Tag: F1

20/20 vision for 2021

Posted on by James Mackenzie

It’s nearly time! So, here is everything you could want to know about the 2021 season…

The Drivers

Lewis Hamilton

Age: 36 | GPs: 266 | Titles: 7 | Wins: 95 | Poles: 98 | Podiums: 165

Valtteri Bottas

Age: 31 | GPs: 156 | Champ. Best: 2nd | Wins: 9 | Poles: 16 | Podiums: 56

Max Verstappen

Age: 23 | GPs: 119 | Champ. Best: 3rd | Wins: 10 | Poles: 3 | Podiums: 42

Sergio Pérez

Age: 31 | GPs: 191 | Champ. Best: 4th | Wins: 1 | Qual. Best: 3rd | Podiums: 10

Daniel Ricciardo

Age: 31 | GPs: 188 | Champ. Best: 3rd | Wins: 7 | Poles: 3 | Podiums: 31

Lando Norris

Age: 21 | GPs: 38 | Champ. Best: 9th | Race Best: 3rd | Qual. Best: 3rd | Podiums: 1

Sebastian Vettel

Age: 33 | GPs: 257 | Titles: 4 | Wins: 53 | Poles: 57 | Podiums: 121

Lance Stroll

Age: 22 | GPs: 78 | Champ. Best: 11TH | Race Best: 3rd | Poles: 1 | Podiums: 3

Fernando Alonso

Age: 39 | GPs: 312 | Titles: 2 | Wins: 32 | Poles: 22 | Podiums: 97

Esteban Ocon

Age: 24 | GPs: 67 | Champ. Best: 8TH | Race Best: 2nd | Qual. Best: 3rd | Podiums: 1

Charles Leclerc

Age: 23 | GPs: 59 | Champ. Best: 4th | Wins: 2 | Poles: 7 | Podiums: 12

Carlos Sainz

Age: 26 | GPs: 118 | Champ. Best: 6th | Race Best: 2nd | Qual. Best: 3rd | Podiums: 2

Pierre Gasly

Age: 25 | GPs: 64 | Champ. Best: 7th | Wins: 1 | Qual. Best: 4th | Podiums: 2

Yuki Tsunoda

Age: 20 | GPs: 0 | Champ. Best: n/a | Race Best: n/a | Qual. Best: n/a

Kimi Räikkönen

Age: 41 | GPs: 330 | Titles: 1 | Wins: 21 | Poles: 18 | Podiums: 103

Antonio Giovinazzi

Age: 27 | GPs: 40 | Champ. Best: 17th | Race Best: 5th | Qual. Best: 7th

Mick Schumacher

Age: 22 | GPs: 0 | Champ. Best: n/a | Race Best: n/a | Qual. Best: n/a

Nikita Mazepin

Age: 22 | GPs: 0 | Champ. Best: n/a | Race Best: n/a | Qual. Best: n/a

George Russell

Age: 23 | GPs: 38 | Champ. Best: 18th | Race Best: 9th | Qual. Best: 2nd

Nicholas Latifi

Age: 25 | GPs: 17 | Champ. Best: 21st | Race Best: 11th | Qual. Best: 15th

The Teams

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team

FIRST GP: 1954 | GPS: 227 | Titles: 16 | WINS: 115 | POLES: 126 | PODIUMS: 236

Red Bull Racing Honda

FIRST GP: 2005 | GPS: 303 | Titles: 8 | WINS: 64 | POLES: 63 | PODIUMS: 183

McLaren F1 Team

FIRST GP: 1966 | GPS: 880 | Titles: 20 | WINS: 182 | POLES: 155 | PODIUMS: 488

Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team

FIRST GP: 1959 | GPS: 5 | CHAMP. BEST: N/C | RACE BEST: 6TH | QUAL. BEST: 2nd

Alpine F1 Team

FIRST GP: 2021 | GPS: 0 | Champ. Best: N/A | Race Best: N/A | Qual. Best: N/A

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow

FIRST GP: 1950 | GPS: 1008 | Titles: 31 | WINS: 238 | POLES: 228 | PODIUMS: 773

Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda

FIRST GP: 2020 | GPS: 17 | CHAMP. BEST: 7th | Wins: 1 | QUAL. BEST: 4th | Podiums: 1

Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen

FIRST GP: 1950 | GPS: 148 | CHAMP. BEST: 6TH | WINS: 10 | POLES: 12 | PODIUMS: 26

Uralkali Haas F1 Team

FIRST GP: 2016 | GPS: 100 | CHAMP. BEST: 5TH | RACE BEST: 4TH | QUAL. BEST: 5TH

Williams Racing

FIRST GP: 1977 | GPS: 761 | Titles: 16 | WINS: 114 | POLES: 128 | PODIUMS: 312

The Grands Prix

Bahrain

SAKHIR | 26-28 MAR | LAPS: 57 | LENGTH: 5.412 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:31.447 (de la Rosa)

Emilia Romagna

Imola | 16-18 APR | LAPS: 63 | LENGTH: 4.909 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:15.484 (Hamilton)

Portugal

Portimão | 30 Apr-02 May | LAPS: 66 | LENGTH: 4,653 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:18,750 (Hamilton)

SPAIN

BARCELONA | 07-09 MAY | LAPS: 66 | LENGTH: 4.675 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:18.183 (Bottas)

Monaco

MONACO | 20-23 MAY | LAPS: 78 | LENGTH: 3.337 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:14.260 (Verstappen)

AZERBAIJAN

BAKU | 04-06 MAY | LAPS: 51 | LENGTH: 6.003 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:43.009 (leclerc)

CANADA

MONTRéAL | 11-13 JUN | LAPS: 70 | LENGTH: 4.361 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:13.078 (Bottas)

FRANCE

LE CASTELLET | 25-27 JUN | LAPS: 53 | LENGTH: 5.842 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:32.740 (Vettel)

AUSTRIA

SPIELBERG | 02-04 JUL | LAPS: 71 | LENGTH: 4.318 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:05.619 (Sainz)

GREAT BRITAIN

SILVERSTONE | 16-18 JUL | LAPS: 52 | LENGTH: 5.891 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:27.097 (Verstappen)

