A recap of the stakes for the 2021 season

2021, end of an era! The new season marks the last year of the 2017 generation single-seaters, before the new line of cars in 2022. The stability of the technical regulations, in particular due to the health crisis, brings together on paper the conditions for a championship contested at all levels.

Mercedes against Red Bull for the title?

Since 2014 and the introduction of hybrid engines, Mercedes has simply crushed the competition. While Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel gave some trouble to the German team between 2017 and 2018, it has not let any title slip away for seven years! Winter testing has revealed a very effective Red Bull RB16B against a temperamental Mercedes W12. These testing phases obviously do not lead to any definitive conclusion.

The partial freeze of the 2020 cars could allow the Milton Keynes team to sharpen its weapon to get closer to the Silver/Black Arrows. But Mercedes certainly did not rest on its laurels, continuing to work hard on its car.

A Lewis Hamilton at the peak of his art and a German team ready to fight logically stand out as favorites for the championship. Red Bull can count on Max Verstappen and the new recruit, Sergio Perez, to worry the world champions at least in some races, at best for the championship fight.

Furthermore, this is Honda’s last season before its withdrawal at the end of the year . The Japanese engine manufacturer has pulled out all the stops on its engine to end its partnership with Red Bull in the best possible way: by clinching its first title since 1991 with Ayrton Senna at McLaren.

A fierce battle for third place?

According to Martin Budkowski, executive director of the Alpine team, there would be only one big group behind Red Bull and Mercedes. These statements, relayed on the official Formula 1 website, herald a close fight… maybe among the eight other teams!

Now powered by Mercedes, McLaren must confirm its status as the third force on the grid, earned last year against Renault and Racing Point.

The arrival of Daniel Ricciardo in the Woking team alongside Lando Norris will certainly be an asset to continue the progress initiated in recent seasons. Podiums are clearly within reach, following the two top 3 finishes in 2020.

New identity of Racing Point, Aston Martin is ambitious, especially considering Pérez’s superb victory in Sakhir last year. Lance Stroll has gained status since his pole position in Turkey and his two podiums in 2020. His new teammate is Sebastian Vettel! The German aims to remind the paddock that he is not a four-time world champion by chance, after a difficult period at Ferrari.

Add to that the fact that the car is (still) largely inspired by Mercedes, the performance should follow to bring the prestigious British brand to the forefront.

On its side, Alpine is attacking 2021 with the knife between its teeth! The manufacturer originally from Dieppe takes over from Renault and aims to do better than the fifth place among manufacturers last year.

The return of Fernando Alonso to the team represents an opportunity to achieve some remarkable feats… 16 and 15 years after the Spaniard’s two titles among drivers, in 2005 and 2006. The driver’s experience will be of great help in improving the car.

As for Esteban Ocon, he has a strong reference in the team. The Frenchman aims to achieve new podiums after his first career podium in Sakhir last year.

Ferrari in search of renewal, AlphaTauri in a good dynamic.

The two Scuderia are to watch. Firstly Ferrari, coming out of a disastrous 2020 campaign finishing in sixth place. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will drive an SF21 supposedly better than its predecessor. The first tests have been satisfactory for both drivers, both in terms of handling and engine power, where the deficit was 50 horsepower compared to the competition last year.

It will also be necessary to count on AlphaTauri, for big points. The team from Faenza is on a good streak, thanks to the victory of Pierre Gasly in Italy and his excellent overall performances in 2020. The arrival of promising rookie Yuki Tsunoda, second fastest in winter testing, completes a duo that looks solid. The technical synergy with sister team Red Bull allows AlphaTauri to have ambitions, with Gasly as the number 1 driver.

The last three to catch the train carriage?

Alfa Romeo was hit hard by the loss of power from the Ferrari V6 in 2020. Neither Kimi Räikkönen nor Antonio Giovinazzi could do anything about it.

2021 could, however, be an opportunity to make up for lost ground in the middle of the pack. Giovinazzi intends to show more than ever that he deserves his place in Formula 1 while Räikkönen has no intention of hanging up his helmet so soon. It must be said that the Finn, holder of the record for races contested – 330 – still has a lot to offer when his car allows him to stand out. Remember the first lap of Portimao last year!

At Haas, the financial and sporting situation has continued to deteriorate over the years. The American team has parted ways with its two drivers, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, to make way for youth, two rookies. Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, and Nikita Mazepin will certainly experience a challenging year, as the American team has decided to sacrifice this year to focus on 2022 and regulatory overhaul.

Finally, Willams, red lantern on the grid since 2019, simply aims to move up in the hierarchy. George Russell starts his third year at Grove. He astonished the world of F1 during his outing with Mercedes in Sakhir last season, but also by taking his car to Q2 on some weekends. Nicholas Latifi keeps his place and must progress to push Williams forward.

After the final introductions, it’s now time for the track… Finally! Visit our website and Twitch to follow all the news of this first Grand Prix of the season.

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With Alexandre Lepère