F1 2021 Season

First topic message reminder :

The season opening Australian Grand Prix & the Chinese Grand Prix have been postponed.

Bahrain Grand Prix on the 28th March to be the first race of the 2021 season.

Formula 1 to revert to 2pm race start times at European races this year.

F1 practice sessions will be shortened to one hour during Fridays across the 2021 season.

Cognizant have been announced as Aston Martin’s new title sponsor. They will be called ‘Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team’.

Alex Albon will drive in DTM this season, on selected race weekends

Lando Norris has confirmed he has contracted Covid, while staying in, Dubai.

We'll see if Lewis can do anything at the start, but gonna be a tall order here with RBs straight line advantage

Final Qualifying top 10: extremely close with a small gap for Verstappen. Bottas will drop down to P5 with his three place grid penalty. Some notable qualifying performances - Norris, Gasly and Alonso. George Russell qualified ahead of Sainz, Vettel and Ricciardo in P11 and narrowly missed out on Q3 by 0.008s

1) Verstappen: 1:03.841
2) Bottas......: 1:04.035
3) Hamilton...: 1:04.067
4) Norris.......: 1:04.120
5) Perez.......: 1:04.168
6) Gasly.......: 1:04.236
7) Leclerc....: 1:04.472
8) Tsunoda...: 1:04.514
9) Alonso.....: 1:04.574
10) Stroll......: 1:04.708

2 tenths is pretty sizable around this track

GSC wrote:We'll see if Lewis can do anything at the start, but gonna be a tall order here with RBs straight line advantage

Yup - I feel Mercedes' only hope is to try and out-fox RB on strategy.

Hoping Norris can make his McLaren very wide, keep Perez behind him and grab another podium.

Also feel Russell is well placed for another points finish, starting 11th and with a free tyre choice.

Ferrari's brief renaissance last season seems to be well and truly over. Really feel for Leclerc and Sainz.

Real surprise to see Tsunoda in the top 10 after some of his recent performances. Wonder if he has the race craft to stay there?

Bottas seems to have become delusional during his current lack of form. Bottas claims his grid penalty wasn’t justified. Sorry but he came within a few feet from running over the McLaren pit crew.

When you turn up to the stewards and tell them you spun the car trying a different method to gun it out of your pit stall, I don't really know what you expect

Its been pretty clear for some time that Bottas knows his time at Mercedes (and probably in F1) is nearly up and just doesn't give a duck any more.

In his position I'd probably feel the same.

I would imagine if nothing else he could find his way back to Williams.

Mercedes are sticking to the "we're excited about having some real competition" line from the start of the year, but they sound less convincing every week. They really don't seem to be coping well with not being the dominant force at all.

Lowlandbrit wrote:They really don't seem to be coping well with not being the dominant force at all.

No individual, or team, ever does.

I think this is a must win for Hamilton, or at the bare minimum, win one of the next two. If Max goes back-to-back over the next two weekends, you’d imagine that’s pretty much confirmation that this is the end of the Merc era. It was bound to happen at some point. If Max can avoid unreliability, and can keep Lewis at arms length throughout the season, then the title should be his.

It is quite incredible to see how much Norris is outperforming Riccardo at the moment - doesn’t seem like they’re driving the same car!

Great work by him and Russell yesterday

40% chance of rain during the race according to forecasts

Just John wrote:

Lowlandbrit wrote:They really don't seem to be coping well with not being the dominant force at all.

No individual, or team, ever does.

I think this is a must win for Hamilton, or at the bare minimum, win one of the next two. If Max goes back-to-back over the next two weekends, you’d imagine that’s pretty much confirmation that this is the end of the Merc era. It was bound to happen at some point. If Max can avoid unreliability, and can keep Lewis at arms length throughout the season, then the title should be his.

Think it would be way too early to be writing Lewis off - even if the car isn’t as fast, in previous years Max has always had one or two scuffles a season and the Red Bull has tended to be more unreliable than the Merc, I’d still be putting my money on Lewis at this point

Right now Red Bull seem to have a car that is substantially quicker on one lap pace at pretty much every type of circuit, and a straight line speed advantage. While both cars seem evenly matched on Sundays, ultimately Mercedes are always fighting from behind, and you won't consistently overcome that.

Right now they need some substantial gains at the summer break, as RB are threatening to open a gap

GSC wrote:I would imagine if nothing else he could find his way back to Williams.

Lol. Just thinking if Mercedes told Williams they wanted to do a Bottas - Russell swap next season...

Williams will probably feel they got the raw end of the deal.

