Sure, Max Verstappen may run away with the championship when all 24 races are done and dusted, but the fervour around the sport feels like it has reached a peak with the stories off the track.
First came the news that Lewis Hamilton, having signed a contract extension with Mercedes last season, would be leaving the team at the end of 2024 to join Ferrari. And then came the bigger bombshell that Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was being investigated by his employers over allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague.
The fact the Horner matter was supposedly resolved less than 24 hours before the cars come out on track for first practice at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix only added to the intrigue around the build-up to race one, even more so with the leaked WhatsApp messages allegedly between Horner and a female colleague which emerged late yesterday.
The racing may struggle to live up to such drama. Last season, Red Bull won all but one of the 22 races, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag in 19 of them.
Winter testing would suggest that the RB20 is quicker yet, with Adrian Newey and his technical team having extricated even more pace from the car.
It is difficult to read too much into times UBS RE Snapdrag
in winter testing but, over the course of three days, Red Bull's pace on the long runs - effectively the equivalent of their race pace - looked ominously quick and reliable.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 01, 2024 من Evening Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 01, 2024 من Evening Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
In the eye of the storm A rich account of Britain's political chaos
Tim Shipman’s fourth and final tome covers Johnson to Sunak, via Truss
Is this government full of amateurs?
Labour's hard landing has revealed a cabinet struggling with the basics
It's going to be weird when the national anthem plays, but I'm so proud to lead the United States
Emma Hayes closed the book on 12 trophy-laden years at Chelsea with her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title in May.
Can Guardiola fix 'fragile' City after latest implosion?
Rebuilding his ageing side will bea greater challenge than building it in the first place for one of the greats
London wins battle of the global city brands again...
...but the capital still has plenty of work to do ifit wants to keep that crown
At home with...Earl of East
The duo behind the fragrance brand have made a Leyton new-build their sanctuary
How evolution evolved: the risks and rewards of gene-editing technology
INDIA BLOCKspeaks to paediatrician and TV writer Dr Neal Baer about the controversial advancement
This beloved take on Dickens is a joyful gift that keeps on giving
AIl through a bright, bitter winter day I was smiling because I was coming to see Jack Thorne's adapAtation of Charles Dickens's story again.
Market merrymaking
Bundle up in your warmest coat, hat and mittens to visit the best Christmas markets in the UK.
Festive favourites
Perfect your Christmas spread with a vibrant spin on a seasonal staple.