HUNGARY

Mogyoród | 30 JUL-01 AUG | LAPS: 70 | LENGTH: 4.381 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:16.627 (Hamilton)

BELGIUM

Stavelot | 27-29 AUG | LAPS: 44 | LENGTH: 7.004 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:46.286 (Bottas)

NETHERLANDS

ZANDVOORT | 03-05 SEP | LAPS: 72 | LENGTH: 4.259 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:16.538 (Prost)

ITALY

MONZA | 10-12 SEP | LAPS: 53 | LENGTH: 5.793 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:21.046 (Barrichello)

RUSSIA

SOCHI | 24-26 SEP | LAPS: 53 | LENGTH: 5.848 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:35.761 (Hamilton)

SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE | 01-03 Oct | LAPS: 61 | LENGTH: 5.063 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:41.905 (Magnussen)

JAPAN

SUZUKA | 08-10 OCT | LAPS: 53 | LENGTH: 5.807 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:30.983 (Hamilton)

UNITED STATES

AUSTIN | 22-24 OCT | LAPS: 56 | LENGTH: 5.513 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:36.169 (Leclerc)

MEXICO CITY

MEXICO CITY | 29-31 Oct | LAPS: 71 | LENGTH: 4.304 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:18.741 (Bottas)

BRAZIL

São Paulo | 05-07 NOV | LAPS: 71 | LENGTH: 4.309 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:10.540 (Bottas)

Australia

Melbourne | 19-21 Nov | Laps: 58 | Length: 5.303 km | Lap Record: 1:24.125 (Schumacher)

Saudi Arabia

Jeddah | 03-05 Dec | Laps: 50 | Length: 6.175 KM | Lap Record: N/A

ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI | 10-12 Dec | LAPS: 55 | LENGTH: 5.554 KM | LAP RECORD: 1:39.283 (Hamilton)

The Changes

Drivers

Sergio Pérez replaces Alexander Albon at Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo replaces Carlos Sainz at McLaren

Sebastian Vettel replaces Sergio Pérez at Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso replaces Daniel Ricciardo at Alpine

Carlos Sainz replaces Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari

Yuki Tsunoda replaces Daniil Kvyat at AlphaTauri

Mick Schumacher replaces Romain Grosjean at Haas

Nikita Mazepin replaces Kevin Magnussen at Haas

Teams

Racing Point are rebranded as Aston Martin

Renault are rebranded as Alpine

Regulations

A budget cap of $145 million per year has been introduced

The floor of the cars will be ‘clipped’ in order to reduce downforce

Slots on the edge of the floor will be removed, brake duct winglets will be narrowed by 40 mm and diffuser fences will be narrowed by 50 mm to further reduce downforce

DAS has been banned

Teams will be required to allow a driver who has competed in fewer than two grands prix to replace one of their race drivers in a Friday practice session

Drivers using mixed compound sets or using sets allocated to another driver on their cars will be permitted to complete two laps before the driver must pit to correct the error before facing a penalty

Cars will be under parc fermé conditions following the end of free practice three instead of qualifying

All of Thursday’s events (media, promotions, scrutineering) will be moved to the Friday morning with the times between Friday’s activities being reduced

The Burning Questions

Can Lewis Hamilton make the record for the most world championships his own by taking an eighth title?

Will anyone be able to challenge him? Can Red Bull produce a car capable of doing so? Can Valtteri Bottas upgrade again to 4.0 or whatever model we’re up to?

Can Ferrari improve on their calamitous 2020 season and move back towards the front?

Will Pérez be able to compete with Max Verstappen?

Ditto Sainz with Charles Leclerc?

How much will Mercedes power help McLaren?

Will Alonso still be the same driver that left the sport in 2018?

Can Vettel rediscover his mojo at Aston Martin?

Will we see races being cancelled due to the virus?

How long until the first Kimi bwoah?

Murray Walker, 1923-2021

Posted on by James Mackenzie
Image credit: Getty Images

It’s rare that it feels as though somebody has been taken too soon at 97. And yet that is how it feels with the loss of Murray Walker.

The voice of Formula 1 for half a century, Murray – as the entire sport affectionately referred to him – had what was described as a ‘pants on fire’ style of commentary; his infectious enthusiasm for the sport oozed from his every word and he had an innate ability to produce the perfect line for the moment. This most likely stemmed from his earlier career in advertising. Murray famously coined the slogan ‘made to make your mouth water’ for Opal Fruits and his team created ‘a Mars a day helps you work, rest and play’.

Of course, there were the ‘Murrayisms’: “This would have been Senna’s third win in a row, if he’d won the two before…”; “Mansell is slowing down, taking it easy. Oh no he isn’t – it’s a lap record!”; “I’m ready to stop my startwatch!”; and of course, “There is nothing wrong with his car, except that it is on fire!”

A lesser commentator would likely have been criticised for these mistakes but, if anything, they just made Murray even more treasured – both by the viewers at home and every member of the paddock.

And he was never above poking fun at himself – he called his autobiography ‘Unless I’m Very Much Mistaken’ and often played up to his caricature, such as in his Pizza Hut advert alongside Damon Hill.

It is unfair to focus solely on the enthusiasm and the endearing mistakes, though, as Murray was a true professional. He would often visit races in the lower formulae to spot the next up-and-coming talent and was never without his fastidious notes, which he would not allow James Hunt to see during their pairing in the commentary box. The Walker-Hunt partnership was a tale of two totally opposing characters who – whilst they often disagreed and even nearly came to blows – made an incredibly entertaining team and came to share a great mutual respect.

The later combination of Murray with Martin Brundle was another huge success, Brundle politely correcting Murray when he made an overexcited mistake and complimenting the experienced man’s excitement with his technical nous and ability to turn a phrase of his own. Brundle says, “Learning to commentate on motorsport alongside Murray Walker for a number of years was like having Pele teach you how to kick a ball”.

It is worth remembering just how much Murray achieved in his life. In addition to his commentary and advertising careers, a young Walker joined the armed forces and went on to command a Sherman tank in World War 2, eventually leaving the Army having attained the rank of captain. He even once recalled visiting the area of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in a tank in 1944.

Murray claimed that his OBE was the proudest moment of his life. It is a real shame that he never received what would have been a thoroughly deserved knighthood, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was, and will remain, a national treasure who defined a sport for far more than one generation of fans.