Just John wrote:
I think this is a must win for Hamilton, or at the bare minimum, win one of the next two. If Max goes back-to-back over the next two weekends, you’d imagine that’s pretty much confirmation that this is the end of the Merc era. It was bound to happen at some point. If Max can avoid unreliability, and can keep Lewis at arms length throughout the season, then the title should be his.

This does feel like Max's and Red Bull's season - even this early on.

F1 tends to be cyclical...Williams, McLaren, Ferrari, then Red Bull and currently Mercedes. But as you said, the dominance has to come to an end at some point and RB finally look like they have a fast, reliable package that Verstappen is making the most of.

Even speaking as a Hamilton fan, this does come as something of a relief. Looking for a silver lining, failing to get a record-breaking 8th title this season could be the spur Lewis needs to come back swinging next season.

That said, I do hope that Merc can at least push RB development-wise, so we get a reasonably close contest. I'd hate for Max to finish the season 50-100 points clear or something ridiculous.

Red Bull are all in for 2021. I’m hearing Mercedes, Ferrari, Alpine and McLaren are mostly looking at 2022 at this stage.
Will be interesting if Mercedes looks to the high rake for 2022 as these regulations seem to favour it.

dyrewolfe wrote:Looking for a silver lining, failing to get a record-breaking 8th title this season could be the spur Lewis needs to come back swinging next season.

That said, I do hope that Merc can at least push RB development-wise, so we get a reasonably close contest. I'd hate for Max to finish the season 50-100 points clear or something ridiculous.

That's the thing though, they've generally started miles ahead and then just done enough not to get caught at the end of the season, and how shocked Hamilton and Wolff seem by the way their team has buckled under the pressure doesn't seem like a great sign going forward.

George Russell was in 8th position and in a great position to get points but an engine issue means he won't be getting any points for Williams.

Maybe Mercedes are stronger on the hards but it looks like RB just have a stronger package today

A procession, really. Doesn’t bode well for next weekend, the lack of action

Everybody up to 6th have been lapped by lap 43 of 71.

Literally nothing happened today. Expect the same next weekend

Four races without a win for Mercedes. Gone from Merc domination to now Max/RB dominating, such is the way of the sport. Don’t see any way back for Mercedes, especially given the switch of focus to, 22’. Might be an anti climax this season, if Max can keep Lewis easily at arms length, like today.

Thought Paul Ricard was critical for Red Bull as their straight line advantage was always gonna come into play at the Red Bull Ring.
Mercedes desperately needs to win at Silverstone.

Verstappen crushed them at the Red Bull Ring. Imperious drive from the Dutchman. Hamilton takes 2nd + FL. Bottas survives Perez attack to get third.

Mercedes needs to consider the low downforce setup. Otherwise they can’t get near Verstappen on the straights

Just don't think there are any answers. RB just have the best package so far this year

Standings After 8 races
1) Verstappen 156
2) Hamilton.... 137
3) Perez......... 96
4) Norris......... 86
5) Bottas........ 74
6) Leclerc....... 58
7) Sainz......... 50
8) Gasly......... 37
9) Ricciardo.... 34
10) Vettel....... 30
11) Alonso...... 19
12) Stroll........ 14
13) Ocon........ 12
14) Tsunoda..... 9

GSC wrote:Just don't think there are any answers. RB just have the best package so far this year

Toto admitting they’ve stopped developing. This season looks done, and it’s a shame, because we will probably be robbed of an epic max v lewis fight. If it wasn’t for the focus on 22’, then Merc could of fought back from here, but you just feel they’ve reluctantly just had to call it a day on this car.

Hamilton signing a new contract will be evidence of Merc stating to him what is to come. Take the hit this year, but hit back next year.

If engine performance remains similar between Red Bull and Mercedes, then Newey will be the trump card for 2022. He’s the master of aero.

I suspect more than a bit of gamesmanship in the development comments

Might be the odd tweak here or there, but they won’t be throwing significant money away on this car now, given how important 22’ and beyond is. A positive for Mercedes, is that they would get more wind tunnel time & CFD, by finishing second this year in the constructors, compared to RB.

Be interesting to see what difference the introduction of the new Pirelli tyre has from Silverstone onwards. Could be significant, or make no difference at all.

Getting very mixed readings from the BBC article.

On the one hand Toto says Mercedes have chosen to focus their development on the 2022 car...which is pretty early to be throwing in the towel on the current car, but maybe thats just due to the scale of the changes.

Wolff describes the decision to focus on 2022 as "very tricky" but also "rational".

