Man vs AI: Formula 1 2024 season edition | One final ride

Jonathan Victoria • 21 Nov 2024 Features

The last stint before the end…

I tend to call the winter period my off-seasonal depression time because there is no Formula 1, and that time is coming soon. At least this year there is a lot to look forward to, with 2025 looking to be a barnstormer. 

But that’s talk for a later piece because we still have the final triple header of the year before the end of the season. Both championships are still up for grabs, although one is very close to being wrapped up.

With that, I’m going back to the AI to see who ChatGPT thinks will be crowned Drivers and Constructors champions, plus taking a look at my former predictions about the latter half of the season to see how I fared.

Half season predictions

First things first, I’m gonna start calling ChatGPT simply GP. It feels appropriate for this piece especially.

On to the first topic at hand, back in August during the summer break, I did a midseason review where I looked back at the races gone and listed the best and worst moments. I then also gave my predictions for how I think the rest of the season would go.

Drivers’ Champion

At the midseason point, I predicted that Max Verstappen would win the Drivers’ Championship. He already had a good lead, and while the Red Bull was no longer the dominant car on the grid, I thought he’d do well enough to hold onto his lead.

I was actually spot on with it! While I did say I could see him winning a couple more races, and he’s only won the one in that time, that one was one of the best drives I’ve ever seen in my almost 20 years of watching F1.

Lando Norris may have gained some ground on him, going from a 78-point lead to 62 points, but the reality of it is that Norris should be winning the championship. He’s had the better car out of the pair and the best car on the grid more times this year than not.

Like I said in my prediction, Verstappen needed consistency to seal the title, and that’s what he achieved. He’s been good enough to not let things slip away and has put himself in a position to secure his fourth championship this weekend in Las Vegas. He deserves it more than Lando does in my opinion and I think he’ll get it done then.

Constructors’ Champion

Another one I may be getting right! I said McLaren would win their first championship since 2007 (I think that’s right), and they do currently occupy the top spot in the standings.

Red Bull’s fall down to third is indicative of the fact that it has been a one-man show for them this season, and with Ferrari making strides to being at times the best car on the grid, they deserve to be in front.

McLaren has a 36-point lead over Ferrari, which really isn’t that much. It’s definitely more open than the Drivers’ Championship, and with Ferrari supposedly favourites this weekend in Vegas, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that lead shrink come the Qatar Grand Prix a week later.

For now, I have that prediction right, but I would be more than happy to be wrong about it. Both McLaren and Ferrari have done well enough to win it.

Second-half winners

So this one wasn’t so great.

I said that I believed the second-half winners would be Verstappen… and Mercedes. Can’t win them all.

At least I can claim to be right with the Verstappen one if he does win the championship. While I said I thought Max would win more races than Norris for the remainder of the year to defend his title, simply winning it is enough of a victory for me.

As for the other prediction, there’s not really too much I can say about it.

Bear in mind that when I did the midseason review, Mercedes had been on a really good stretch, winning three races and picking up six podiums in the final six races leading up to the summer break.

The German side seemed to be on a resurgence, taking great strides towards actually challenging Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari after the Canadian Grand Prix.

So you will excuse me when I said “I reckon Mercedes will make some big leaps again and continue to fight for wins, ultimately looking the most impressive by the end of the year.”

I have been very far off with that one, with only one further podium since the break. But in my defence, I did say they may not finish any higher than fourth, so I got that right at least.

Championship winners

Now it’s time to introduce GP into things! I want to see what it thinks for the final three races, whether Max will wrap up the championship and if McLaren will hold onto the top spot.

Will Verstappen be champion? Bear in mind he has a 62-point lead over Lando Norris with 86 points still up for grabs in the final 3 races. McLaren has the better car but Verstappen is still the better driver. Will he hold on?

While McLaren's recent performance is noteworthy, Verstappen's substantial lead and experience make him the favourite to secure the championship. However, in motorsport, unexpected developments can occur, so the final races will be crucial.

Bit of a boring answer but I concur. Motorsport can be a fickle mistress, and Vegas especially could provide an upset, with it being a street circuit. That being said, GP, who do you think will win the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

Lando Norris emerges as a strong contender for victory in Las Vegas. McLaren's recent performance and the track's characteristics align well with their strengths. However, Max Verstappen's consistency and experience cannot be discounted, making him a formidable competitor.

In summary, while both drivers have a strong chance, Lando Norris may have a slight edge in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

I think you’re forgetting about the other teams and drivers though. What about Ferrari’s chances?

Ferrari's prospects for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix are promising. The team's recent performances have been strong, with Charles Leclerc securing victories at the Italian and United States Grands Prix, and Carlos Sainz winning in Mexico.

The Las Vegas circuit, characterized by its long straights and high-speed sections, aligns well with Ferrari's strengths. Their car has demonstrated competitive straight-line speed, which is advantageous on this track.

Considering these factors, it's reasonable to anticipate that Ferrari could secure a victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with both Leclerc and Sainz being strong contenders.

Kind of feels like you’re just piggybacking off the prompts I’m giving you but let’s move on anyway.

Do you think Norris has any shot at overcoming the deficit?

For Norris to pull off this incredible comeback, he would need:

• Near-Perfect Performances: Norris must win the remaining races (including the Sprint in Qatar) and aim for fastest laps wherever possible. This alone nets him 86 points.
• Verstappen Faltering: Verstappen must score fewer than 24 points over the final three races for Norris to surpass him. This would require Verstappen to suffer poor finishes, retirements, or mechanical issues—none of which are typical for the ultra-reliable Red Bull team.

Challenges for Norris:

• Pressure to Deliver: Winning three races in a row is no easy feat, especially with fierce competition from Ferrari, Red Bull, and even his own teammate Oscar Piastri. Any mistake from Norris could end his chances.
• Max’s Consistency: Verstappen’s ability to consistently finish on the podium—even when not winning—makes it unlikely he will lose enough points for Norris to capitalise. He needs only a couple of solid results to seal the title.
• McLaren's Limitations: While McLaren has made significant strides, the team still occasionally struggles with tire degradation and race-day strategy, which could compromise Norris's chances of dominating the final rounds.

The Element of Unpredictability:

This is Formula 1, where anything can happen. A dramatic turn of events, such as mechanical failures, strategic errors, or collisions, could swing the pendulum in Norris’s favour. Remember 2021’s chaotic finale? If Norris can keep the pressure on, Verstappen might be forced into a mistake.

Realistically, Verstappen is still the heavy favourite to clinch the championship. However, Norris has the momentum, the car, and the determination to take the fight all the way to Abu Dhabi. While the odds are slim, an upset isn’t impossible—after all, this is F1!

That’s very in depth, I love it! I couldn’t have put it better myself, so we’ll just move on.

Will McLaren hold on to their Constructors’ Championship lead?

The final three races—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—will be crucial. McLaren's ability to secure podium finishes and capitalise on any missteps by competitors will determine their success in clinching the Constructors' title.

While McLaren is in a strong position to secure the Constructors' Championship, the competition remains intense. Consistent performances from both drivers, strategic acumen, and maintaining reliability will be key to holding onto their lead in the final stretch of the season.

Not a word is untrue there. My main concern for them though is the capitalising on any missteps. That’s something they haven’t been great at this year - in fact, it’s the very thing that the others have done to them!

Indeed, the competition is intense and is sure to provide an intense and exciting final few races. 

The finale to this brilliant season begins this weekend with the Las Vegas Grand Prix. You won’t want to miss it!