As Brundle elegantly puts it, ‘It was never work to Murray, it was never just commentating, it was simply telling the world about something he loved”.

In the words of the great man, “I’ve got to stop because I’ve got a lump in my throat.”

Image credit: The Telegraph

Let’s act like we know what’s going on in testing: 2021 edition

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Pre-season testing is infamously hard to decipher and usually ends up in fans, pundits and the media jumping to conclusions that are, more often than not, totally wrong.

As you can see from this quiz, the car ending testing on top has very rarely proved to be on top when the lights go out for the opening race. And this year, more than ever before, there is very little to go on. Testing usually consists of two sets of three or four-day blocks but this year, thanks to the pandemic, the teams have had just three days to get to grips with their latest machines.

To compound matters further, conditions in Bahrain were very blustery and there was even a sandstorm…

Nonetheless, let’s see what we can figure out.

Not Plain Sailing for Mercedes

Image credit: Getty Images

Mercedes have often been accused of ‘sandbagging’ during testing – and that would certainly have been easy in the Sakhir sandstorm – but this year, things look a little different. They have never been a team that does glory runs, but they have always maintained their metronomic consistency in pounding out lap after lap without issue.

This test, however, started badly with a gearbox glitch limiting Valtteri Bottas to seven laps on the first morning. And when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton got into the car, he struggled to keep it pointing in the right direction. A series of uncharacteristic spins – once even ending up beached in a gravel trap – demonstrated the lack of rear stability that currently blights the W12.

Mercedes have proven themselves especially adept at problem solving, though, and nobody would be surprised to see them lock out the front row in two weeks. After all, it is better to find these issues now than in Q1 at the first grand prix.

Red Bull on the Rise

The struggles over at the Silver Arrows garage give a little hope for a more competitive season in 2021 and, if they do falter, Red Bull appear well-positioned to capitalise.

Max Verstappen produced the fastest time of the test and the Red Bull appeared on rails barring one early half-spin for the Dutchman. With AlphaTauri also often near the top of the timesheets – rookie Yuki Tsunoda even finished the final day a little under a tenth off Verstappen’s headline time – perhaps the new Honda power unit has made a significant jump in performance.

Either way, Red Bull’s Achilles’ heel in recent years has been a lack of understanding of their car in the early part of the season so, if they are on top of it already, that bodes well for their title challenge. The experience of Sergio Pérez should also help to develop the car; an area in which their academy prospects of the last two years will have struggled.

The Battle for Best of the Rest

Behind the likely top two teams, it’s anybody’s guess. The midfield was incredibly close last year, with McLaren ultimately edging the battle for third in the Constructors’ Championship, just ahead of Racing Point and Renault.

In the three months since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, those two names have ceased to be, with Racing Point transforming into Aston Martin and Renault becoming Alpine. Aston Martin were many experts’ choice for the bronze medal this year, thanks to their acquisition of the fabled 2020 Mercedes rear suspension and the expertise brought by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Things have not started smoothly for the British racing green team, however, with varying technical problems reducing their running time significantly. Vettel completed the fewest laps of any driver. Their ultimate pace is still an unknown, though, as they focused exclusively on long runs and propped up the timing sheets on the final day, three seconds slower than the rest of the field.

McLaren are looking strong with no issues from their change to Mercedes power and some decent flying lap times. They also have a somewhat controversial interpretation of the new diffuser regulations which has garnered much attention. It has not yet been banned by the FIA and, if allowed to remain, will not be easy for the other teams to copy.

Alpine also kept their true pace under wraps but showed impressive consistency and ended with a healthy number of laps completed. Fernando Alonso picked up where he left off in 2018 and didn’t appear to be suffering any ill effects from his cycling accident last month. Whilst there were a few niggles for Ferrari – Charles Leclerc brought about the first red flag of the test – they are fairly positive with their progress. Particularly in terms of straight line which was, by far, their largest issue in 2020. The Scuderia will be hopeful of, at the very least, moving up from their lowly sixth position in last year’s standings.

As mentioned, AlphaTauri have looked very strong throughout the test and tied with Alfa Romeo for most laps completed at 422. Veteran Kimi Räikkönen said, “I guess we are faster than at our best at the end of 2020, but whether that translates into a better performance in the races, that we will have to see.” It looks likely that Williams and Haas will be fighting over the wooden spoon but with the order from last year reversed. Particularly as Guenther Steiner confirmed there would be no updates to this year’s Haas.

Some Predictions I’ll Probably Regret Making

Okay, time to put my neck on the line, make some outrageous predictions and then see just how wrong I was in nine months’ time.

World Champion

.

MAX VERSTAPPEN

I know, I know. All the smart money is on Hamilton to seal that record-breaking eighth title in a year where the regulations have changed a relatively small amount since a Mercedes domination. But I just have a gut feeling. Verstappen seems to be getting stronger and, as mentioned, the Red Bull start to the year was far smoother than that of Mercedes. So, why not? Maybe the changing of the guard will arrive one year early than expected…

Surprise Winner

.

DANIEL RICCIARDO

2020 saw two shock victories from Pierre Gasly and Pérez. They were arguably the first surprise winners since Pastor Maldonado in 2012 but, with Ferrari now in the midfield, there are only four front-running cars and that increases the chance of someone sneaking in there when the leaders trip up. And who better than Daniel Ricciardo? He has that knack for capitalising when the chance is there and McLaren appear to be on an upward trajectory. Shoeys all round.

Surprise Podium

.

NICO HÜLKENBERG

The Hulk appears to be the reserve driver for half of the grid at this point, after proving his ability to step into a car on short notice and produce an impressive performance three times last year. He has been linked with stand-in roles for Red Bull, Aston Martin, McLaren and even Mercedes. Whilst Verstappen has been controversially vaccinated against COVID-19, most of the grid still has not and it seems likely that somebody will be forced to miss at least one race at some point. Let the curse finally be broken.

The 2021 season starts here

Posted on by James Mackenzie

All the teams’ new challengers have now been launched – or at least the liveries have, with as little as possible given away in terms of their actual design.

