A Formula One driver set a unique record during the 2024 season in relation to the level of damage he caused on the track.
The campaign concluded at the weekend in Abu Dhabi, with Lando Norris winning the final race of the season to ensure McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship title.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen won his fourth successive world title, although the Dutchman was pushed at times by the likes of Norris and won nine of the 24 races.
Nevertheless, it was another dramatic year, with plenty of chaos both on and off the track, including some major crashes and incidents.
And, in data published by MostlyF1.com, the amount of damage each driver caused across the season has been revealed.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez endured a dismal time in 2024, coming eighth in the Drivers’ standings – 285 points behind the Dutchman – and there is continued speculation over the Mexican’s future with the organisation.
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez caused the most damage of any driver in the 2024 F1 season
Perez crashed out in five races during the season, including a particularly bad crash in Monaco
Data revealed earlier this week showed how much damage each driver had caused in 2024
And to add further insult to injury, Perez was found to have caused the most damage of any driver, with a whopping £3.81million worth of costs.
Perez crashed out in five races across the season, including in Abu Dhabi after a collision on the first lap, with the 34-year-old later admitting that the incident ‘summed up’ his ‘very difficult year’.
The Mexican also suffered a particularly shocking crash in Monaco when he smashed into the barriers alongside Haas pairing Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg.
He narrowly edged out Alex Albon in the ‘destructors’ standings’, with the Williams driver suffering £3.66m in damage.
The likes of George Russell (£2.61m), Logan Sargeant (£2.36m) and Carlos Sainz (£2.26m) made up the top five in terms of drivers’ costliest impact.
But it was Pierre Gasly who stole the show, with the Frenchman the only star not to cause any damage in 2024.
In fact, Gasly became the first F1 driver in history to not cause any destruction throughout an entire campaign.
Speaking after the Abu Dhabi race, where he came seventh, the Alpine man opened up on the journey across the past nine months and expressed his satisfaction at the lack of damage he brought about.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly became the first driver in F1 history to not cause any damage in a season
After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Gasly admitted he was delighted with his achievement
George Russell caused the third most damage, but Max Verstappen ranked down in 15th
‘I’m so happy, it was a very long season,’ he said. ‘We had one target coming to Abu Dhabi – it was to secure that sixth place in the constructors’. Our target was achieved.
‘There was also the drivers’ championship with Nico (Hulkenberg) where we were within a point coming into the last race, so we knew whoever beat the other would get that 10th spot in the championship which I managed to get in the end.
‘(We) Kept our nose clean the entire season for no damage so the three targets were completed!
‘I’m just very pleased to see the evolution and how the car’s developed – [it] really shows all the work, and the good work the team has done throughout the whole season. It gives me confidence for next season.’
Gasly’s impressive record comes at a time when his team-mate Esteban Ocon, who is set to leave Alpine, racked up costs worth £787, 819.
Meanwhile, Verstappen caused £714,005 worth of damage, ranking him in 15th, ahead of Norris and Hamilton.
The British pair generated £330,805 and £250,848 in costs respectively, leaving them in 18th and 20th place.