Historic First: All F1 Cars Finish Consecutive Races

The exhilarating opening round of the 2024 Formula 1 season in Bahrain delivered a plethora of compelling storylines and statistical milestones. Beyond the on-track action, the event marked a significant, albeit quiet, achievement for the sport’s ever-evolving reliability: for the 17th time in Formula 1 history, every car that started the race also saw the chequered flag. What makes this particular occurrence even more remarkable is that it also happened in the previous race, the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking the first instance in F1 history of two consecutive races where every single competitor was classified.

This growing trend of full race finishes underscores the incredible strides made in Formula 1 engineering and safety over the decades. What was once a rarity in the sport’s more mechanically fragile past has become an increasingly common sight. In 2021, three such races occurred. The introduction of new technical regulations in 2022 saw a slight dip, with only one race achieving a 100% completion rate, a testament to the initial challenges of adapting to new designs. However, teams quickly mastered the new rules, leading to three perfect finishes again in 2023. Had Lance Stroll not been forced to retire his damaged Aston Martin in Monaco last year, that would have been the second of an unprecedented three consecutive races where every driver was classified, further highlighting the sport’s current high level of mechanical robustness and improved crash structures.

The days of widespread mechanical attrition, where half the grid might fail to finish a race, are largely behind us. Modern F1 cars, with their sophisticated hybrid power units, advanced materials, and rigorous testing protocols, are designed for extreme performance coupled with incredible endurance. This evolution not only showcases the ingenuity of the sport’s engineers but also ensures that fans get to witness more continuous on-track battles, as fewer retirements mean more cars vying for positions until the very end. The shift towards greater reliability is a quiet revolution, ensuring the spectacle remains focused on driver skill and strategic prowess rather than the capriciousness of machinery.

Leading the charge into this new season, Max Verstappen delivered a truly dominant performance in Bahrain, executing a perfect start to his 2024 campaign. The reigning world champion achieved a rare ‘grand slam,’ meaning he secured pole position, led every single lap of the race, set the fastest lap, and ultimately took the victory. This exceptional feat was his fifth career grand slam, elevating him to an elite group in Formula 1 history. He now stands level with legends Alberto Ascari and Michael Schumacher, both of whom also have five grand slams to their name. Only Jim Clark, with an astonishing eight, and Lewis Hamilton, with six, have achieved this remarkable feat more times. Verstappen’s ability to consistently deliver such comprehensive victories underscores his unparalleled talent and the formidable package that Red Bull Racing provides.

The achievement also carries a nostalgic resonance; Michael Schumacher was the last driver to score a grand slam in a season opener, doing so at Melbourne exactly 20 years ago, in 2004, a year that would become synonymous with his absolute dominance. More recently, Valtteri Bottas came agonizingly close to replicating this achievement four years ago at the Austrian Grand Prix, but he was denied the fastest lap by a mere tenth of a second on the final tour by Lando Norris, highlighting the fine margins that define success at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Verstappen’s Bahrain triumph also extended his winning streak to eight consecutive Grand Prix victories, placing him fourth on the all-time list for the longest winning runs in F1 history. He famously set a new record last year by achieving 10 consecutive wins, a testament to his sustained excellence. The records for consecutive wins are held by himself (10 wins), Sebastian Vettel (9 wins), and Alberto Ascari (9 wins, though some historical interpretations vary slightly). With the Japanese Grand Prix on the horizon next month, Verstappen has a tangible opportunity to once again challenge and potentially break this remarkable record, further solidifying his place in the pantheon of F1’s most successful drivers.

Advert | Become a RaceFans Supporter andgo ad-free

Red Bull’s Historic Milestone: Equaling Williams’ Victories

The victory in Bahrain was also the 114th for Red Bull Racing, a momentous occasion as it draws them level with the legendary Williams F1 team in terms of Grand Prix wins. This statistic highlights a fascinating contrast in Formula 1 history. Williams, one of the sport’s most decorated and venerable teams, first entered the championship in 1975 and has since started an incredible 816 races, making them the third longest-running team in F1 history. Their journey is steeped in heritage, multiple constructors’ and drivers’ championships, and iconic moments. Red Bull, by contrast, is a relatively younger entrant, having started its F1 journey in its current guise in 2005. The 2024 season marks their 20th year in the sport, and the Bahrain Grand Prix was only their 370th start. To achieve the same number of victories in less than half the races speaks volumes about Red Bull’s rapid ascent, strategic investments, and sustained period of dominance, especially in recent years. This achievement underlines Red Bull’s status as a modern powerhouse, rapidly catching up to and surpassing historical giants in terms of sheer success rate.

