2020 was a surprising season that left many fans and teams involved grateful that we still got to see the 17 race season. Now with the dust settling on the year, a look ahead 2021 gets you more excited the more you think about it, and it all starts here…
2021 – Rise of the Bulls?
2020 ended up being an ever progressing year for the Milton Keynes based team. Having Max Verstappen behind the wheel of the RB16 continued to push the package the team had even when it was clearly no where near the level of the Mercedes and their W11.
Although ending the year with positives does raise the question of whether Mercedes have a head start on their 2021 challenger, Red Bull can use the momentum built at the end of the season to really ramp up their title challenge in 2021.
The biggest difference for 2021 and Red Bull is their unofficial second driver, Sergio Perez. The entire paddock is upset to see Alex Albon take a year out for the upcoming season as you cannot fault this man as a person, unfortunately for him, the stats show how good Perez is currently driving and could be the final piece for Red Bull to make a legitimate title attempt in 2021. (Images below by Getty Images)
Who Made the Best Moves?
Many changes in the driver line ups will be seen come FP1 in Australia next year, but who will have made the right move?
With the midfield proving how tightly fought it was in 2020, 2021 can truly show who is performing, or if it is the car. McLaren taking third in the Constructors Championship is a major boost for the Woking based team alongside the acquisition of Australian Daniel Ricciardo who partners the ever-growing talent of Lando Norris. That twinned with the investment brought in after Abu Dhabi puts McLaren in a brilliantly optimistic position come the start of the 2021 seasaon.
To follow up from that you have to see where the man Ricciardo will be replacing has gone. That is Carlos Sainz Jr. to Ferrari. The Scuderia had one of its worst seasons in recent memory after their 2019 power unit was deemed illegal so could not have the same illegalities in its 2020 challenger. With this being said, a lot of work over next years power unit has been put in behind the scenes this season with Team Principal Mattia Binotto taking weekends away from the team to help back at the factory.
This, hopefully, improved package alongside the rejuvenation of their driver lineup with Sainz Jr. partnering the undeniable talent that is Charles Leclerc could again, in theory, lead to gains being made to close that gap to the Mercedes which we know will be at the top again with what is 99% likely to be the same driver lineup for them also.
We then move forward to the man that Sainz Jr. will be replacing at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel. The four-time world champion is leaving Ferrari in a very bittersweet manor. The option not to renew a contract with Vettel seemed very unexpected in the paddock but never seeming to phase Vettel.
As soon as Racing Point came looking, as the most competitive option out there for him, it was a no-brainer for Vettel, especially as they now transition into the Aston Martin brand. The steps made for 2020 can only boost hopes for the future having the third fastest car on many an occasion and would have third if not for the penalty for having the rear brake investigation and not losing their drivers due to covid for three races of the season. The optimism in this camp is more towards 2022 to start pioneering their own car fully.
The most unknown team come next season, at least before pre-season testing, is Alpha Tauri. Being relatively unknown when it comes to development and no idea of what percentage gets handed down by Red Bull, no one then knows where they would expect this package to be in 2021, especially after its inconsistency throughout 2020.
The one thing that does show promise within the team is the driver lineup. Pierre Gasly coming off of the year of his career so far which left him fourth in Autosports top 50 drivers of 2020. Alongside is Yuki Tsunoda, 2020 F2 driver of the year and 2020 FIA rookie of the year. Tsunoda is a sought after prospect having not stayed in one class for two years since his introduction to the formula categories starting in F4 in 2018.
The pairing will only go from strength to strength after what will be the inevitability of the second Red Bull seat being up for grabs come 2022 into the new generation of cars.
The Return of a Fierce Force
Going full circle to the team that Ricciardo left is Renault. The team that ended 2020 on many a positive although unfortunately more often on Ricciardos side of the garage and not the driver they are retaining in Esteban Ocon.
Despite that, with the change to Alpine for 2021 rather than the Renault name and the return of the talent that is Fernando Alonso Alpine could not be more optimistic on the next couple of years.
Alonso has never seemed more determined and hard working as he does right now, so in 2021 him and the team will look to continue the upward curve with the hope of 2022 being that one big last shot at a car concept to work between the two.
The Backfield
There is not a lot of optimism on the teams at the back of the field making huge strides come the start of 2021. All three teams of Haas, Alfa Romeo and Williams were all at times challenging the back of the midfield but never on a consistent basis. Alfa Romeo are likely to have the best chance as they were ahead of Williams in terms of performance and have also kept the same driver lineup.
Haas however are in a bit of unknown with two rookies no matter who ends up in the car. Mick Schumacher will be very solid after getting to grips with the car and with hopefully either Callum Ilott or Pietro Fittipaldi alongside means that the team is very much an unknown when it comes to 2021. Ferrari could bring a power upgrade to both, it also could not, and rookies are never a dead set good acquisition so it will be interesting for sure.
George Russell is likely to get the maximum out of the Williams without a doubt and will be forever putting pressure on the Mercedes team if any contract conditions and negotiations are lengthy like we have seen this year.
A Way Too Early Prediction
Even with 2021 not even being here yet let alone the season itself it seems like a good time as we start the offseason to get a really early prediction out there.
Now I can say without a doubt, as soon as wheel turns at pre-season testing that this will change. But here it is, my way too early drivers and constructors championship.
Drivers;
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Sergio Perez
- Valtteri Bottas
- Fernando Alonso
- Charles Leclerc
- Sebastian Vettel
- Carlos Sainz Jr.
- Pierre Gasly
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Lance Stroll
- Lando Norris
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Esteban Ocon
- Kimi Raikkonen
- George Russell
- Antonio Giovinazzi
- Mick Schumacher
- Nicholas Latifi
I cannot place a 20th driver as I will not talk about the person who currently has the second Haas seat and will not place a person that I do not know who it is.
Constructors;
- Red Bull
- Mercedes
- Ferrari
- Aston Martin
- Alpine
- McLaren
- Alpha Tauri
- Alfa Romeo
- Williams
- Haas
There it is, debate away and see the updated version after pre-season testing.
Sports Insider by Gerren Scapens 