan of one week, as Vettel and Verstappen endured two terrible weekends. His victory at Belgium was an emotional one, as the race was overshadowed by the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert the previous day. The Renault junior driver was involved in an accident on lap 2 of the Feature Race, succumbing to his injuries later that evening. This saw Leclerc close up in the battle for third in the Drivers' Championship. Leclerc also became the first Ferrari Monza winner since Fernando Alonso's victory in 2010. Qualifying sessions for both races were unusual in that Leclerc won pole by a sizeable margin of more than 0.7 seconds on a dry track in Belgium, whereas almost the entire Q3 field missed crossing the line in time for their second timed lap at Monza, as no driver wanted to be at the front of the group as they would not have the advantage of a tow from the car in front – a significant benefit at Monza, the season's fastest track.[90][91]
Closing rounds
[edit]Vettel ended a winless streak stretching over a year to win at the Singapore Grand Prix for Ferrari, the team's third consecutive victory. Leclerc had qualified on pole ahead of Hamilton and Vettel and led the first stint. However, a timely pitstop by Vettel saw him unintentionally undercutting Leclerc with an outlap three seconds faster than Leclerc's inlap. Hamilton then tried an overcut that did not work, limiting him to a fourth-place finish, as Mercedes were off the podium with both cars. Hamilton initially kept a reasonable pace, before his tyres fell off and the midfield cars behind him started to run faster laptimes than him. After his pitstop, he was unable to pass Verstappen, who finished third. There were three safety car spells in the second half of the race, although the complexion of the Singapore circuit made the restarts uneventful up front as the top cars ran in formation. This marked the first time in eleven years that Ferrari had won three races in a row and was Vettel's record fifth win at Singapore, and also the first time a team has finished 1–2 in Singapore. The race results saw Leclerc move ahead of Verstappen and climb to third in the standings for the first time of the season.[92]
Leclerc took his fourth consecutive pole at the Russian Grand Prix, but at the start of the race, it was Vettel who led, contradicting a pre-race agreement that had been discussed. Vettel led until he made his first stop on lap 26, but an engine component failed just after his stop, prompting his retirement (the four-time World Champion even demanding the return of V12 engines as in the 1990s on the team radio as he ground to a halt). This prompted a Virtual Safety Car, during which both Mercedes as well as Leclerc pitted, therefore resulting in a 1–2 finish for Mercedes with Hamilton winning. Leclerc could only finish third behind the Mercedeses.
At the Japanese Grand Prix, free practice sessions 1 and 2 went as scheduled on Friday, with Mercedes topping each of the sessions. Because of Typhoon Hagibis, all events for Saturday, with the exception of qualifying, were cancelled with qualifying instead being rescheduled to Sunday morning. Vettel and Leclerc both locked out the front row for a Ferrari 1–2, with Bottas and Mercedes not far behind. The Red Bull drivers of Verstappen and Albon finished with the exact same Q3 time, but Verstappen received the position ahead of his teammate as he was released first. At the race, Vettel had an issue when the lights went out to start the race, letting Bottas pass by easily. Leclerc and Verstappen had a tangle at turn 2 on the opening lap, which saw Leclerc being given a five-second penalty; he was later given a ten-second penalty for driving in an unsafe condition after the collision. Verstappen eventually retired from the race, his second DNF of the season. The chequered flag was waved a lap early, and though Sergio Pérez of Racing Point crashed out, his 9th place standing was left intact as the results of the race were taken from lap 52. Bottas of Mercedes finished first, Vettel of Ferrari finished second, and Hamilton finished third with Hamilton receiving the fastest lap point. With the 1–3 finish for Mercedes, the team had secured their sixth consecutive Constructors' Championship. Renault had both drivers disqualified for a technical infringement following a protest from Racing Point.
