2019 Formula One World Championship
The 2019 Formula One World Championship was the 70th season of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars recognized by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).[1] The season comprised 21 Grands Prix held across 20 countries on five continents, marking one of the longest calendars in the championship's history.[2] British driver Lewis Hamilton clinched his sixth Drivers' Championship title, driving for the Mercedes team, while Mercedes secured their sixth consecutive Constructors' Championship with a dominant 739 points.[3][4] The championship kicked off on 17 March at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and concluded on 1 December at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, featuring a mix of traditional European circuits and exotic venues like the Bahrain International Circuit and the Circuit of the Americas.[2] Mercedes' supremacy was evident from the outset, with Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas combining for 16 race victories—Hamilton taking 11, including repeat triumphs at the Canadian and Hungarian Grands Prix, and Bottas securing five, highlighted by his commanding win in Australia.[3] Ferrari mounted a strong challenge early in the season, powered by the Ferrari Tipo 064 power unit, with Sebastian Vettel and rookie Charles Leclerc delivering the Scuderia's first one-two finish since 2017 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.[5] However, reliability issues and strategic missteps saw Ferrari falter mid-season, finishing second in the Constructors' standings with 504 points.[4] Red Bull Racing, rebranded with Honda power units after ending their Renault partnership, provided stiff competition through Max Verstappen, who claimed three victories—including a standout performance in the rain-soaked German Grand Prix—and finished third in the Drivers' standings with 278 points.[6] The season also showcased emerging talents, such as Leclerc's maiden win at the Belgian Grand Prix, ending Ferrari's win drought since the 2018 season, and McLaren's resurgence under Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, culminating in Sainz's podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix.[7] Attendance across the Grands Prix totalled 4,164,948 spectators, surpassing 4 million for the second consecutive year and underscoring the growing global appeal of the sport.[8] Technically, the 2019 cars adhered to the 2017 regulation updates, emphasizing wider chassis, larger wings, and more powerful 1.6-liter turbo-hybrid engines producing over 1,000 horsepower, which contributed to faster lap times and closer on-track battles.[9] Notable off-track developments included the final full season for drivers like Nico Hülkenberg and the transition of teams like Racing Point, which laid groundwork for future evolutions in the grid.[10] Hamilton sealed his title at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, equaling Michael Schumacher's then-record of six championships, in a season defined by Mercedes' engineering prowess and intense intra-team rivalries.[11]Background 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]
Lewis Hamilton secured 11 race wins, the most in the season, followed by Valtteri Bottas with 4, Max Verstappen with 3, Charles Leclerc with 2, and Sebastian Vettel with 1.[6] Podium finishes were distributed with Hamilton achieving 17, Bottas 15, Leclerc 10, Verstappen 9, and Vettel 5.[83]
Notable anomalies included the Monaco Grand Prix, where a safety car was deployed after Charles Leclerc's crash on lap 11, bunching the field and influencing pit strategies.[51] The German Grand Prix featured four safety car periods due to heavy rain and multiple collisions, including Lewis Hamilton's lap 29 crash under safety car conditions, which significantly altered the race order.[84][85] The Brazilian Grand Prix saw safety car deployments following collisions, such as between Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll, impacting overtaking opportunities in the closing stages.
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 |