So, as ever, there’s not a huge amount to garner from these launches but let’s at least talk about how pretty (or not, or familiar) the new liveries are and look for any significant design tweaks.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team

Image credit: Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes stick with a black arrow for one more season, but have removed the sea of stars that adorned the rear of the engine cover on the last two cars. They have, in fact, been replaced by a sea of AMGs…

Whilst that has proved somewhat unpopular, the rest of the car is as sleek as ever. There is an increased presence of INEOS red, in line with their increased stake in the team, which makes the entire livery feel more together than last year’s. The font of the driver numbers has also finally been changed from what appeared to be default Arial in recent years.

Predictably Mercedes have revealed none of the tricks they may have up their sleeve this year – remember that they started work on this car earlier than any other team – so let’s see what car arrives at the pre-season tests…

Red Bull Racing Honda

Image credit: Red Bull Racing

It’s yet another Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V job from Red Bull. Whilst it’s still a nice livery, it would have been nice to see a bit of a change. Perhaps they could have leaned a bit harder on the Red Bull yellow now that Renault have left that spot on the F1 colour wheel vacant.

There is some intense bargeboard work going on in the release photos, but Red Bull have often put something on the car to draw the eye at launch day only for it to disappear by the first test. So, let’s take that with a pinch of salt.

McLaren F1 Team

Image credit: McLaren F1

Bar a tiny bit of extra blue on the nose, the MCL35M is a carbon copy of the MCL35 in terms of livery. However, that ‘M’ is very significant and means that McLaren have likely had the biggest change in car over the winter.

That’s because that ‘M’ stands for Mercedes. McLaren have left Renault behind and the difference it has made to their aerodynamics around the power unit are huge. The cumbersome Renault engine took up a lot of space but the MCL35M’s engine cover is narrower even than last year’s Mercedes. If the Mercedes power pushes McLaren forward in the manner than many expect, they could well be challenging for regular podiums.

Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team

Image credit: Aston Martin F1

Aston Martin are finally back – and so is British racing green! Once the deal with BWT was announced, many feared the pink linked with their sponsorship would produce some kind of watermelon monstrosity. But the designers have, in fact, succeeded in combining the two elegantly.

It is deeper shade of pink and kept to just a couple of accents which surprisingly compliment the green. The rest of the design is very simple – one could argue unambitious – but the colour is the main attraction and looks predictably stunning in natural light. Will last year’s ‘Pink Mercedes’ be as successful as a ‘Green Mercedes’?

Alpine F1 Team

Image credit: Alpine F1

Onto another rebrand; this one with a distinctly French feel. The traditional Renault yellow has sadly gone from the grid, but the Alpine livery has turned out to be stunning. A metallic, electric blue, combined with a simple Tricolore effect towards the back is elegant but striking.

With a Renault engine underneath, the Alpine still has a distinctly wider engine cover than the rest of the grid. However, if the engine has been improved and can help move them closer to the top end of the field, they won’t mind one bit. They certainly won’t want Fernando discussing GP2 engines over the radio again.

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow

Image credit: Scuderia Ferrari

Shockingly, it’s not just red! Usually the most predictable launch of the year, Ferrari have gone more controversial for 2021. With a fade towards a darker shade of red at the back and a real curveball with a green Mission Winnow logo on the engine cover.

There are some interesting ideas but the execution seems slightly off – a white border around the green would likely have made it clash less. Not that the green logo is all that important in the grand scheme of things as Mission Winnow is banned in most of the Western world and will likely be gone after the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The nose has changed significantly as Ferrari move in the direction the rest of the field has already pursued and the Scuderia will have all their fingers crossed that the engine has been significantly improved so that they can claw back some performance after last year’s embarrassment. The new livery was leaked by a ‘hacker’ who set their computer clock ahead…so it’s not been the best start.

Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda

Image credit: Scuderia AlphaTauri

The team formerly known as Toro Rosso (and Minardi, of course) have produced another decent livery. It is similar to their design from last year but with the navy blue to white ratio skewed towards the former.

AlphaTauri have also used their allotted development tokens to redesign the nose. Whilst the official release images show last year’s nose, the team tested at Imola a few days later with a noticeably more slender design.

Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen

Image credit: Alfa Romeo Racing

Seemingly one of the Alfa Romeo designers accidentally hit ‘invert’ on last year’s livery and then decided it actually looked pretty good. And, in fairness, it does. It oozes that Alfa Romeo class and the green quadrifoglio added to the engine cover is also a nice touch.

They have added some interesting design features to the front of the car; the purpose of which I won’t claim to understand just yet, but will likely be hypothesised by Ted Kravitz as some point during the Sky testing coverage.

Uralkali Haas F1 Team

Image credit: Haas F1

Well then. Formula 1’s ‘American’ team is now effectively sporting a shiny, Russian flag. Since their arrival in 2015, Haas have resisted the temptation to produce any kind of stars and stripes livery, sticking to their traditional brand colours of grey and red. But then in came the controversial Mazepin family.

Rookie driver Nikita received backlash for a series of misdemeanours – both on track and off track – and many are pushing the #WeSayNoToMazepin movement. It appears, though, that he is going nowhere, largely thanks to Haas’s desperation for his father’s Uralkali funding. It would not be a surprise to see the Russian oligarch buy out the team within the next couple of years.

There is added irony in that Mazepin will not be allowed to race under the Russian flag, thanks to the CAS ruling on Russian doping. Apparently he is allowed to drive in a big, Russian flag, however.

Williams Racing

Image credit: Williams Racing

Williams had planned for an innovative VR launch of their new livery but, unfortunately, the app they were using was hacked and the designs leaked early. The response has been mixed but the blue, yellow and white is a nice nod to their infamous liveries in the early 90s.

True, the final design could perhaps have been improved – as shown by many armchair designers on Reddit – but it is a decent attempt at something different. Plus, it is always more difficult with the constraints of board executives and sponsors to please. It’s a shame BWT didn’t sign up with Williams and produce a blue-and-pink number akin to Damon Hill’s 1992 Brabham, perhaps. There is a lot of blue and white on this year’s grid…

Quiz | Formula 1 number 14s

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Back in 2019, I did a quiz about the drivers who have used the number 5 throughout F1 history. So, in honour of Fernando Alonso returning to the sport, let’s do the same for the number 14!

Certainly a bit trickier as it’s largely midfield drivers but hey, I’ve already given you the answer for 2014 through to 2021…

Good luck!