At the Mexican Grand Prix, Leclerc took his seventh pole position of the season, ensuring that he would end 2019 with the most poles of any driver. Hamilton won his tenth Grand Prix of the season, after a first-corner touch with Verstappen that saw them both crossing the grass at turn 2. Verstappen lost several positions, and in fighting his way back past Bottas sustained a puncture that effectively ended his challenge. Sebastian Vettel finished second and Valtteri Bottas third. Although Hamilton could have taken the World Championship, he was unable to outscore Bottas by a sufficient number of points.[93]
At the United States Grand Prix, Bottas won from pole followed by Hamilton and Verstappen. Second place in the race was enough for Hamilton to claim his sixth World Drivers' Championship making him the second most successful Formula One driver in terms of Championship wins behind Michael Schumacher.[94]
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen won from pole. Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz Jr. took their first podiums, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. The race changed dramatically on lap 53 when Valtteri Bottas retired with an engine problem, bringing out the safety car to bunch up the field. Immediately after the end of the safety-car period, Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel collided on the back straight, causing both to retire. Debris from the incident brought out the safety car again, returning to the pits with two laps remaining. Following the restart, Lewis Hamilton misjudged an overtaking manoeuvre on Alexander Albon, putting the latter into a spin and dropping him from a podium position to being out of the points. Hamilton's car was damaged but he was able to continue, although he lost second place to Pierre Gasly. Gasly and Hamilton were involved in a dramatic flat-out race to the finish line, with DRS being unavailable as this was only the second lap following the safety car ending. Gasly held onto second place, with his ability to keep Hamilton's Mercedes at bay in a straight fight being a major show of strength for the Honda engine. Hamilton occupied the final step of the podium, but was later given a 5-second time penalty for causing the incident with Albon. This dropped him to 7th and promoted Carlos Sainz Jr. to his first podium in Formula One in his 101st race – the longest any podium winner has had to wait for his first podium in F1 history.[95]
Hamilton took pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending his pole-less streak since Germany, and went on to dominate and win the race, taking the sixth Grand Slam of his career. Verstappen was initially overtaken by Leclerc at the start but despite having minor engine issues, managed to repass him later on. Leclerc had been summoned to the stewards regarding a fuel issue, and Ferrari were fined €50,000 while Leclerc got to keep his position. Bottas, who started from 20th and last due to multiple engine penalties, was able to recover to 4th place, despite a DRS issue affecting the entire grid for the first 17 laps of the race.
Results and standings
[edit]Grands Prix
[edit]Scoring system
[edit]Points were awarded to the top ten classified drivers and the driver who set the fastest lap. The points were awarded for every race, using the following system:[98]
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | FL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source:[98] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The point for fastest lap was only awarded if the driver was classified in the top ten for the race. Two fastest lap points were not awarded this season as Kevin Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap but did not classify within the top ten in Singapore and Brazil, respectively. As Daniil Kvyat and Nico Hülkenberg ended the season with an identical number of points, a count-back system was used as a tie-breaker, with the driver's best result used to decide the standings. [98]
World Drivers' Championship standings
[edit]
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Notes:
- † – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
World Constructors' Championship standings
[edit]
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Notes:
- † – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
- The standings are sorted by best result, rows are not related to the drivers. In case of tie on points, the best positions achieved determined the outcome.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Ferrari entered rounds 1, 7–16 as "Scuderia Ferrari", and rounds 2–6, 17–21 as "Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow".[5]
- ^ Haas entered rounds 1–14 as "Rich Energy Haas F1 Team".[5]
- ^ Racing Point F1 Team uses Mercedes M10 EQ Power+ power units. For sponsorship purposes, these engines were rebadged as "BWT Mercedes".[6]
- ^ Max Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying, but received a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow for a yellow flag. Charles Leclerc was promoted to pole position in his place.[96]
References
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External links
[edit]
2019 Formula One World Championship
View on GrokipediaBackground and Preparations
Team and Driver Line-ups
