After last year's significantly delayed and significantly condensed Formula One season, 2021 hopes to be a much more common season with a March start, a normal springtime European leg and trips around the globe.
Of course, as the global pandemic continues, everything remains subject to change. The hope is to visit multiple continents and tracks that have sat idle for over a year, but we will have to be patient as countries figure out their own restrictions on travel, public gathering and vaccine distribution.
Provisional Schedule
Bahrain is currently set to host the 2021 Formula One season opener on March 28, two weeks after the track hosted preseason testing.
Imola and Portimão return for a second-consecutive season, hosting the Emilia Romagna and Portuguese Grand Prix respectively on April 18 and May 2, an earlier start to the European swing than most seasons. Spain will return to its May date on May 9 with Monaco scheduled to return on May 23.
Azerbaijan is scheduled for June 6 with the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the first major trans-Atlantic trip, planned for June 13. Formula One returns to Europe on June 27 with the French Grand Prix before heading to Austria on July 4. The tenth round of the season will be the British Grand Prix from Silverstone on July 18. Hungary closes out the first half of the season on August 1, ahead of the summer break.
Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort and Monza will comprise a three-consecutive week return on August 29, September 5 and September 12 respectively. Russia will be the first race of Autumn on September 26. The Asia-Pacific return is planned for Singapore and Japan on October 3 and October 10.
The Americas will have a three-race stretch beginning with the United States Grand Prix on October 24 before the Mexico City Grand Prix on October 31. Brazil rounds out the three-week trip on November 7. Australia was pushed back to November 21. Saudi Arabia's inaugural grand prix will take place on December 5, a week prior to the season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12.
It is currently planned that the Canadian Grand Prix, British Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix and Brazilian Grand Prix will all feature a qualifying sprint race on Saturday to determine the grid for the grand prix held on Sunday.
Constructors:
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Lewis Hamilton: #44 Mercedes F1 W12 E Performance
What did he do in 2020: Hamilton won 11 races on his way to scoring 347 points and earning his seventh World Drivers' Championship. He broke Michael Schumacher's record for most grand prix victories and Hamilton will enter 2021 with 95 grand prix victories. He scored points in all 16 of his starts, but he did miss the Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID-19.
What to expect in 2021: An eighth world championship and another ten to 12 victories. Is there any reason to expect anything different? This year there might be, as the Mercedes drivers were not comfortable with the rear end with the car during the Bahrain test. However, for the past seven seasons Mercedes has been the class of the field. It has worked through any minor problem and come out on the other side better than before. I don't believe this rear end issue will slow the team down. Could it be like 2018 when Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel gave a strong fight through the first half of the season? Possibly, but Mercedes still came out on top. I don't see that changing.
The Hamilton preview has been the same since 2016. Mercedes is going to provide the best car on the grid and Hamilton is going to continue being one of the best drivers in the world. He could race an entire season with one eye closed and still win seven races.
Valtteri Bottas: #77 Mercedes F1 W12 E Performance
What did he do in 2020: Bottas won twice and stood on the podium 11 times. His 223 points put him second in the world championship.
What to expect in 2021: A few victories and finishing somewhere between second and fifth in the world championship. Both Mercedes drivers are in contract years. Hamilton will have another deal as long as he likes one. Bottas is a sufficient number two, but with the lingering feeling Hamilton could walk away at any moment, the question becomes does Mercedes believe Bottas can be a team leader? This has to be the year Bottas proves he can take over should the spot open up. He will need to be flawless, nipping Hamilton's heels and Bottas cannot afford to have pedestrian results.
Red Bull Racing Honda
Sergio Pérez: #11 Red Bull Racing RB16B
What did he do in 2020: Pérez picked up a popular victory in the Sakhir Grand Prix and he was also second in the Turkish Grand Prix. Despite missing two races for contracting COVID-19, Pérez ended up on 125 points and fourth in the world championship with Racing Point.