Once you’re done, be sure to check out my other quizzes here.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas pose for a Mercedes promo.

How do you beat one of the best ever?

Posted on by James Mackenzie

If Valtteri Bottas is to become a world champion, he faces the unenviable task of beating Lewis Hamilton, in the same machinery, over the course of a season. That is something that the seven-time world champion’s varying teammates have achieved just twice, from 14 attempts; Jenson Button in 2011 and Nico Rosberg in 2016.

Fernando Alonso tied on points with a rookie Hamilton in 2007 during their fractious single season together at McLaren but technically lost out, courtesy of having achieved fewer wins.

So, how did Button and Rosberg achieve it?

2011

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in 2011.
Image credit: LAT Photographic

2011 was something of an annus horribilis for Hamilton, during which he allowed multiple issues in his personal life to affect his performance on the track. There were tensions with then-girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and, even more so, with his father.

Anthony Hamilton had managed his son’s career since the age of eight but, during 2010, the driver decided that he would rather have an independent manager who would allow him more freedom. It would take father and son several years to fully repair their relationship.

These stresses and strains manifested themselves mostly in the form of erratic driving and Hamilton suffered an error-filled season. He and Felipe Massa were practically inseparable on track; not in the sense that they were closely matched as much as that they managed to have no fewer than five collisions during the season.

That’s not to discredit Button, who had an excellent season and was clearly ‘best of the rest’ behind a runaway Sebastian Vettel. It was arguably his best year in the sport, even including his title win in 2009, and featured the truly epic, four-hour Canadian Grand Prix where Button came from last place to steal the victory from Vettel on the final lap.

It was a clear dip in form for Hamilton, though, compared to 2010 and 2012 when he was held back more by McLaren’s lack of reliability and operational issues.

Hamilton has clearly matured greatly in the decade since and is now generally able to keep any personal troubles away from the track. Bottas will need to do more than rely on some off days.

2016

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collide at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Image credit: Zak Mauger/LAT/Rex/Shutterstock

Hamilton versus Rosberg was the ultimate friends-turned-foes story of the early hybrid era. Rosberg spent years trying to gain a psychological advantage over his rival but, having fallen short in 2014 and 2015, realised he needed to focus more on himself.

The start of the season went very much Rosberg’s way, with a string of issues blighting Hamilton – he was hit by Bottas at the start in Bahrain, before consecutive power unit failures left him far down the grid at the next two grands prix. He came back strongly, however, and – despite starting from last in Belgium after serving a penalty for having used too many power units – was leading at the summer break.

At a time when driver weight was still a critical factor, Rosberg decided to stop cycling in an attempt to lose weight from his legs during the break and succeeded in losing one kilogram. That translates to around four hundredths of a second per lap and Rosberg took pole from Hamilton in Japan by just two hundredths. It is those kind of marginal gains that can make all the difference in a season of fine margins.

Ultimately, another engine failure from the lead of the Malaysian Grand Prix would prove to be too much for the Briton to make up in the final races of the year – despite winning all of them – and, whilst Hamilton’s shocking reliability was undeniably a crucial factor in 2016, Rosberg had to be there to take every opportunity presented to him and he unfailingly was.

2021?

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ready for 2021.
Image credit: Mercedes

So, what have we learnt?

That Bottas will likely need to extract every ounce of his ability, go to extreme lengths to enhance his performance wherever possible, make almost no mistakes, and could probably do with a decent slice of luck. But hey, stranger things have happened.

He has started the last two seasons strongly with a controlled win at the opening grand prix, before falling back as Hamilton builds up momentum and he – understandably – struggles to match the most successful driver of all time.

He will have to find a way to keep up the challenge in 2021, however, as it looks like it could well be his final season with Mercedes. George Russell proved he could, at the very least, match the Finn without any preparation at last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix and, once again, Bottas has only been given a one-year contract.

He seems to be in a great place in his life right now; whilst it was unknown to most, he was going through a divorce in 2019, but is now in a new relationship and seems content and motivated.

Will we see Bottas 3.0 or 4.0 or whatever software update he’s up to now this year? Could we get yet another Finnish world champion? And maybe one that would even break into a smile?!

He’ll need his coffee and his porridge, that’s for sure.

Hamilton finally signs on the dotted line

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have come to an agreement on a new contract for the seven-time world champion. But it’s only for 2021…

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff celebrate Mercedes' seventh world title.

After a year of speculation – albeit with the general acceptance that the two parties would get things sorted eventually – the deal is finally done. From the outside, there seemed little reason to break up a winning combination. Arguably the most successful combination in the history of the sport.

Hamilton’s contract negotiations have often dragged on in recent years, since he took control of the process himself and has also moved into a powerful position as Formula 1’s most eminent figure. This one has been especially lengthy, though.

That is likely in part due to complications regarding the pandemic. It would appear that, in the past, Hamilton and Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff have often met up for dinner and hammered out the bulk of the agreement. That is obviously not so easily done currently.

But there have also been rumours regarding other sticking points. Some have mentioned a ‘Verstappen Clause’, which revolved around Hamilton being able to have a say on his teammate for 2022. Despite the name, that was not necessarily focussed directly on Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman is the most likely threat to Hamilton’s dominance in the sport and Wolff is known to have been keeping tabs on him for years. Mercedes even tried to sign him as a 16-year-old, but weren’t able to match Red Bull‘s promise of an immediate drive.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images

However, Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2023 and Mercedes know all too well the pitfalls of having two ‘alpha’ drivers, both determined to lead the team, from their volatile years with the pairing of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The more likely option for 2022 and beyond is surely George Russell. He is a junior Mercedes driver who demonstrated his considerable potential when given his one surprise opportunity at Sakhir and Daimler chairman Ola Kallenius wants Russell to be the team’s number one after Hamilton. The young Briton’s contract with Williams is up at the end of 2021 – as is that of current Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas – so it would appear that there are three Mercedes drivers in competition for the two 2022 seats.

There is also talk of Hamilton’s new contract containing an option for a second year, though.

It is hard to know how much longer he wants to continue. From one race to the next he will often go from sounding like he is on the verge of announcing his retirement to discussing his excitement for the new regulations in 2022.