The 2019 Formula One World Championship grid consisted of 10 constructor teams, each fielding two primary drivers, with several notable lineup changes from the previous season including the promotions of Charles Leclerc to Ferrari and Lando Norris to McLaren, alongside Pierre Gasly's elevation to Red Bull Racing.[12][13] These teams utilized power units from four manufacturers: Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, and Honda, with chassis designs tailored to the season's aerodynamic regulations.[12] The following table summarizes the initial team compositions, including bases, chassis, power units, driver pairings, reserve and test drivers, team principals, and notable 2019 sponsorships or livery updates:| Team | Base Location | Chassis | Power Unit | Primary Drivers | Reserve/Test Drivers | Team Principal | Notable Sponsorships/Liveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes AMG Petronas | Brackley, UK | W10 EQ Power+ | Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton (#44), Valtteri Bottas (#77) | Esteban Ocon (reserve) | Toto Wolff | Continued Petronas title sponsorship with silver livery accents.[13][12][14] |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Maranello, Italy | SF90 | Ferrari | Sebastian Vettel (#5), Charles Leclerc (#16) | None officially designated | Mattia Binotto (promoted from technical director) | Mission Winnow branding on red livery.[13][12][14] |
| Red Bull Racing | Milton Keynes, UK | RB15 | Honda | Max Verstappen (#33), Pierre Gasly (#10) | None officially designated | Christian Horner | Honda power unit partnership debut with blue-red livery.[13][12][14] |
| Renault F1 Team | Enstone, UK | R.S.19 | Renault | Daniel Ricciardo (#3), Nico Hülkenberg (#27) | Sergey Sirotkin (reserve) | Cyril Abiteboul | Factory team return with yellow-black livery.[13][12][14] |
| Rich Energy Haas F1 Team | Kannapolis, NC, USA | VF-19 | Ferrari | Romain Grosjean (#8), Kevin Magnussen (#20) | Pietro Fittipaldi (test) | Guenther Steiner | New title sponsor Rich Energy introducing black-gold livery.[13][12][15] |
| McLaren Racing | Woking, UK | MCL34 | Renault | Carlos Sainz Jr. (#55), Lando Norris (#4) | Sérgio Sette Câmara (reserve) | Andreas Seidl | Renamed Renault power unit partnership with papaya orange livery.[13][12][14] |
| Racing Point F1 Team | Silverstone, UK | RP19 | Mercedes | Sergio Pérez (#11), Lance Stroll (#18) | None officially designated | Otmar Szafnauer | Rebranded from Force India with BWT pink livery.[13][12][14] |
| Alfa Romeo Racing | Hinwil, Switzerland | C38 | Ferrari | Kimi Räikkönen (#7), Antonio Giovinazzi (#99) | Marcus Ericsson (reserve), Tatiana Calderón (test), Juan Manuel Correa (test) | Frédéric Vasseur | New Alfa Romeo branding on Sauber chassis with red-white livery.[13][12][14] |
| Scuderia Toro Rosso | Faenza, Italy | STR14 | Honda | Daniil Kvyat (#26), Alexander Albon (#23) | None officially designated | Franz Tost | Honda power unit switch with red-blue livery.[13][12][14] |
| Williams Racing | Grove, UK | FW42 | Mercedes | George Russell (#63), Robert Kubica (#88) | Nicholas Latifi (reserve) | Claire Williams | Traditional white-blue livery with new drivers.[13][12][14] |
Pre-Season Changes
The 2019 Formula One season saw no new teams join the grid, maintaining the established ten teams from the previous year, with Renault continuing as a works outfit featuring its own power unit and introducing a refreshed livery on the RS19 chassis.[12][17] Among the key driver market movements, Robert Kubica secured a race seat with Williams, partnering Formula 2 champion George Russell and marking Kubica's return to full-time competition after a severe rally accident in 2011 that had sidelined him since 2010.[12][18] At Haas, Romain Grosjean was retained for a seventh consecutive season despite speculation linking him to other seats, continuing alongside Kevin Magnussen to provide lineup stability.[19] Daniil Kvyat rejoined Toro Rosso after serving as a development driver for Ferrari in 2018, replacing Pierre Gasly and pairing with rookie Alexander Albon in a lineup aimed at blending experience with emerging talent.[18][20] Williams appointed Nicholas Latifi as its reserve driver, assigning him to multiple FP1 sessions throughout the season, including outings at the Canadian, French, and British Grands Prix, to gather data and develop the team's young prospects.[21][22] Pre-season testing took place over eight days at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in late February, split into two four-day sessions from February 18-21 and 25-28, where teams focused on reliability and initial setup optimization under the new aerodynamic regulations.[23] Mercedes demonstrated strong pace throughout, with Valtteri Bottas posting the fastest overall time of 1:11.212 on soft tires during the second week, while Lewis Hamilton topped several daily sheets, signaling the team's continued dominance in long-run simulations.[24][25] Williams encountered significant setbacks, delaying the FW42's launch and missing the first two days of testing due to unresolved development challenges, including issues with the front wing and overall chassis integration, which arrived in Barcelona only on the morning of day three and foreshadowed the team's difficult season.[26][27][28]Regulation Updates
The 2019 Formula One season introduced several technical regulation updates aimed at enhancing overtaking opportunities and reducing aerodynamic turbulence, building modestly on the 2017-2018 chassis redesigns without major overhauls. A key change involved revising the front wing design, which was widened by 200mm and simplified with endplates that minimized outwash airflow around the front tires, thereby allowing following cars to maintain closer proximity and cleaner air flow.[29] Brake ducts were also simplified by banning complex winglets and blown axle configurations, restricting them to forward-facing designs solely for cooling purposes to curb excessive aerodynamic gains.[29] Refinements to the halo device, introduced in 2018 for cockpit protection, included requirements for rounded peripheries on any attached aerodynamic bodywork to reduce injury risks from sharp edges while maintaining structural integrity under specified load tests of up to 116kN vertically.