The 10 F1 teams at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP

After each grand prix in 2024, we’ll now be ranking each team based on its race and qualifying performances, plus how it fared in the differently complex political world away from the racing.

It’s a subjective exercise, but one we hope will tell the story of each season in a different way, by charting the campaign for each squad factoring in everything that happens.

Here’s the F1 teams’ ranking for the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP:

Red Bull

Dominated qualifying and the race for the second week in a row in the Middle East, with Max Verstappen easily having the measure of Sergio Perez once again. The RB20 critically had the legs on Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in straight-line prowess, with its DRS gains also important to Red Bull’s latest triumph.

Off the track, however, the Christian Horner saga continued – taking a new twist with the focus shifting in a different way to Helmut Marko’s future. That appears set in the short term, based on his pre-race comments. Had that stability not been forthcoming given Verstappen’s insistence Marko’s future rested on his, it might’ve knocked Red Bull down a place here.

Ferrari

Ultimately disappointing given Ferrari had hoped to again edge Red Bull in qualifying, with a sudden oversteer tendency on new tyres hurting Leclerc in the Friday night session. He still edged Perez, but wasn’t a factor in the race as Verstappen aced the start and Perez soon battled by having initially been rebuffed.

But the bigger achievement was Oliver Bearman taking seventh in Carlos Sainz’s SF-24. Giving his team a double points finish was a huge achievement, especially with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton bearing down late on. Sainz’s surgery went well, but the red team seems to have an ace back-up if he can’t return for Australia.

McLaren

Boosted here because of how balanced and excellent overall its drivers were – Oscar Piastri edging Norris in qualifying and taking a fine fourth in the race. Norris nearly blotted the team’s combined copybook with his start eagerness, but he stopped just in time in his box and avoided a penalty.

Piastri might’ve passed Hamilton faster, but ultimately it cost the team little given Ferrari was gone with Leclerc ahead. Norris was naughty in weaving ahead of Hamilton late up, having been unable to stop under the safety car as Piastri did due to McLaren not wanting him to lose position in a slow double-stack.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Mercedes

The team felt its race pace was similar to McLaren and Aston, but that it was undone by its relatively poor qualifying showing for both George Russell and Hamilton. Russell starting ahead meant he stayed on the conventional strategy by pitting under the safety car, with Hamilton mirroring Norris in staying out for the same reasons.

Russell chased Alonso all race but never got close…