"We have new regulations not only for next year but also the years to come," he said, "and a completely different car concept, and you've got to choose the right balance and pretty much everyone will be [working] on next year's car.

"It would make no sense to put a week or two on the current car because the gains would not be anywhere near the gains we are making on the 2022 car."

Then later in the article he says they're not throwing in the towel this season.

Wolff said: "They [Red Bull] will stop aero development at a certain stage because it would be dangerous to lose out for next year's championship. The fight is still full-on.

"Austria wasn't our best circuit in the past and it wasn't today. It doesn't mean we have no weapons in our armoury left.

"We will be winning races this season and we will be having pole positions and we will be fighting with as much as we can for every single result."

Though I suspect this is more for PR purposes and to keep the sponsors happy. While its true RB will at some point stop development of this season's car (as all teams do) - by then  they will likely have the championships in the bag. If Merc really are all but stopping development of their car, I fail to see how they can hope to compete with RB.

Wolff says he has "had the chat" with Hamilton and explained the reasoning behind Mercedes' approach.

Hamilton said: "I am not going to question the team's logic and how they go through their process. I would love an upgrade, but I don't think it's in the pipeline at the moment."

But he was also asked whether he accepted that Mercedes will not be able to match Red Bull on car development, and what he thought of the championship in that context?

"I don't accept anything," he said. "We have still many races ahead of us and we've got to keep pushing. We are world champions and we can definitely improve if we put our minds to it.

"But if we're not going to develop and improve our car for the rest of the year, this is the result you're going to see because they have really eked out performance in these last few races."

Mercedes do have 3 compelling reasons to write off this season, in addition to RB's newfound dominance:

1. Putting all their development into the 2022 car gives them a better shot at starting next season at the top of the pile.

2. Budget caps make it harder to split development between 2 cars

3. Mercedes are one of the chief victims of the new rule governing development restrictions - with the most successful teams allowed the least amount of development.


So we could just be seeing RB putting all their eggs in one basket this season, taking advantage of Mercedes being relatively hamstrung. Next season will be a big unknown for most teams, so they may as well make hay while the sun shines.

Mercedes seem to be applying lawfare as part of their strategy for this year - for example getting regulations changed to slow down pit stops, which red bull had the advantage.

I struggle to believe Wolff and Hamilton are just going to wave away a potential title challenge, when they're not even a race win in points behind and we aren't even near halfway through the season

I am sure they will be looking to the 2022 car, as will everyone else on the grid...

Also not buying that Red Bull are now some mega power, they've had a good month but I'm not sure there as far ahead as some are saying - if they were, then Perez ought to be doing an awful lot better....

Pretty mundane race, Norris with another good finish, Russell seemingly is cursed, good drive by Sainz I thought and Stroll did ok too. Riccardo is reaching levels of, is he actually going to turn this round, bad...and Ocon not exactly justifying the weird contract extension so far

Perez could've picked up a win in Baku and third at Austria with better pit stops I guess.

Over an entire season it's hard to overcome a qualifying and straight deficit, even if your race pace is good. Right now RB have a healthy margin in both, and Max is delivering on that potential.

As before I don't quite buy the talk that Mercedes have abandoned their 2021 car, and this/next year are not disconnected to the degree being stated. But it is going to take a significant breakthrough to breach this gap because RB look to have a package that is better all round.

No name Bertie wrote:Mercedes seem to be applying lawfare as part of their strategy for this year - for example getting regulations changed to slow down pit stops, which red bull had the advantage.

But the same rules will apply to all teams, therefore any increases in time will be proportionate across all the teams. RB will still likely be quicker overall.

This season they probably won't even need that, given their on-track speed advantage.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I struggle to believe Wolff and Hamilton are just going to wave away a potential title challenge, when they're not even a race win in points behind and we aren't even near halfway through the season

I am sure they will be looking to the 2022 car, as will everyone else on the grid...

Also not buying that Red Bull are now some mega power, they've had a good month but I'm not sure there as far ahead as some are saying - if they were, then Perez ought to be doing an awful lot better....

Pretty mundane race, Norris with another good finish, Russell seemingly is cursed, good drive by Sainz I thought and Stroll did ok too. Riccardo is reaching levels of, is he actually going to turn this round, bad...and Ocon not exactly justifying the weird contract extension so far

Well I guess we will find out as the season unfolds.

The last few races have shown Mercedes are unable to live with RB on track. If they really are being hampered by the development regs it makes total sense to write this season off and concentrate on 2022. Sometimes in sport it pays to play the long game.