Verstappen’s pole position in Bahrain was his 33rd career pole, placing him in a tie for fifth place on the all-time list alongside two other greats: Jim Clark and Alain Prost. This consistent qualifying performance is a cornerstone of his success. Furthermore, his 31st fastest lap of the race was achieved by a significant margin of 1.482 seconds over the second-fastest time set by Charles Leclerc. Such a substantial gap in a competitive field is a clear indicator of the raw pace of the Red Bull RB20 and Verstappen’s masterful command of it. The last driver to achieve a larger margin for the fastest lap was Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix last year, where he beat the next-best time by 1.617 seconds. However, it’s worth noting that Hamilton’s achievement was facilitated by a strategic late pit stop for a fresh set of tyres, whereas Verstappen’s margin in Bahrain was indicative of pure race pace on used tyres, making his feat arguably even more impressive.

Leclerc’s Consistency and Hamilton’s Unfamiliar Struggle

Despite Ferrari’s overall performance not quite matching Red Bull’s, Charles Leclerc maintained an impressive streak of front-row starts in Bahrain, marking his sixth consecutive qualification in the top two positions. This consistent qualifying pace highlights his exceptional one-lap speed, even when the car’s race performance might lag. In comparison, Max Verstappen’s front-row streak stands at four, which would have been only two had it not been for Carlos Sainz Jnr’s contentious penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, illustrating the fine margins and occasional controversies that shape F1 records.

On the other side of the garage, Lewis Hamilton had little to celebrate after a challenging qualifying session. Starting ninth on the grid was his second-lowest starting position for a season-opener in his illustrious career. His worst came in 2009, when he qualified 15th in Australia and subsequently lined up 18th after receiving a grid penalty for a gearbox change. This uncharacteristically low starting position for Hamilton underscores the ongoing struggles faced by Mercedes in adapting to the current technical regulations, a stark contrast to their years of unwavering dominance. It sets a challenging tone for Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes before his highly anticipated move to Ferrari.

The Concentrated Fight for Points

The Bahrain Grand Prix also revealed a tight stratification within the current F1 grid. The ten points-scoring places were filled by the smallest possible number of teams, five. This phenomenon last occurred at the Hungarian Grand Prix last year, featuring the exact same five teams: Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin. This consistency among the top five teams points to a clear hierarchy in the sport, where these constructors have a distinct advantage in terms of performance and development. While it makes for intense battles among the top contenders, it also highlights the significant challenge faced by midfield and back-marker teams in breaking into the coveted points-paying positions, suggesting a need for broader performance convergence to create a more unpredictable points distribution.

Bahrain’s Enduring Legacy as a Season Opener

The Bahrain Grand Prix marked a dual anniversary: both its 20th year since its inception and its 20th running. While the event has become a staple of the F1 calendar, particularly as the season opener, its history includes a poignant moment when the 2011 edition was cancelled. This cancellation occurred after the government declared a state of emergency following the suppression of pre-democracy protests, which led to violent clashes, deaths, and arrests, demonstrating the broader geopolitical realities that can sometimes impact sporting events. Despite this, the Bahrain International Circuit has actually hosted 21 Grand Prix races. This is due to its role as a double-header venue during the pandemic-struck 2020 season, when it hosted an additional round named the Sakhir Grand Prix, utilizing a shorter, outer track layout that provided a unique racing spectacle. The circuit continues to be a challenging and popular venue, especially under the lights, offering a thrilling start to the Formula 1 season.

Advert | Become a RaceFans Supporter andgo ad-free

The Bahrain Grand Prix rarely disappoints in delivering an opening spectacle, and the 2024 edition was no exception, providing a rich tapestry of records broken, streaks extended, and intriguing team dynamics. As the season progresses, these early statistics will form the foundation upon which the narrative of the championship will be built. Did you spot any other interesting stats and facts from the Bahrain Grand Prix that we might have missed? We encourage you to share them and join the discussion in the comments section below.

2024 Bahrain Grand Prix

• Tsunoda accepts he got “a bit heated” in team orders dispute with Ricciardo
• “We’re fighting with one arm behind our back”: Hamilton and Russell’s race radio
• Red Bull say RB20 draws inspiration from rivals in less obvious areas
• All cars finish two consecutive F1 races for first time ever
• “I don’t know what the car’s going to do every time I brake”: Leclerc’s race radio

Browse all 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix articles