The 36-year-old is certainly aware that he is entering the twilight of his F1 career and has many passions outside the sport – his music, his fashion, his new XE team and his fight for equality – but you can see how intensely that competitive desire still burns every race weekend.

He has also utilised Formula 1 as a springboard for his various campaigns and, indeed, this new contract contains a ‘joint commitment for greater diversity and inclusion’. Perhaps he will take stock at the end of this year – when there is a good chance he will have become the outright most successful driver in history with an eighth title – and decide if he does want to continue.

George Russell in the Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: LAT Images

If the answer is yes, Mercedes would surely keep him on, and it would then most likely boil down to a battle between Russell and Bottas for the second seat. Mercedes would need to weigh up the pros and cons of consistency through a regulation change versus giving a deserved opportunity to their future star, who surely can only wait so long for his promotion.

If the answer is no, would they embrace change and swoop for Verstappen? A Verstappen and Russell pairing would likely be thrilling and very fast, but it would have undeniable parallels with a certain driver pairing at McLaren in 2007. And we all know how that one worked out…

Taking your chance at Ferrari

Posted on by James Mackenzie

How do you fill the shoes of a four-time world champion?

You would imagine that this thought has – fleetingly, at least – crossed the mind of Carlos Sainz ahead of his move to Ferrari this year. He will replace Sebastian Vettel who, whilst ultimately unsuccessful in his quest to bring a title back to Maranello, spearheaded the Italian marque’s endeavours from 2015 to 2020.

Many suspect the Spaniard will fulfil a role as the de facto number two to the Scuderia’s rising superstar, Charles Leclerc, but let’s not write him off so soon. It is worth remembering that Sainz largely matched Max Verstappen during their time as teammates at Toro Rosso and, after a somewhat uninspiring spell at Renault, has reminded the paddock of his considerable potential with two excellent seasons in the papaya orange of McLaren.

However, numerous Ferrari drivers have shown great potential, only for the expectation of the Tifosi – if not an entire nation – to weigh too heavily upon their shoulders.

So, can Sainz shine where many before him have only glimmered? He joins Ferrari after a few seasons at midfield teams who haven’t provided a serious chance at victory. How have those in a similar situation fared over the last few decades? Let’s investigate.

Jean Alesi

Tyrrell > Ferrari, 1991 | Races Before Move: 24 | Races for Ferrari: 81 | Wins: 1

Jean Alesi made quite an impact during his two seasons with Tyrrell, claiming two podiums in an underpowered car and famously battling with Ayrton Senna for the lead of the 1990 season-opener in Phoenix. His performances were impressive enough for Ferrari to take a chance on the young Frenchman.

Despite coping well with immediately having to compete with Alain Prost, Alesi would prove to be the perennial underachiever of F1 during the 90s – undeniably fast, but also an ill-fated combination of foolhardy and unlucky.

A Sicilian-born, passionate driver of the evocative number 27 Ferrari, Alesi was inevitably popular with the Tifosi but would ultimately manage just one win in 1995, before swapping seats with Michael Schumacher and moving to Benetton.

Eddie Irvine

Jordan > Ferrari, 1996 | Races Before Move: 32 | Races for Ferrari: 65 | Wins: 4

Eddie Irvine made an instant impression in F1 by scoring a point on his debut and then promptly being punched by Senna for having unlapped himself. Controversy continued to follow him, with two separate bans the following year and a subsequent threat of his Super Licence being revoked. He certainly showed flashes of speed in between the altercations, though, and Ferrari were suitably impressed to buy out his new contract with Jordan.

Irvine was initially unconvincing and, after a series of eight consecutive retirements, the Italian press was calling for him to be sacked. He steadily improved, however, and played a strong supporting role to Schumacher, before assuming the role of team leader in 1999 when the German broke his leg in a crash halfway through the season.

He would eventually miss out on the championship by two points but played a large part in Ferrari winning their first constructors’ title in 16 years. It would prove to be his final contribution before a largely unsuccessful move to Jaguar.

Rubens Barrichello

Stewart > Ferrari, 2000 | Races Before Move: 114 | Races for Ferrari: 104 | Wins: 9

Seen as a potential successor to Senna, Rubens Barrichello was already experienced in carrying the hopes of a nation by the time he joined Ferrari in 2000. He was, however, entering what was very much Schumacher’s team and that is something he would not be able to change over the subsequent six years.

The popular Brazilian would come to epitomise the ‘number two’ driver role – consistent, compliant and reliable but never quite fast enough to challenge the superstar on the other side of the garage. Team orders were, in fact, banned at the end of 2002 after the controversy of Ferrari forcing Barrichello to hand over a victory to his teammate in Austria.

With more freedom and a less commanding teammate, ‘Rubinho’ would likely have won far more than nine grands prix and could well have challenged for a title.

Felipe Massa

Sauber > Ferrari, 2006 | Races Before Move: 53 | Races for Ferrari: 139 | Wins: 11

Another popular Brazilian and one that would go on to become a Ferrari ‘number two’ also. Felipe Massa started out equal parts fast and error-prone with a hit-and-miss season at Sauber in 2002 but, after spending the following year as test driver for Ferrari, he rejoined his former team a more mature driver. He convincingly outpaced his former world champion teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, throughout the 2005 season and was signed to partner Schumacher at Ferrari for 2006.

Whilst still somewhat inconsistent, Massa was always fast and came about as close as you can to winning a world championship in 2008; only Lewis Hamilton’s infamous last corner “Is that Glock?” moment denying him the title.

A freak accident in 2009 left Massa briefly in a coma and, whilst he would recover in time for the following season, he was arguably never the same driver again. He spent his final four years with Ferrari in a support role to teammate Fernando Alonso and would never win another race.

Carlos Sainz

McLaren > Ferrari, 2021 | Races Before Move: 119 | Races For Ferrari: ? | Wins: ?

So, what does the future hold for Sainz in the red of the Scuderia?

Obviously, after such a calamitous season for Ferrari in 2020, the goalposts for a new recruit have been moved. The team will be rebuilding and that will likely help Sainz find his feet with expectations somewhat tempered for 2021 and a year to acclimatise without the instant pressure most of his predecessors have had to deal with.