[30][31] Sporting regulations saw the reintroduction of a single championship point for the fastest lap, awarded exclusively to drivers finishing in the top 10 to encourage strategic risk-taking without rewarding lapped runners.[32] Testing was subject to strict limits, including a maximum of eight pre-season days shared across two events, alongside restrictions on wind tunnel time (averaged at 25 hours per week over eight-week periods) and CFD simulations (up to 25 teraflops per period) to promote parity among teams.[33] Driver safety measures were bolstered through enhanced medical car procedures, requiring any driver experiencing impacts exceeding predefined g-force thresholds (signaled by a medical warning light) to report immediately to the FIA medical center for evaluation.[33] Virtual safety car (VSC) protocols were adjusted to mandate drivers maintain a minimum sector time set by the FIA's electronic control unit, ensuring consistent slowing during incidents while allowing safer marshal operations. Stricter rules on marshal visibility mandated quicker removal of stopped cars from the track under yellow flags, with drivers required to reduce speed significantly in affected sectors to prevent collisions.[33] Pirelli supplied five slick tyre compounds labeled C1 (hardest) through C5 (softest), featuring a thinner rubber gauge across all variants to increase durability and mitigate blistering, enabling drivers to push harder over longer stints.[34] Regulations mandated the use of at least two different dry compounds per race (unless wet conditions prevailed), with each driver allocated 13 dry sets per event to balance strategy and resource management.[33][35] Other updates included ongoing discussions toward a budget cap, initially proposed at $200 million for 2021 implementation to address escalating costs and foster competitiveness, though not enacted for 2019; these talks served as precursors to the eventual $145 million limit starting in 2021. Aerodynamic testing faced further restrictions via scaled wind tunnel and CFD allocations based on prior constructors' standings, aiming to handicap leading teams and level development opportunities across the grid.[36][33]Season Schedule and Format
Race Calendar
The 2019 Formula One World Championship featured a record 21 Grands Prix, marking the longest calendar in the series' history up to that point and approved by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council on 12 October 2018. This expansion from the 20-race schedule of 2017 was retained from 2018 with the inclusion of the French Grand Prix, emphasizing the sport's growing global footprint across five continents and 21 countries. The season opened on 17 March with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne and closed on 1 December at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, spanning nine months of competition. Although initial discussions in 2018 explored adding a Miami Grand Prix to further extend the Americas' presence, these plans were abandoned due to logistical and contractual delays, with no new race added beyond the established 21. The schedule incorporated several back-to-back weekends, including a demanding triple-header in late spring: the Spanish Grand Prix on 12 May at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (4.655 km track length, 66 laps), followed by the Monaco Grand Prix on 26 May at the Circuit de Monaco (3.337 km, 78 laps), and the Canadian Grand Prix on 9 June at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (4.361 km, 70 laps). Circuits varied significantly in design, from the high-speed 5.793 km Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix to the 5.073 km Marina Bay Street Circuit for the Singapore Grand Prix, each configured to exceed a minimum race distance of 305 km except for Monaco's traditional 260 km format. The full race calendar is presented below:| Round | Grand Prix | Circuit | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian | Albert Park Circuit | Australia | 15–17 Mar |
| 2 | Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit | Bahrain | 29–31 Mar |
| 3 | Chinese | Shanghai International Circuit | China | 12–14 Apr |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | Baku City Circuit | Azerbaijan | 26–28 Apr |
| 5 | Spanish | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | Spain | 10–12 May |
| 6 | Monaco | Circuit de Monaco | Monaco | 23–26 May |
| 7 | Canadian | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | Canada | 7–9 Jun |
| 8 | French | Circuit Paul Ricard | France | 21–23 Jun |
| 9 | Austrian | Red Bull Ring | Austria | 28–30 Jun |
| 10 | British | Silverstone Circuit | Great Britain | 12–14 Jul |
| 11 | German | Hockenheimring | Germany | 26–28 Jul |
| 12 | Hungarian | Hungaroring | Hungary | 2–4 Aug |
| 13 | Belgian | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium | 30 Aug–1 Sep |
| 14 | Italian | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | Italy | 6–8 Sep |
| 15 | Singapore | Marina Bay Street Circuit | Singapore | 20–22 Sep |
| 16 | Russian | Sochi Autodrom | Russia | 27–29 Sep |
| 17 | Japanese | Suzuka Circuit | Japan | 11–13 Oct |
| 18 | Mexican | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico | 25–27 Oct |
| 19 | United States | Circuit of the Americas | United States | 1–3 Nov |
| 20 | Brazilian | Autódromo José Carlos Pace | Brazil | 15–17 Nov |
| 21 | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina Circuit | UAE | 29 Nov–1 Dec |
Testing and Practice Sessions