Also nobody is saying RB are suddenly some "mega power" but its plain to see they have gained a significant performance advantage over Mercedes. If you're not seeing that then you're clearly not paying much attention to the races. Whether they can maintain it for the rest of the season remains to be seen.

As for Perez' relative performance to Max...just look at how Bottas has fared against Hamilton over the last few seasons. When in equal cars, relative driver skill is pretty accurately reflected.

Whinging about parts on the best car is an F1 staple. Ref Bull used to have their front wing tested at every race when Vettel was winning

GSC wrote:Whinging about parts on the best car is an F1 staple. Ref Bull used to have their front wing tested at every race when Vettel was winning

Because no F1 designer has ever bent the rules beyond their breaking point, and it's usually been with the most successful cars.

This is just an inconvenient truth for F1. Was always the possibility of this happening, when a regulation change is on the horizon, made worse, by the fact it’s coincided with Covid, and a mass cost cutting exercise. The majority of the grid gave up, and focused on 22’, probably 18/24 months ago.

Mercedes being beaten in this dominant era was always going to raise eyebrows. Toto has communicated what their strategy is, and you can clearly see how Mercedes have stagnated, having transitioned the majority of their resources, away from the 21’ car. That’s not RB’s fault, they’re focusing on their own plan & strategy, and only time will tell, who has made the right call.

dummy_half wrote:

GSC wrote:Whinging about parts on the best car is an F1 staple. Ref Bull used to have their front wing tested at every race when Vettel was winning

Because no F1 designer has ever bent the rules beyond their breaking point, and it's usually been with the most successful cars.

Absolutely, just more the point that it's a staple that the chasing pack will keep asking about anything to destabilise the leaders

Some key personnel changes at Aston Martin:
They’ve signed Dan Fallows from Red Bull as technical director.
They’ve also landed Luca Furbatto from Alfa Romeo as engineering director.
Now they landed Red Bull’s Andrew Alessi whom will become head of technical operations.
Fallows and Furbatto will have to serve gardening leave. But Aston Martin currently aren’t playing around.

Elsewhere Jos Verstappen, he’s mentoring Mick Schumacher, claims the German will be joining Alfa Romeo. I’ve not heard anything about this but I see no reason for Verstappen to make up a random story.

Lawrence just had to pull the trigger & go raiding rivals for talent. Been calling it for six months or more. Simply can’t compete, with what was, Force India personnel. Szafnauer claiming they want a world title by 2026. Optimistic.

Mick to Alfa seemed plausible, even before he went to Haas. Would probably replace Kimi.

Lewis Hamilton also signs new two year contract until, 2023

I’m hearing Gasly has offers from both Mercedes and McLaren for 2022. Once again Marko says buy out the contract or the Frenchman stays.

LH signing, means Mercedes is Russell and Hamilton for 2022. Can only envisage it’s for a reserve driver role. I just don’t buy McLaren trying to ditch Ricciardo either, irrespective of his form. Don’t see Gasly going anywhere, now Ocon has signed too.

Ricciardo is on a salary of $15-20m depending on whom you want to believe. McLaren can get Gasly on a contract of $8m-10m.
Ricciardo’s only selling point was, as he kept mentioning, once upon a time beating Vettel. Well that hasn’t aged well since LeClerc beat Vettel twice.
Ricciardo over estimated his ability. Gasly would be a considerably better fit at McLaren.
Don’t be surprised if Bottas stays at Mercedes...

I reckon Mercedes will be making a big mistake not moving Russell into the #2 seat next season.

The lad's had a few seasons in F1 now and has consistently performed well for Williams. In his single outing in Lewis' car he also showed he can deal with the pressure of driving for a top team...despite barely being able to get in the cockpit.

If Bottas' radio transmissions are anything to go by I'm, pretty sure his time is up with the team. He's not reliable as a wing man for Lewis and usually finishes several places behind him, meaning the team are also losing constructors' points to their main rivals.

In the unlikely event Russell turned out to be a serious competitor to Lewis, they should maybe ask him to help Hamilton to a record 8th title, then let the young pretender assume the king's throne.

Merc have taken downforce off, and trying out a configuration with the floor, in an attempt to match RB. Aston Martin coming with a big upgrade here, expected to perform better.

Out in Q1 - Mazepin, Schumacher, Latifi, Raikkonen & Ocon

I don’t understand why Ocon was given a new deal so early in the season. Unless it was to put a rocket up Alonso’s backside.
They should’ve just waited for Gasly

Definite penalty for Vettel there. Alonso’s lap ruined

Russell makes Q3

Gonna take something big to deny max I think