Ferrari have historically held a policy of employing tried-and-tested drivers, but taking a chance on youth and potential last year, in Leclerc, proved very successful and 2021 will see the youngest Ferrari line-up in living memory. As we can see from these examples, joining Ferrari and dethroning a multiple world champion is no easy feat, but the young Monégasque managed it over the last two years. Now Sainz will have to attempt to dethrone him…

The 2020 Mostly F1 Awards

Posted on by James Mackenzie

2020 is a year many will be looking to put behind them, but let’s quickly focus on it once more and dish out a few awards – some orthodox, some less so – for a season that nobody will ever forget.

Driver of the Year

Lewis Hamilton admiring Michael Schumacher's helmet, which he was presented for matching the German's record.
Image credit: LAT Images

There were a few contenders for this award. Max Verstappen was excellent all year and took the battle to the superior Mercedes cars more often than he had any right to. Pierre Gasly topped off a fantastic redemption arc with an unlikely victory in Monza and there were also stellar performances from Sergio Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo.

Ultimately, though, it has to go to that man again – Lewis Hamilton. At the end of a season where he broke record after record and matched Michael Schumacher‘s high-tide mark of seven world titles, it would be wrong to give it to anybody else. Car number 44 won 11 of its 16 races and, whether or not that car is the class of the field, that takes some doing. Plus, who am I to argue with Her Majesty?

Honorable Mentions: Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Pérez.

Team of the Year

McLaren celebrate third place in the Constructors' Championship.
Image credit: McLaren F1

Now for a more controversial choice. Yes – as previously mentioned – Mercedes were once again the class of the field. By a long shot. But there were also mistakes, such as the radio calls to Hamilton in both Monza and Sochi, and controversies, such as the ‘Tracing Point’ saga and DAS.

McLaren clinching third in the Constructors’ Championship is a huge achievement and took a real team effort. Both drivers were excellent and very consistent throughout the season, the pit crews were error-free and management topped things off with a crucial investment and the signing of Ricciardo for 2021.

Third place is huge for the Woking team and shows that they continue to head in the right direction. After all, what would the odds of McLaren finishing ahead of Ferrari have been just a couple of years ago?

Honourable Mentions: Mercedes

Race of the Year

Lewis Hamilton is overcome with emotion as he seals his seventh title.
Image credit: LAT Images

The German Grand Prix was a fairly clear winner for the 2019 ‘Race of the Year’ but this time round it isn’t quite so clear cut. Eventful races in Italy and Sakhir produced shock winners and the cold weather in Portugal produced plenty of intrigue.

The Turkish Grand Prix takes the gong, though. Starting off with a shock maiden pole position for Lance Stroll, it was action-packed as drivers struggled with the slippery, wet tarmac after a recent resurfacing and a downpour on Sunday morning. And it proved to be just as momentous as it was chaotic, with Hamilton producing a victory thoroughly worthy of wrapping up a historic seventh world title.

Honourable Mentions: Italian Grand Prix, Sakhir Grand Prix, Portuguese Grand Prix

Drive of the Year

George Russell in the Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Image credit: LAT Images

When Hamilton contracted Covid-19, George Russell was unexpectedly thrust into the limelight with a chance in the dominant Mercedes at the Sakhir Grand Prix. The young Briton already had a strong reputation, having never been outqualified by a teammate after nearly two seasons in the sport.

But surely this was too big of an ask? Russell only had the three practice sessions to grow accustomed to his new machinery and barely fit into the car. On Saturday, though, he would finish qualifying just two hundredths behind Valtteri Bottas and then topped that by beating his vastly more experienced teammate off the line to lead on Sunday.

Sadly, the fairytale was not to be, thanks to some horrendous luck and a Mercedes blunder – which the next award shall expand on – but Russell nonetheless grabbed the sport’s attention and is now surely one season at most away from a seat much nearer the front of the field.

Honourable Mentions: Sergio Pérez in Sakhir, Lewis Hamilton in Turkey, Pierre Gasly at Monza

Blunder of the Year

So, yes, that blunder…

Mercedes are totally infallible and unflappable…99% of the time. But that 1% tends to be pretty disastrous. Hamilton’s pit stop at Germany in 2019 was comedic and embarrassing – especially due to the team wearing effective fancy dress in honour of 125 years in motorsport – but perhaps more understandable as Hamilton had crashed and immediately driven into the pits on a wet but drying track.

The disastrous pit stop in Sakhir was perhaps more costly and equally embarrassing. Mercedes called both drivers in for a ‘safety stop’ and had to double-stack, but a radio issue led to a miscommunication and confusion as Russell drove off with some of Bottas’s tyres and the Finn then sat there for 30 seconds as that realisation dawned upon the mechanics.

Russell had to pit again for the correct tyres the following lap and, to add salt to the wound, would pick up a puncture as he raced back through the field.

Honourable Mentions: Mercedes at Monza, Racing Point at Imola

Crash of the Year

The multi-car pile-up at Mugello would have taken ‘Crash of the Year’ comfortably in recent years. But 2020 had another surprise in store for the F1 world, in the shape of the most horrifying crash in decades.

When Romain Grosjean speared into the barriers at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix and produced an instantaneous fireball, many at home and in the garages feared the worst. But, after two agonising minutes of no replays and no information, it was confirmed Grosjean had miraculously escaped and was safely sitting in the medical car.

The impact measured 53G but the Haas driver somehow remained conscious. He then found a way to escape the mangled wreckage – minus one shoe – and leapt over the barrier, aided by the heroic medical team, to safety. It is not the way Grosjean would have imagined he would enter retirement, but he is now surely just pleased to have reached it at all.

Honourable Mentions: Multi-car pile-up at Mugello, Lance Stroll in Bahrain

Overtake of the Year

Any overtake through Eau Rouge – yes, I know…it’s Raidillon actually – looks great, but the manner in which Pierre Gasly kept his foot in as Pérez squeezed him into the wall on the run up makes this one extra special.

The bravery was particularly poignant as Gasly remembered his close friend, Anthoine Hubert, who had sadly died in a crash at the same corner a year earlier.

Honourable Mentions: George Russell in Sakhir, Kevin Magnussen in Spain

Opening Lap of the Year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChdaNDFI30

Whilst it was the other Alfa Romeo driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, who relentlessly made up positions at the start in 2020 – obviously helped by qualifying towards the back each time – Kimi Räikkönen surely had the best opening lap of the year.