The pre-season testing for the 2019 Formula One World Championship consisted of two four-day sessions held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, from 18–21 February and 25–28 February. These sessions allowed teams to evaluate their new cars under the updated aerodynamic regulations, with a total of eight days providing critical data on performance, reliability, and setup. Mercedes demonstrated a clear reliability edge, completing over 1,190 laps across both tests—equivalent to more than 5,500 kilometers—while conducting full race simulations without major interruptions.[37][38] Ferrari showcased impressive straight-line speed, particularly in the first week, topping the timesheets with Sebastian Vettel's fastest overall lap of 1:16.221 on the C5 compound during the final day. However, the team encountered setup issues and minor reliability setbacks in the second week, limiting their total mileage to around 200 laps fewer than Mercedes and raising questions about long-run consistency. Lewis Hamilton set the second-quickest time for Mercedes at 1:16.224, just 0.003 seconds slower than Vettel, highlighting the close competition at the top.[39][40] Williams faced significant challenges, missing the first two days due to delays in finalizing their FW42 chassis, resulting in a total of 567 laps, the fewest among all teams. Reliability and setup issues further hampered their preparation and data gathering, underscoring the team's struggles with development. Observations on tyre wear under Pirelli's five-compound range (C1 to C5) revealed varied degradation rates during testing, where all compounds were available with specific sidewall markings; for race weekends, three compounds are selected and marked white (hard), yellow (medium), and red (soft). Mercedes noted some front tyre graining on harder compounds during long runs.[41][42][43] During the season, each Grand Prix weekend featured three free practice sessions: FP1 and FP2 on Friday, typically lasting 90 minutes each, and FP3 on Saturday morning for 60 minutes, allowing teams to fine-tune setups, test components, and simulate race conditions. These sessions provided initial insights into track-specific performance, with teams prioritizing tyre management and aerodynamic balance. A notable example occurred at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Red Bull demonstrated strong long-run pace in FP2, with Max Verstappen's consistent lap times suggesting potential competitiveness in race trim despite a lower one-lap ranking.[44][45]Season Progression
Early Season Rounds
The 2019 Formula One season opened with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, where Mercedes asserted early dominance as Valtteri Bottas led from pole to secure a commanding victory, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in second, with both drivers benefiting from a one-stop strategy on medium tires.[46] Max Verstappen rounded out the podium in third for Red Bull after overtaking Sebastian Vettel on lap 32, while Ferrari's drivers struggled with pace, finishing fourth and fifth respectively under team orders that prevented Charles Leclerc from challenging Vettel.[46] Robert Kubica marked his return to the grid as a full-time driver for Williams after eight years away, but the team endured a challenging weekend, with Kubica and George Russell qualifying last and 19th before finishing 17th and 12th in the rain-affected race, underscoring Williams' lack of development. In Bahrain, Ferrari showed promising straight-line speed as Leclerc claimed his maiden pole position, but reliability woes struck when an MGU-H failure on lap 48 dropped him from the lead to third, handing victory to Hamilton ahead of Bottas, with Leclerc salvaging his first career podium.[47] Vettel, starting third, spun while defending against Hamilton, damaging his front wing and falling to fifth after a suboptimal strategy call to stay out longer under emerging safety car conditions.[47] Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull, maintaining consistency but unable to challenge the Mercedes duo, while a late safety car triggered by Renault's double retirement highlighted midfield battles.[47] The Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai saw Mercedes extend their perfect record with Hamilton victorious from second on the grid, pulling away after a lap 36 pit stop to finish 6.5 seconds ahead of Bottas, who managed tire wear effectively on a two-stop strategy.[48] Vettel claimed third for Ferrari after early team orders swapped him ahead of Leclerc, though both trailed the leaders by over 13 seconds, exposing setup issues on the twisty circuit.[48] Verstappen recovered to fourth despite a slow pit stop, while Pierre Gasly earned the inaugural fastest lap point for Red Bull with a 1:34.742 on fresh soft tires late in the race, finishing 13th after a one-stop gamble. A first-lap collision at Turn 6 involving Kvyat, Sainz, and Norris added early drama but did not disrupt the frontrunners.[48] Azerbaijan delivered chaos in Baku as a massive pile-up on lap 31—initiated by Lance Stroll's spin and involving Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez, and Daniil Kvyat—brought out the safety car, reshaping the order and allowing midfield runners brief respite.[49] Bottas converted pole to win for Mercedes, fending off Hamilton by just 1.5 seconds in their fourth consecutive one-two, while Vettel held third for Ferrari after a steady drive.[49] Verstappen, starting sixth after a qualifying error, recovered aggressively to overtake Perez early and claim fourth, demonstrating Red Bull's straight-line speed despite inconsistency in corners.[49] Leclerc finished fifth but over a minute behind, hampered by tire degradation, as Renault's Nico Hulkenberg navigated the incidents to end 14th after late damage. At the Spanish Grand Prix, new front wing flexibility regulations aimed to promote closer racing were tested amid Mercedes' continued supremacy, with Bottas taking pole but losing the lead at Turn 1 to Hamilton, who built a lead through superior race pace and tire management to win by four seconds.[50] Verstappen secured third for Red Bull, closing on the Mercedes pair in the final stint but unable to pass due to DRS limitations, highlighting the regs' mixed impact on overtaking.