What to expect in 2021: This is Pérez's last big break. After establishing himself as the best of the midfield, he has been elevated to a powerhouse. He was fourth with Racing Point. Fourth is the minimum for Red Bull. After having a one-driver team for the last two seasons, Red Bull needs production from Pérez and must pressure Mercedes in the World Constructors' Championship. Pérez should pick up at least one or two victories and be on the podium six to nine times. Testing results showed he was matching his Red Bull teammate. It would not be a surprise if Pérez came out on top in the Red Bull battle, but if he doesn't, he will still increase Red Bull's points production.
Max Verstappen: #33 Red Bull Racing RB16B
What did he do in 2020: Verstappen won two races and picked up ten podium finishes. With 214 points, he was third in the world championship.
What to expect in 2021: The heir apparent to the Formula One throne, Verstappen was whiskers short of being vice-champion, nine points off of Bottas. Reliability and aggression kept him from second in the world championship. He will have to win more, likely at least five to six times if he wants to be only behind Hamilton. I think he can do it.
In testing, Verstappen led the way and for the first time since 2013 it feels like Red Bull has a significant shot at returning to title glory. The speed is there and if the reliability matches, combined with uncertainty for Mercedes, we could see the German manufactures' seven-year championship run end at the hands of the Austrian organization. It is a long season and we will see ups and downs in this championship. A strong start for Red Bull could go a long way and could decide whether or not it pulls out a championship.
McLaren F1 Team
Daniel Ricciardo: #3 McLaren MCL35M
What did he do in 2020: Driving for Renault, Ricciardo was third at the Nürburgring and Imola and he scored points in 14 of 17 races. He picked fastest lap at Spa-Francorchamps and Abu Dhabi and was fifth in the world championship on 119 points.
What to expect in 2021: With McLaren returning to Mercedes power for the first time since 2014, Ricciardo could be the sleeper of the season. He was ahead of both McLaren's drivers in the 2020 drivers' championship, but McLaren topped Renault in last year's constructors' championship. The switch from Renault to Mercedes causes skepticism, however McLaren looked very promising in testing. It is still early in the process and the woefully Honda years are still fresh in our memories.
I think McLaren will be fine. If everything clicks, McLaren could secure third in the constructors' battle on its own without a rival being docked points. In that case, Ricciardo would be leading the way, snatching a handful of podium results, possibly a race victory, and he would likely crack the top five in the championship for another season.
Lando Norris: #4 McLaren MCL35M
What did he do in 2020: Norris opened the season with a third and a fastest lap in Austria. He scored 97 points and was ninth in the world championship.
What to expect in 2021: I expect Norris to lose the intra-team battle. His first two seasons have been all fun and games, but with Ricciardo in the other garage and Mercedes under the engine cover, play time is over. The goofy awkwardness has to be replaced with a ruthless demeanor. Norris cannot let Ricciardo thrash him in the championship, which I think could happen. While Ricciardo's smile eases everyone in the paddock, on the track he is an assassin of sorts and he will not sink to Norris' level. Norris has to ascend higher than he has ever been in his short Formula One stint.
Norris could be on the podium a few times, but I am not sure he can win with this car. I don't think he can consistently beat Ricciardo. We could be looking at another season where he is three or four spots behind a teammate in the championship.
Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team
Sebastian Vettel: #5 Aston Martin AMR21
What did he do in 2020: Vettel had the worst season in his full-time Formula One career with only 33 points slotting him 13th in the championship. He was third in Turkey, but that was the only time he finished in the top five all season and he failed to score points in ten races.
What to expect in 2021: Aston Martin has attracted its share of attention over the offseason and the team formerly pretty in pink as Racing Point takes on an iconic motorsports name and an iconic green scheme. Expectations will be to match the results of last year and for Vettel to resurrect his career. However, testing was not a promising start to the 2021 season and Vettel finds himself in another precarious situation.
This career resurrection has taken an undesired first turn and Vettel cannot afford another uncompetitive season, especially at Aston Martin. He is the team leader. It's one thing to lose out to Charles Leclerc and even Daniel Ricciardo going back to Vettel's final year at Red Bull. He cannot let Lance Stroll beat him. Vettel has to a clear number one in this team. Sergio Pérez averaged 8.333 points per start last year. A respectable season for Vettel is to coming close to that, averaging around seven points a start. The only problem is I am not sure Aston Martin will provide a car that can meet that goal.
