F1 2021 - Pre-Season Banter
I don't know about you, but l have been waiting for this 2021 season to kickstart eagerly. Now all the pieces are in place for the duel of what is going to be a historic season. I find the days and weeks could not go by quickly enough. The 2021 season is historic for two reasons; firstly, it is the last season of the hybrid era in its current format. Secondly, it is the last season of F1 as it has been operated for 71 seasons. From 2022 onwards, it would be essentially a very different formula. A direct escalation of the F2 formula to a senior format of essentially the same formula in its basic form.
While the bizzarre season of 2020 showed what an incredible team Mercedes is, it more importantly showed what an incredible and formidable driver and competitor Lewis Hamilton is. His relentlessness demanded the very best from his competitors and punished them for their shortcomings. While Mercedes raised the bar quite high for all the other constructors, Hamilton raised the bar quite high for all other drivers on the grid. But we also got a sneak preview of the future of F1 with George Russell in a Mercedes.
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We go into this new season with drivers juxaposed into interesting new combinations of pairing at a majority of teams. With exception to Mercedes, Alfa Romeo and Williams retaining their original driver lineups. But what is interesting are the pairing at Redbull and Ferrari where an attacking combination of drivers has been fielded in preparation for the 2022 regulation seasons. Mclaren is also fielding its strongest pairing of drivers since Alonso. And Alpine [Renault] is falling back to what has been a reliable pair of hands in Alonso.
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With the regulations more or less stagnated from last season, we hope the gap between the sharp end and the midfield is blurred as it nearly was last season. The deducted points punishment for Racing point last season,. disguised how much closer the midfield was to second place in the constructors. Or if you like, how much further ahead Racing Point actually was to Mclaren.
James Allison on 2021 rule changes
We start this new season with two new names in F1 with potentially a different mentality to their racing. Aston Martin with four time world champion Sebastien Vettel that would be demanding a higher level of excellence than the old Racing Point/Force India is used to producing. And Alpine with a completely new management and two times world champion Fernando Alonso., which has been a winning combination in the past.
The midfield shall be cut throat more than previous seasons. It would be intensely competitve. I expect to see Aston Martin understand the incredible car they have, better this season. Hence, l would expect Vettel to be right in the mix with the Redbull and Ferrari. If they do a half descent job, the sharp end of the grid should constitute of four cars. Which would make the fight of these other cars with Mercedes a tricky operation. As any sloppiness may be more effectively punished in this scenario.
We look forward to winter testing to see how much ground Honda, Ferrari and Renault has been able to gain on Mercedes. All indications suggests that Mercedes with Hamilton in the 44 is going to be the favourite and the benchmark of this new season. But if 2020 is anything to go by, this new season may be full of twists and turns that may most likely surprise us. As COVID is still with us, drivers missing from the grid to quarantine may be occurrences. Mercedes still has its engine heating problems. And unlikely race winners like Gasly and Perez may be an occurrence this season also.
If we are lucky, we shall get to see George Russell in the Mercedes again.
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