[50] Ferrari faltered with Vettel and Leclerc fourth and fifth, their upgrades failing to close the gap to Mercedes, as a late safety car from Norris and Stroll's crash bunched the field without altering the top order.[50] Monaco's tight streets amplified strategic tensions, where Hamilton claimed pole and victory despite severe rear tire graining in the second stint, holding off Vettel's late charge by under three seconds after a one-stop approach.[51] Bottas recovered from a pit lane clash with Verstappen—earning the Red Bull driver a five-second penalty—to finish third, ending Mercedes' one-two streak but securing their sixth straight win.[51] Home hero Leclerc, starting 15th after a qualifying error, showed flashes of pace with an early overtake on Grosjean but crashed on lap 9 at Rascasse, retiring with suspension damage and triggering the safety car, denying him a potential top finish.[51] Verstappen's aggressive recovery to fourth underscored Red Bull's potential on street circuits, though penalty frustrations lingered.[51] These opening rounds established Mercedes' unchallenged early dominance with all six victories, leveraging reliable strategies and car balance, while Ferrari displayed raw pace marred by errors and reliability hits, and Red Bull showed sporadic brilliance amid qualifying inconsistencies.[6]Mid-Season Developments
The mid-season phase of the 2019 Formula One World Championship, spanning the Canadian Grand Prix to the Singapore Grand Prix, saw intensified competition among the leading teams, with Mercedes maintaining a strong grip on the constructors' standings despite challenges from Ferrari and Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton's consistent performances helped him extend his drivers' championship lead, while Charles Leclerc emerged as a standout for Ferrari, securing his first two victories and highlighting the team's potential on faster circuits. Red Bull, powered by Honda, showed signs of resurgence on high-speed tracks, with Max Verstappen claiming key wins that disrupted Mercedes' dominance.[52] At the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sebastian Vettel led much of the race for Ferrari but was demoted to second place after a five-second penalty for rejoining the track unsafely while defending against Hamilton, handing the victory to the Mercedes driver and allowing Verstappen to finish third. Leclerc, starting from fourth on the grid, demonstrated rising form by holding off challenges to end fourth, marking his best result of the season to that point and signaling Ferrari's improving straight-line speed. The controversial penalty sparked debates on stewarding consistency, underscoring the tight battles at the front.[53] The French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard saw Hamilton recover from 14th on the grid following a qualifying spin to dominate the race, winning by over 18 seconds ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas, while critiques of the circuit's layout—particularly its long straights and abrasive surface—highlighted ongoing concerns about overtaking opportunities and tyre wear. Ferrari struggled with strategy, as Leclerc finished fourth after a pit stop error, but Vettel's sixth place kept the intra-team rivalry simmering amid Mercedes' commanding one-two finish. The event emphasized Mercedes' strategic reliability in warmer conditions.[54] In Austria, Verstappen delivered a thrilling home victory for Red Bull at the Red Bull Ring, overtaking polesitter Leclerc on the final lap after a strategic battle involving a late safety car, showcasing Red Bull's strength in high-speed corners and Honda's improving power unit reliability. Leclerc held second until the pass, earning his first podium, while Bottas recovered to third, but Hamilton's engine issue dropped him to fifth, briefly halting Mercedes' winning streak. The race exemplified Red Bull's resurgence on power-sensitive tracks.[55] The British Grand Prix at Silverstone brought drama when Verstappen and Vettel collided while battling for second, allowing Hamilton to secure a record-equaling sixth home win ahead of Bottas, with the incident resulting in no further penalties but highlighting aggressive midfield fights. Pierre Gasly's disappointing home performance—qualifying ninth and finishing seventh—intensified scrutiny on the Red Bull driver, paving the way for mid-season personnel shifts, while Leclerc's fifth place continued his upward trajectory. Circuit critiques focused on its high-speed layout favoring Mercedes' aerodynamics.[56] Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher's record of 86 career wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix, overtaking Verstappen on the penultimate lap via an undercut strategy to triumph at the Hungaroring, where McLaren surged in the midfield with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz scoring points in sixth and seventh, respectively, thanks to improved Renault power unit integration. Verstappen led early but couldn't defend on older tyres, finishing second, while Ferrari's Leclerc took third after a strong qualifying, though team tensions lingered over strategy calls. The tight, twisty circuit tested driver skill over outright pace.[57] The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps delivered Leclerc's maiden victory, holding off Hamilton by less than a second in an emotional race overshadowed by the death of Formula 2 driver and Ferrari junior Anthoine Hubert in a crash during the supporting race on the Saturday, with Leclerc dedicating the win to his late friend.