Lance Stroll: #16 Aston Martin AMR21
What did he do in 2020: Stroll was 11th in the championship on 75 points, but he did have two podium finishes, the first coming at Monza and the other coming in the Sakhir Grand Prix. Both were third-place finishes. He also won pole position in Turkey.
What to expect in 2021: Coming off by far the best season of his Formula One career, and with his father's money firmly in this team, Stroll has a Formula One seat for as long as he wants it. He showed he could handle the pace of the Racing Point last year, but still ran into rough patches and fell to pieces from a commanding position in Turkey. I think top ten in the championship is possible. Can he beat Vettel? The question should be can Stroll raise his game to the level Pérez was at in 2020?
We already saw Vettel toil around in a Ferrari and Stroll finished ahead of the German in the world championship. If Stroll does that again it is not as impressive if he is 11th while Vettel is 13th. But if Stroll ends up seventh or eighth in the world championship with four or five podium finishes and ahead of Vettel then we would have to recognize it as a step forward.
I don't think either happens. If Stroll is in the top ten of the championship, Vettel is likely a spot or two ahead of the him. There is a good chance that neither driver makes the top ten and in that case there will nothing to brag about for this operation.
Alpine F1 Team
Fernando Alonso: #14 Alpine A521
What did he do in 2020: Alonso was 13th in the Dakar Rally driving for Toyota and he competed in this second Indianapolis 500. Alonso qualified 26th driving for McLaren and he finished 21st, one-lap down, largely forgotten most of the race.
What to expect in 2021: I don't know. Alonso's third act with this French outfit comes after a year off. The man competed in two races last year. One, he had little to no expectations in the Dakar. The other, we knew he could be competitive in, but he his second Indianapolis 500 start was absent of the magic that made his 2017 attempt a worldwide interest story. We cannot forget to mention he is starting the season a month removed from suffering a broken jaw after an automobile hit him while Alonso was cycling.
The man will turn 40 years old during the season. He has titanium in his face. The fire is still there, and the ability is not gone either after watching his sports car success with Toyota. But Alonso has been hamstrung in his last few Formula One efforts. A competitive car is not going to be enough to win a grand prix and for a two-time World Drivers' Champion and 32-time grand prix winner, fifth-place finishes will only frustrate him. However, if Ricciardo can get on the podium, I think Alonso can as well. His championship finish will be in the back half of the top ten.
Esteban Ocon: #31 Alpine A521
What did he do in 2020: Ocon returned to Formula One after a sabbatical in 2019 and he scored 62 points, good enough for 12th in the championship. He was runner-up in the Sakhir Grand Prix.
What to expect in 2021: Ocon went from unwarranted outcast to afterthought in a year. Many felt he was wrongly sidelined after the 2018 season, but his 2020 results were underwhelming and almost justify his absence. He scored just more than half of Ricciardo's point total last year. He has to make a gain this season, but with how tight the midfield will be, Ocon could still end up on the outside of the top ten in the championship.
The last time Ocon and Alonso were on the grid together, Alonso beat him in the world championship by a point. Alonso was strapped with the fluctuating McLaren program. Ocon was saddled with the Force India collapse. I still think Alonso's talent will place him ahead of Ocon in the championship though Ocon should score a greater percentage of points than last season.
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc: #16 Ferrari SF21
What did he do in 2020: Leclerc was eighth in the world championship on 98 points. His only podium finishes were second in the Austrian Grand Prix and third in the British Grand Prix.
What to expect in 2021: It couldn't be worse than 2020, right? Last year was the first time Ferrari did not finish in the top five of the World Constructors' Championship since 1980. It was only the third season in Leclerc's lifetime the Scuderia did not win a grand prix and all of those have come since 2015. The Monegasque driver made the most of it and pieced together a respectable season, but if the car is down on power again, it is hard to see how 2021 will be much better.
