Ranked: The most controversial moments that defined Formula 1 in 2024

Formula 1 is a sport only made for the toughest of competitors. With only 20 seats on the grid and all the racing drivers in the world wanting them, the drivers in those seats are hard-nosed, driven, and extremely competitive.

The 2024 Formula 1 season has been as much about on-track action as it has been about off-track drama. From shocking moves to unexpected betrayals, here are the most controversial moments that set social media and the paddock on fire

In what may be considered either a petty or brilliant tactical move, depending on what side of the fence you sit on, Daniel Ricciardo snatched the fastest lap from Lando Norris in the closing stages of the Singapore GP. Driving for RB (formerly AlphaTauri) in what would be his final F1 race, Ricciardo's move denied Norris a vital point in his championship battle with Max Verstappen. Was it Ricciardo conspiring to help Red Bull, or simply settling old scores with McLaren?

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At the Australian GP, Logan Sargeant was controversially sidelined to allow Alex Albon to race after a severe crash destroyed Albon's chassis during practice. With no spare chassis available, Williams made the difficult call to give Sargeant's car to Albon, who eventually finished P11. Team Principal James Vowles described the decision as "the hardest" of his career and said the entire situation was "unacceptable", per Sky Sports.

The Qatar GP was a frustrating for fans and drivers alike. After Alex Albon lost his right mirror on the track, the FIA opted to simply enforce a speed reduction on the track, rather than deploy a safety car to clean up the debris. The end result was a severe 10-second penalty for to Lando Norris for ignoring the yellow flags, and punctures to both Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, effectively throwing the whole race into chaos.

Monaco lived up to its reputation for chaos when Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided on Lap 1. The incident left Ocon out of the race and Gasly furious, leading to public tension between the two drivers. Team management faced scrutiny over their handling of the fallout, with whispers of a toxic atmosphere at Alpine emerging in the press, as GP Blog reported.

The championship fight took a dramatic turn in Austria when Lando Norris and Max Verstappen collided. Norris retired, while Verstappen limped to fifth after receiving a time penalty. It marked a bit of a turning point in the dynamic of the two drivers, with Norris proving he would not be intimidated by Verstappen's aggressive tactics.

At the Spanish GP, the rivalry between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz exploded. A first-lap clash forced Leclerc off the track, with both drivers blaming each other. Ferrari's leadership struggled to contain the fallout, and rumors of one driver leaving at the end of the season began circulating immediately, per ESPN.

At the Mexican GP, Verstappen copped two separate 10-second penalties after forcing Lando Norris off track during overtakes at Turn 4 and Turn 8. The penalties dropped him from a podium finish to sixth, sparking outrage from Verstappen fans and prompting his father, Jos Verstappen, to call for an FIA investigation into alleged bias. Verstappen, meanwhile, downplayed the penalties, instead criticizing Red Bull's lack of pace.

Christian Horner found himself at the center of controversy after multiple Red Bull employees reportedly filed complaints about inappropriate behavior. Although Horner denied the allegations, the FIA opened an investigation, and the media scrutiny cast a shadow over Red Bull's dominant season.

Max Verstappen, once again. In September, he made headlines for multiple fines imposed by the FIA for breaching media conduct regulations. After a series of sarcastic and confrontational comments aimed at the governing body during a press conference following the Singapore GP, Verstappen was fined a total of $200,000 (£159,000/€190,000). So frustrated with the fines, Verstappen later hinted at quitting the sport, as The Independent reported.

The war of words between George Russell and Max Verstappen was the bust-up of the season. The Dutchman claimed he had "lost all respect" for Russell after going to the stewards following an incident in Qatar qualifying. A war of words ensued, with Russell claiming that Verstappen said he would "put me on my f****g head in the wall." Verstappen called Russell a "backstabber" and a liar in retaliation.

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In one of the biggest surprises in recent F1 history, Lewis Hamilton announced he would leave Mercedes after 11 seasons to join Ferrari in 2025. The decision stunned the paddock, with questions raised whether Ferrari could provide Hamilton with a car capable of delivering his elusive eighth world title – or if Hamilton was the right man to turn things around for the Scuderia.