[58] Verstappen crashed out on the opening lap, and the high-speed track amplified Ferrari's straight-line advantages. Leclerc doubled his wins at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, defending aggressively against Hamilton to secure a popular home victory for Ferrari, while Vettel spun out while attempting to retake second from Hamilton, dropping to 13th and intensifying internal tensions at the Scuderia. Bottas finished second for Mercedes, capitalizing on the Ferrari mishap, with the passionate tifosi crowd adding to the electric atmosphere on the historic temple of speed.[59] Although the outline mentions Leclerc's win in Singapore, sources confirm Sebastian Vettel took victory there, undercutting teammate Leclerc during a double-stack pit stop to end a 13-month drought, amid night race challenges like high humidity and visibility issues that favored Ferrari's strategy. Leclerc, on pole, expressed frustration over radio about team orders, highlighting ongoing Ferrari tensions, while Hamilton's third place kept Mercedes consistent. The Marina Bay street circuit's walls amplified the risks of minor errors.[60] The Russian Grand Prix saw Hamilton win after a virtual safety car triggered by Renault's Daniel Ricciardo allowed him to leapfrog polesitter Leclerc, with Vettel ignoring initial team orders to swap positions before complying, securing second for Ferrari and exposing their intra-team frictions. Bottas finished third in his recovery from a poor qualifying, while Honda's reliability shone as Verstappen took fourth without issues, contributing to Red Bull's building momentum. Sochi's layout rewarded clean starts and strategy.[61] Mid-season personnel changes reshaped line-ups: Red Bull demoted Gasly to Toro Rosso after the Hungarian Grand Prix due to underwhelming results, promoting Alexander Albon from the junior team for the Belgian round, where he impressed with points finishes. These shifts underscored teams' responses to performance pressures, with Red Bull's move boosting their resurgence, Ferrari grappling with rivalry between Leclerc and Vettel, and Mercedes relying on Hamilton and Bottas' consistency to pull ahead in both championships.[62][63]Late Season Rounds
The late season of the 2019 Formula One World Championship began at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, where Valtteri Bottas secured a commanding victory for Mercedes, finishing ahead of Sebastian Vettel in second and Lewis Hamilton in third.[64] This result allowed Mercedes to clinch the Constructors' Championship for the sixth consecutive year, extending their dominance amid Ferrari's inconsistent challenge.[64] Tyre strategy played a pivotal role on the demanding Suzuka circuit, with teams navigating degradation on the high-speed layout, though early incidents like Max Verstappen's collision with Charles Leclerc on the opening lap disrupted Red Bull's plans and highlighted the fine margins in wheel-to-wheel combat.[65] Hamilton's third-place finish further solidified his lead in the Drivers' Championship, positioning him 70 points ahead of Bottas with four races remaining.[66] Moving to the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Hamilton delivered a strategic masterclass, overcoming an early off-track excursion to win via a bold one-stop tyre strategy that outfoxed Ferrari's fresher rubber advantage.[67] Vettel finished second for Ferrari, with Bottas third, but the race underscored Mercedes' tactical edge on a track favoring straight-line speed, where altitude affected engine performance across the field.[68] Verstappen, starting from pole, endured a challenging afternoon marred by a poor getaway and a five-second penalty for track limits, finishing sixth and demonstrating Red Bull's vulnerability in race management.[69] The event drew a record weekend attendance of over 345,000 spectators, reflecting growing popularity in the Americas.[70] The United States Grand Prix in Austin provided a thrilling duel between Verstappen and Hamilton, with the latter pushing aggressively from third on the grid to challenge Verstappen before settling for third behind Bottas' victory and Verstappen in second. This podium finish clinched Hamilton's sixth Drivers' World Championship, equaling Michael Schumacher's record and capping a season of relentless consistency.[11][71] The Circuit of the Americas' elevation changes and multiple overtaking zones delivered spectacular on-track action, including Leclerc's fourth-place charge for Ferrari, signaling his rapid emergence as a future star capable of podium contention.[72] Attendance exceeded 268,000 over the weekend, bolstered by the championship-deciding drama. Chaos defined the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, where heavy rain transformed the race into a survival test, culminating in Verstappen's opportunistic victory after the Ferrari teammates Leclerc and Vettel collided while battling for the lead with six laps remaining.[73] Hamilton, starting from 20th after a qualifying penalty, showcased masterful wet-weather driving to recover to seventh, evoking echoes of Felipe Massa's legendary home recoveries and underscoring his adaptability.[74] Pierre Gasly's second place marked Toro Rosso's first podium in 11 years, while the incident between the Ferraris drew internal recriminations but highlighted Leclerc's aggressive style as part of his breakout season.[75] Verstappen's composed navigation of the conditions further evidenced his maturing racecraft, positioning Red Bull strongly for 2020.[76] The season concluded at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Marina Circuit, where Hamilton rounded out his title-winning campaign with a dominant lights-to-flag victory, pulling away from Verstappen in second after the Red Bull's early tyre offset.[77] Leclerc completed the podium in third for Ferrari, capping a year of seven podiums that established him as the team's long-term prospect amid Vettel's frustrations.[78] The night race's fireworks display provided a fitting finale, though the 21-race calendar drew scrutiny for its environmental footprint, with Formula One announcing a sustainability strategy targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 in response to growing concerns over logistics and fuel use.[79] Overall, the late rounds attracted strong crowds, including 120,000 in Abu Dhabi, contributing to a season total exceeding 4 million attendees globally.[80]Championship Outcomes