Leclerc does have the smarts to get a car home and not make boneheaded moves. He could be eighth in the world championship again even if the engine is not much better, but if Aston Martin improves from testing, McLaren nails the adaptations to the Mercedes engine and Alpine raises its game, there is a chance neither Ferrari driver is in the top ten of the championship and Ferrari will be on the outside of the top five in the constructors' battle for consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
I don't see that happening. Ferrari says it has gotten its power deficiency squared away. I don't think Ferrari will get back into the top three, but I think it can finish fourth or fifth in the constructors' championship. If Ferrari does, Leclerc will pick up a few podium finishes and stay in the back half of the top ten in the championship.
Carlos Sainz, Jr.: #55 Ferrari SF21
What did he do in 2020: Sainz, Jr. was second at Monza and scored points in 12 of 17 races as he was the lead McLaren driver in the championship, sixth with 105 points.
What to expect in 2021: Sainz, Jr. should help Ferrari score more points and have it be a more balanced lineup than Leclerc and Vettel last season. However, all the concerns for Leclerc's 2021 season apply to Sainz, Jr.'s 2021 season. The Spaniard can only achieve so much if the Ferrari power unit is underpowered. If Sainz, Jr. simply matches Leclerc's output and Leclerc's output is consistent from 2020, then Ferrari will likely be back the top five of the constructors' championship and possibly even sneak into fourth, but I do not think it will be that simple.
I think Ferrari has a good shot of jumping ahead of Alpine and that is partially because Sainz, Jr. is there. I think both Ferraris can be regular point scorers. That does mean both cars will be competing for a podium finish but Ferrari put both cars in the points five times in 2020. In four of those races, the second Ferrari was tenth, contributing one point to the team's tally. I think we will see more races where the Ferraris are sixth and eighth, or seventh and eighth, or fourth and seventh. That's not exciting, but it is better than last season.
Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda
Pierre Gasly: #10 AlphaTauri AT02
What did he do in 2020: Gasly famously won the Italian Grand Prix, but his only other top five result was fifth at Portimão and he ended up tenth in the championship on 75 points.
What to expect in 2021: One-third of Gasly's points in 2020 came from one race. Though he ended up in the points in ten races, I think we need to calm ourselves before thinking AlphaTauri is guaranteed to make a large jump. Gasly has this consistency with AlphaTauri that was lacking during his brief stint at Red Bull. Last year, he found himself surpassing the output of Alexander Albon in the Red Bull at times and appeared to be proving a few decision-makers wrong.
The good news for Gasly is AlphaTauri was the feel-good story of testing and the car was not far off its parent team. How seriously should we take those results? I think AlphaTauri could be better than last season, but I am not convinced it will crack the top four of the constructors' championship. It could be a tight fight for fifth with Ferrari, Alpine and a possibly dipping Aston Martin. My gut says Gasly could finish exactly where he was in the championship last year, but if he slid back to 12th-14th I would not be surprised either.
Yuki Tsunoda: #22 AlphaTauri AT02
What did he do in 2020: Tsunoda won three races in the Formula Two championship and he picked up a total of seven podium finishes, placing him third in the championship on 200 points. He started 2020 placing fourth in the Toyota Racing Series with only one victory from 15 races.
What to expect in 2021: Red Bull has such a short leash we may never see Tsunoda's full potential. This is Honda getting thrown a bone and with Honda out of the picture next year Tsunoda will have to be exceptional. However, Tsunoda was responsible for AlphaTauri's fastest lap in testing and I get the sense that Honda will want to do all it can to leave Tsunoda in a promising position for 2022 and beyond.
He was breathtaking at times in Formula Two. It took him time to settle in, but he found control in the second half of the season. Exceeding Daniil Kvyat's output is not out of the question and only twice were both AlphaTauri drivers in the points last season. I expect the team to do better than that and Tsunoda to give Gasly a run for his money.
Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen
Kimi Räikkönen: #7 Alfa Romeo C41
What did he do in 2020: Räikkönen scored four points, two in Tuscany and two in Imola. He also broke the record for most races entered and started in Formula One history.
What to expect in 2021: This is not the Kimi Räikkönen of old. He isn't going to score points in 15 races and stand on the podium. Frankly, the bar is so low for Alfa Romeo any points the Finn scores will be a notable achievement. Eventually, he will call it a day. The paycheck is nice but how many seasons can you run outside the points for 90% of the races and think this is the best way to spend your time? That final start is coming, but I don't think Räikkönen will make much of his farewell.
