In the high-octane world of Formula One, where speed and precision reign supreme, the engines that power the cars play a crucial role in determining success on the track. The sport is continually evolving, with new regulations introduced every few years to ensure that each car produces as little emissions and remains as sustainable as possible. However, courtesy of F1’s continually updating nature, different engines can suddenly become competitive out of nowhere, just as we saw with Mercedes back in 2014.
Heading into that campaign, Red Bull was the dominant force on the track. They had romped to four consecutive constructors championships, while their star driver Sebastian Vettel claimed four straight driver titles. However, regulations were set to change in 2014, and the Silver Arrows focused all their attention on the future.
The result was building an engine that ended up being almost one second per lap faster than the rest of the grid. As such, they went on to romp to eight constructors championships in a row, with their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg claiming seven drivers titles between them, six to the former and one to the latter.
At present, there are four engine providers in Formula One. Here is a detailed breakdown of each of them and which of them is leading the pack in 2024.
Mercedes
Throughout the 2010s, Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains had been the dominant force in Formula One. The Brixworth-created power unit set the benchmark for performance, propelling their works Mercedes team and star driver Hamilton to a plethora of championships. However, since the controversial triumph of Max Verstappen and Red Bull 2021, both their British sensation and the team as a whole fell off a cliff.
Their seven-time world champion proceeded to not win a race for two and a half years, while the team overall only managed one victory through George Russell. The Silver Arrows found themselves floundering in the middle of the pack, miles behind Red Bull and Ferrari. But midway through the 2024 season, the engine is suddenly backfiring on all cylinders, and it is powering not only Mercedes to victories but also the famed McLaren team.
Between their two aforementioned teams, Mercedes have won the last four races, with Hamilton breaking his barren spell and winning two of the last three. Thanks to him winning seven races already this term, reigning triple world champion Verstappen remains the -360 betting favorite with the popular Bovada betting site, but Mercedes’ teams are now breathing down his neck.
Honda
Japanese automotive giant Honda provides the engines to both Verstappen and Red Bull, and in 2024, they find themselves in a situation they have become uncomfortable with in recent years. Over the last two years, their engine has won 38 of 44 races, including all but one last season. The Flying Dutchman racked up the majority of those, romping to two straight titles in addition to the one he claimed amidst controversy in 2021.
It looked as though the 2024 season would be more of the same, but Mercedes’ renaissance has stopped both Red Bull and Honda in their tracks. Verstappen won five of the first six races this term before winning back-to-back races in Canada and Spain. The 26-year-old will most likely claim a fourth title this year, as Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell will likely split race victories between them, resulting in the reigning champion sneaking to a fourth crown.
But the future certainly looks gloomy for both Honda and Red Bull. For the engine provider, impending regulation changes could further halt their pace and drop them from a contender to a midfield team. For the team, the impending departure of lead designer Adrian Newey will certainly pose plenty of problems.
Ferrari
Iconic Italian manufacturer Ferrari has a rich history in motorsport and is another key player in the engine market, providing power trains to their works team as well as backmarkers Haas and Sauber.
The Suceria’s engines have long been revered for their raw power, embodying the passion and heritage of the prancing horse. They powered Michael Schumacher to five of his seven world championships at the turn of the millennium, as well as leading Kimi Raikkonen to his only title in 2007.
However, Ferrari has remained without a championship since the Flying Finn’s success, and it doesn’t look as though they are in the mix this term either. Charles Leclerc’s emotional triumph on home turf in Monaco earlier this year looked to reignite the Scuderia’s title challenge, but unfortunately for them, they have been surpassed by both Mercedes teams, while Red Bull is also much faster. Things will almost certainly change next year when the Italian outfit looks to lead Hamilton to his record-breaking eight world championships, but until then, Ferrari will simply be happy with a spot on the podium.
Renault
Renault provides engines to just one team, Alpine. Their finest hour came in 2005 and 2006, when they won back-to-back constructors championships, with iconic driver Fernando Alonso claiming the driver’s crown in both years. The French outfit finds itself towards the back of the grid, but with the talented Pierre Gasly leading the team, they are hoping to make progress before the 2024 campaign is over.