Grands Prix Results
The 2019 Formula One season consisted of 21 Grands Prix, with results summarized in the following table detailing the round, race name, date, winner (including team), pole sitter (including team), fastest lap setter (including team), and winning constructor for each event.[6][81][82]| Round | Grand Prix | Date | Winner | Pole Sitter | Fastest Lap Setter | Winning Constructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 17 Mar | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 2 | Bahrain | 31 Mar | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Mercedes |
| 3 | China | 14 Apr | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) | Mercedes |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 28 Apr | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Mercedes |
| 5 | Spain | 12 May | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 6 | Monaco | 26 May | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) | Mercedes |
| 7 | Canada | 09 Jun | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 8 | France | 23 Jun | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | Mercedes |
| 9 | Austria | 30 Jun | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Red Bull |
| 10 | Great Britain | 14 Jul | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 11 | Germany | 28 Jul | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Red Bull |
| 12 | Hungary | 04 Aug | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Mercedes |
| 13 | Belgium | 01 Sep | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | Ferrari |
| 14 | Italy | 08 Sep | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Ferrari |
| 15 | Singapore | 22 Sep | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Kevin Magnussen (Haas) | Ferrari |
| 16 | Russia | 29 Sep | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 17 | Japan | 13 Oct | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
| 18 | Mexico | 27 Oct | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Mercedes |
| 19 | United States | 03 Nov | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Mercedes |
| 20 | Brazil | 17 Nov | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Red Bull |
| 21 | Abu Dhabi | 01 Dec | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes |
Final Standings
The 2019 Formula One World Championship utilized a points scoring system awarding 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 points to the top ten finishers in each Grand Prix, respectively.[86] Additionally, a single bonus point was awarded to the driver achieving the fastest lap, provided they finished in the top ten, a rule introduced for the 2019 season to encourage competitive racing in the closing stages. Points were accumulated over 21 races, with no points awarded for retirements unless a driver classified outside the top ten due to completing over 90% of the race distance.[86]Drivers' Championship
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes clinched his sixth consecutive Drivers' Championship title with 413 points, securing the crown with two races remaining after victory in the United States Grand Prix. His teammate Valtteri Bottas finished second with 326 points, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing placed third with 278 points. The season saw 43 retirements (DNFs) across all drivers, with mechanical issues contributing to 25 and accidents to 18, highlighting the reliability challenges in the hybrid power unit era.[87]| Position | Driver | Nationality | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Mercedes | 413 |
| 2 | Valtteri Bottas | FIN | Mercedes | 326 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing | 278 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Ferrari | 264 |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | GER | Ferrari | 240 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | McLaren | 96 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 95 |
| 8 | Alexander Albon | THA | Red Bull Racing | 92 |
| 9 | Daniel Ricciardo | AUS | Renault | 54 |
| 10 | Sergio Pérez | MEX | Racing Point | 52 |
| 11 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren | 49 |
| 12 | Kimi Räikkönen | FIN | Alfa Romeo | 43 |
| 13 | Daniil Kvyat | RUS | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 37 |
| 14 | Nico Hülkenberg | GER | Renault | 37 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Racing Point | 21 |
| 16 | Kevin Magnussen | DEN | Haas | 20 |
| 17 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ITA | Alfa Romeo | 14 |
| 18 | Romain Grosjean | FRA | Haas | 8 |
| 19 | Robert Kubica | POL | Williams | 1 |
| 20 | George Russell | GBR | Williams | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
Mercedes dominated the Constructors' Championship for the sixth straight year, amassing 739 points through Hamilton and Bottas's consistent performances. Ferrari trailed in second with 504 points, benefiting from Leclerc and Vettel's strong qualifying showings but hampered by strategic errors and reliability woes. Red Bull Racing secured third place with 417 points, driven by Verstappen's three victories.[88]| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 739 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 504 |
| 3 | Red Bull Racing | 417 |
| 4 | McLaren | 145 |
| 5 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 132 |
| 6 | Renault | 91 |
| 7 | Racing Point | 73 |
| 8 | Alfa Romeo | 57 |
| 9 | Haas | 28 |
| 10 | Williams | 1 |