Antonio Giovinazzi: #99 Alfa Romeo C41
What did he do in 2020: Giovinazzi scored four points, two in Austria, one in Germany and one in Imola, however, the spoils go to his teammate as Räikkönen bested the Italian in the championship on tiebreaker.
What to expect in 2021: About as much as you can expect for Räikkönen. Giovinazzi had a few good days last season, but nothing suggests he is a star hiding in plain sight. If he scores four points again, great; if he scores more, phenomenal. If he scores less or scores nothing, Alfa Romeo will just replace him. If Alfa Romeo's partnership ends after this season and Sauber returns to being Sauber, he will likely be out anyway as the team will need someone who can foot the bills.
Uralkali Haas F1 Team
Nikita Mazepin: #9 Haas VF-21
What did he do in 2020: Mazepin won two races in Formula Two, stood on the podium six times and picked up 11 penalty points, one shy of a one-race ban.
What to expect in 2021: Mazepin caused so much controversy in Formula Two I bet he wouldn't mind going unnoticed in his rookie Formula One campaign. Luckily for him, he is driving for Haas, which will be toward the back of the field. The bad news is he was already getting in the way and proving to be a hazard in testing. He shouldn't be running into people, but like a magnet, Mazepin seems to be attracting contact. Haas has said it is not developing this car at all over this season. I expect the best results to be at the start and then Haas to fall to the bottom of the field.
Mick Schumacher: #47 Haas VF-21
What did he do in 2020: Schumacher took the Formula Two championship with 215 points. He won two races, had ten podium finishes and he scored points in 20 of 24 races.
What to expect in 2021: Back in December, I thought Haas would score at least 48 points because it had Schumacher and Ferrari would at least want Schumacher to look good in year one. If Haas is giving up once the season starts, I can't see how this team scores 48 points unless this car is spectacular out of the gate. This car is not spectacular, and the expectations is Haas will fall behind Williams.
I will go out on a limb and throw this out there: If Haas is solidly in the cellar and around the Austrian Grand Prix there is no hope of Haas scoring points, I would not be stunned if Schumacher moved to Alfa Romeo, a more competitive car and one that could help his development. I have nothing to support such a thought, but I cannot imagine Ferrari will let Schumacher waste a season and potentially stunt his growth.
Williams Racing
Nicholas Latifi: #6 Williams FW43B
What did he do in 2020: Latifi scored zero points and his best finish was 11th in Austria, Monza and Imola.
What to expect in 2021: Though far from outstanding, Latifi was capable as a rookie. He avoided mistakes and at times that put him ahead of his much more celebrated teammate. Williams is under a new direction this season. The team is far from a disaster. A step forward would get into the battle for points. I am not going to rule out a few points for Latifi. I am not going to say he will score a lot, but if he scores one to six points, that a suitable sophomore season.
George Russell: #63 Williams FW43B
What did he do in 2020: Russell scored three points in 2021, but those came in the Sakhir Grand Prix when he drove for Mercedes in place of the absent Hamilton. Russell was ninth with a point for fastest lap. It very well could have been a race victory had it not been for a tire mixup in the pit lane and a puncture after that error. For Williams, his best finish was 11th at Mugello.
What to expect in 2021: Russell has to score a few points this year. Once again, I am not saying he will score 50 points, but if he could score eight to 12 points, and finish ahead of his teammate, that is a very good season. If Haas is mailing it in from race one onward, Williams could score ten points and end up ninth in the constructors' championship. It could even sneak ahead of Alfa Romeo. Russell has to do something. He is destined to end up at Mercedes, but he wants to leave a mark on Williams. I don't think he will win races for the team or even get them on the podium, but to score points and boost morale in that garage would be a tremendous accomplishment for Russell and possibly a wonderful note to go out on.
The first free practice of the Formula One season will be on Friday March 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET with second practice at 11:00 a.m. Saturday's practice will begin at 8:00 a.m. ET with qualifying three hours later. The 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on Sunday March 28 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
