2021 Report by teams – Part 2

5th: Alpine (155 points)

Qualifying: Alonso 11 – 11 Ocon

Race: Alonso 12 – 10 Ocon

2021 marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Enstone entity. After being known as Toleman, Benetton, Renault, and Lotus, and then Renault again, the team is now called Alpine F1 Team. With a new name, new colors, new management, and the return of Fernando Alonso, expectations were high for the Franco-British team at the start of the season. After a slow start, the French cars gained momentum and achieved the ultimate goal at a memorable Hungarian Grand Prix. In addition to Esteban Ocon’s improbable victory, Fernando Alonso surprised us with a heroic defense against Lewis Hamilton. This race showcased the excellent relationship between the two drivers of the team. The Spanish double world champion successfully made his comeback to competition after two years of absence. His podium finish in Qatar at the end of the season showed that he hadn’t lost any of his skill and speed that have been his strengths throughout his career. As for the French driver, his victory in Budapest should not overshadow his ability to keep up with his illustrious teammate throughout the season. Promising for the future!

4th: McLaren (275 points)

Qualifying: Norris 15 – 7 Ricciardo

Race: Norris 15 – 7 Ricciardo

For a long time locked in a battle with Ferrari in the championship, the McLaren team could have celebrated the start of their second partnership in history with Mercedes with a place on the podium in the constructors’ championship. Starting off well, on track to finish in the same position as in 2020, the Woking team experienced a slump towards the end of the season, coinciding with the resurgence of their Italian rival. However, the overall assessment is positive. Indeed, the team founded by Bruce McLaren returned to victory at Monza, nine years after their last triumph. Moreover, it was the only double win of the 2021 season. This victory also allowed Daniel Ricciardo to shine in a season where the Australian driver often found himself in the shadow of his fiery teammate. During the first two-thirds of the year, Lando Norris stood out. With 4 podium finishes and a pole position, the Englishman confirmed all the potential attributed to him and assumed the role of team leader. The downpour at the end of the race in Russia, which denied him his first win, undoubtedly had a moral impact on the 22-year-old driver. With an experienced driver like Ricciardo and a hungry young star, McLaren will be one of the teams to watch in 2022.

3rd: Ferrari (323.5 points)

Qualifying: Leclerc 14 – 8 Sainz

Race: Leclerc 14 – 8 Sainz

After a disappointing sixth place in 2020, the Scuderia started the 2021 season with a desire for revenge to show everyone that it was just an accident in its prestigious and glorious history. The Prancing Horse team is undoubtedly the one that has made the most progress compared to the previous season. Although they didn’t win any Grand Prix, they could rely on a reliable, solid, and consistent pair of drivers to secure a place on the constructors’ podium. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had a comparable season. The Monegasque driver came very close to victory at Silverstone and secured two pole positions. The Spaniard finished on the podium four times and ended up as the best of the rest in the championship behind the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers. It’s worth noting the perfect integration of the Madrid-born driver into his new team, as many saw him as Leclerc’s number 2. The only downside is that the two red drivers often kept the bodywork and spare parts workshops in Maranello busy.

2nd: Red Bull (585.5 points)

Qualifying: Verstappen 20 – 2 Perez

Race: Verstappen 19 – 3 Perez

They did it! After seven years of undisputed dominance from Mercedes, both in terms of drivers and constructors, Red Bull managed to deprive Lewis Hamilton of an eighth crown. Thanks to Max Verstappen, the Red Bull team once again placed one of its drivers on the top of Formula 1. From the pre-season tests, the Austrian team’s car demonstrated a certain potential that did not diminish afterwards. On the contrary. With 10 victories in 22 races and 698 laps led, more than half of the total for the season, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez did their employer proud. What can we say about the new world champion? The 34th driver to have his name inscribed in the Formula 1 records, the first Dutch world champion in history, son of Jos, demonstrated incredible consistency throughout the season. With 18 podium finishes (a new record), Verstappen simply had a championship year by combining speed, consistency, and insensitivity to pressure. It’s a shame that his Mexican teammate woke up too late. Pérez certainly contributed to the Dutchman’s title by holding Hamilton back in Abu Dhabi, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Mercedes from winning the constructors’ championship.

1st: Mercedes (613.5 points)

Qualifying: Hamilton 16 – 6 Bottas

Race: Hamilton 18 – 4 Bottas

Difficult even today to imagine the state of mind of Lewis Hamilton and his team members at the moment of the race restart for a lap in Abu Dhabi. Just as a historic eighth driver’s title was within his grasp, fate was relentless. This chaotic final lap should not overshadow the accomplishments of the German team or its favorite driver in 2021. With 9 victories, 8 of which were won by the Englishman, Mercedes had a successful season that allowed them to claim an eighth consecutive constructor’s title. A first in the history of F1. It’s no secret, Lewis Hamilton was the main architect of it. His strong end to the season should have allowed him to finish 2021 with four consecutive wins. The Stevenage native once again raised the standard of driving a race car to unprecedented levels. Always present, even in adversity (Imola, Budapest), Hamilton rewarded us once again with a legendary race in Brazil as he climbed up the grid throughout the weekend. Admirable in defeat unlike his superiors, the seven-time world champion delivered an almost flawless performance. This adds even more merit and credit to his Dutch rival’s title. One could almost forget Valtteri Bottas who, despite a victory in Turkey, wasn’t of much help to his teammate. Completely absent during the Emirati finale, the Finn leaves Mercedes without much fanfare.