Why stable F1 2024 entry list was calm before driver market storm

The twin confirmations of extended deals for Charles Leclerc at Ferrari and Lando Norris at McLaren may not be much of a surprise, and are perhaps less exciting than if either driver was moving elsewhere.

Nevertheless, they are also important statements by both the teams and the drivers, who are making very public displays of faith in each other.

The deals are just the latest steps in a chess game amongst the teams that started slowly last year,…