After months of waiting, the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship returns this weekend with the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir to host the season opener.
 
As a result of a busy off season, there has been plenty of hype surrounding this season of the world’s premier racing category, with the 24-round schedule marking the championship’s biggest calendar in its history.
 
And for the first time since 2013, Australians will be cheering on two household names for the entirety of a season – each of which are different stages in their careers.
 
First up is Oscar Piastri, who is on an upwards trajectory after a strong debut season, where the young Victorian driver was named as the FIA Rookie of the Year having secured a Sprint Race victory and multiple podiums throughout the season.
 
This time last year, Piastri and McLaren had a tough start to the season, however they got their act together in the second half of the season and ended up as one of the main success stories for the year.
 
Now, there are plenty of high hopes for the team in papaya, with Piastri and teammate Lando Norris tipped to continue McLaren’s development and enjoy strong results.

 
The other Aussie in action, Daniel Ricciardo, is eager for even more success in his Formula 1 career.
 
An eight-time race winner, Ricciardo has had a rollercoaster 18 months which saw him replaced at McLaren by Piastri, signed as Red Bull’s reserve driver, given a second chance in a race car by Alpha Tauri to replace Nick De Vries, and then breaking his hand in the Netherlands mid-year.
 
Ricciardo eventually picked up six points in seven races for Alpha Tauri, which has since rebranded to Visa Cash App RB F1 Team.
 
However, with a proper off season now under his belt, Ricciardo is all smiles again and will be hoping to prove he can continue to match it against the world’s best.
 
Of course, Ricciardo’s former teammate Max Verstappen enters the season as the undeniable favourite with the reigning champion looking to make it three titles in a row.
 
Last year, Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez racked up an impressive 22 wins, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz the only other race winner for the season.
 
Ferrari ended up finishing third for the year, as Lewis Hamilton led Mercedes’ charge to second place after a season-long battle between the two iconic brands ending in a thrilling climax in Abu Dhabi.
 
This year will be Hamilton’s last year at Mercedes after the stalwart confirmed his move to Ferrari in 2025.
 
Not only is the Formula 1 season beginning in Bahrain this weekend, but so too is the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships.
 
This year, just two Aussies will be initially contesting Formula 3, with Christian Mansell and Tommy Smith going back for their second years, while there will be no Australians in Formula 2.
 
Smith will once again be racing for Van Amersfoort Racing, while Mansell has switched to powerhouse outfit ART Grand Prix in the hopes of improving on his 12th placed finishlast year.

 
The Bahrain Grand Prix kicks off the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, with the race to take place at 2am AEDT on Sunday 3 March. 

2024 Formula 1 entry list

Oracle Red Bull Racing
#1 Max Verstappen
#11 Sergio Pérez
 
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
#44 Lewis Hamilton
#63 George Russell 
 
Scuderia Ferrari
#16 Charles Leclerc
#55 Carlos Sainz Jr
 
McLaren F1 Team
#4 Lando Norris
#81 Oscar Piastri
 
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
#14 Fernando Alonso
#18 Lance Stroll
 
BWT Alpine F1 Team
#10 Pierre Gasly
#31 Esteban Ocon
 
Williams Racing
#2 Logan Sargeant
#23 Alexander Albo
 
Visa Cash App RB F1 Team
#3 Daniel Ricciardo
#22 Yuki Tsunoda
 
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
#24 Zhou Guanyu
#77 Valtteri Bottas
 
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
#20 Kevin Magnussen
#27 Nico Hülkenberg