As the pack slithered round in the freezing conditions in Portugal, ‘The Iceman’ lived up to his name, climbing from 16th to 6th in one tour of the 4.692 km circuit. There’s life in the old dog yet.

Honourable Mentions: Sebastian Vettel in Turkey, Antonio Giovinazzi at Monza

Best Day of Silly Season

Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo in their new team overalls.

‘Silly season’ got underway before a wheel had been turned in anger in 2020. With Covid-19 halting matters in Melbourne and then ultimately causing a four-month delay, there was at least some action to discuss in the driver market.

Especially so when, in the space of 24 hours, Sebastian Vettel was confirmed to be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season, Carlos Sainz was named as his replacement and then Ricciardo filled the vacant seat at McLaren.

Honourable Mentions: Vettel replacing Pérez, Pérez replacing Albon

Best Vocal Performance

Vettel’s surprise farewell song to his Ferrari team was very touching, but the performance maybe left a little to be desired. Lando Norris, however, belted out a radio check in Mugello with the confidence of a drunk man in a karaoke bar.

Honourable Mentions: Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi

2020 drivers’ report cards

Posted on by James Mackenzie

Lewis Hamilton

1st | Pts: 347 | Wins: 11 | Podiums: 14 | Poles: 10 | FL: 6 | Ret: 0

Lewis Hamilton somehow matched many of his statistics from 2019 despite a truncated season of just 17 races, one of which he missed after contracting Coronavirus (and was then clearly still suffering the effects upon his return for the finale). Before his absence at the Sakhir Grand Prix, the World Champion was looking likely to break Jim Clark‘s record for the highest percentage of laps led in a season.

Either way, winning 11 of his 16 races shows the level of dominance from Hamilton this year, which he puts down to the Black Lives Matter movement giving him extra drive. He may be turning 36 in January – and still not technically confirmed at Mercedes for 2021 – but he shows no signs of slowing down just yet. Which is bad news for his competitors.

Highlight: Matching Michael Schumacher‘s record of seven world championship titles.

Lowlight: His week with Covid-19. It would appear that it hit him hard.

GRADE: A+

Valtteri Bottas

2nd | Pts: 223 | Wins: 2 | Podiums: 11 | Poles: 5 | FL: 2 | Ret: 1

2020 proved to be another false dawn for Valtteri Bottas. After winning the belated season opener, the Finn gradually fell away from Hamilton in the standings and, by the time Hamilton had wrapped up the title in Turkey, was barely hanging onto second place in the championship.

It must be said that Bottas suffered more than his fair share of bad luck again; a tyre blow-out at Silverstone and engine failure at the Nürburgring were both costly. Ultimately, though, he just wasn’t good enough. Taking on Lewis Hamilton for the title in the same machinery is one of the biggest challenges in the sport and Bottas is left with another winter of reflection, trying to figure out a way to beat one of the greatest of all time.

Highlight: A perfect start in Austria.

Lowlight: An embarrassing day of spins in the wet as Hamilton clinched the title in Turkey.

Grade: B-

Max Verstappen

3rd | PTS: 214 | WINS: 2 | PODIUMS: 11 | POLES: 1 | FL: 3 | RET: 5

Max Verstappen has competed with Hamilton for ‘driver of the year’ rights throughout the season and there is precious little to separate them. He has frequently outperformed his Red Bull machinery and taken the fight to the Mercedes cars on his own, whilst his teammate was fighting in the midfield.

The flying Dutchman appears to have reached a new level of maturity whilst holding onto his raw speed and, given the right machinery, could surely mount a serious title challenge. Verstappen has not had much of a threat from the other side of the garage since Daniel Ricciardo left in 2018. Perhaps the experience of Sergio Pérez can help develop the car and push him on further next season.

Highlight: A dominant win in Abu Dhabi was a nice way to way to enter the winter break.

Lowlight: Throwing away a chance at victory in Turkey after a moment of impatience.

Grade: A

Alexander Albon

7th | PTS: 105 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

It has been a tough year for Alexander Albon. After showing promise in his short spell at Red Bull last year, team bosses had hoped the affable Anglo-Thai driver could push on with time to fully prepare and a complete season. But, sadly, they have been disappointed.

Albon may well have won the first race of the year, if not for the collision with Hamilton, but things unravelled thereafter. He looked increasingly jaded as the season wore on and he remained the wrong side of half a second per lap slower than Verstappen. At least he was allowed to see out the season and given every chance to impress, which has not always been a courtesy granted to those at Red Bull.

In the end, his demotion to reserve driver looks the correct choice; hopefully he can take some time to clear his head and return stronger.

Highlight: A long-overdue maiden podium at Mugello after overtaking Ricciardo.

Lowlight: Being widely mocked for a radio message where he complained about being ‘raced so hard’ as he struggled to pass the AlphaTauris.

Grade: D

Carlos Sainz

6TH | PTS: 105 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 2nd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 1 | RET: 2

After some poor luck earlier in the season, Carlos Sainz recovered to claim sixth in the drivers’ standings for the second year running, which is a good representation of his consistency during his time at McLaren. The Spaniard also very nearly claimed a maiden victory at the madcap Italian Grand Prix and overtook the Mercedes to lead early on in Portugal.

His performances in orange have earned him a move to the famous red of Ferrari. Oddly, it could currently be viewed as a move backwards considering the Scuderia’s struggles in 2020. Wherever they prove to be in the pecking order over the next two years, Charles Leclerc will be a very challenging teammate and should prove definitively whether Sainz is a driver in the top echelon or a solid support act for a superstar.

Highlight: Mixed emotions when so close to victory, but second in Monza still tastes pretty sweet ahead of a move to Ferrari.

Lowlight: A cruel late puncture at Silverstone costing him fourth place.

Grade: B+

Lando Norris

9TH | PTS: 97 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 2 | RET: 1

Lando Norris started the season with two spectacular races in Austria. A first ever podium snatched on the line at the first was followed up with another dramatic finish a week later and the new nickname of ‘Last Lap Lando’.

Things generally didn’t fall the young Briton’s way in the second half of the season, however, and he wasn’t in the right place to capitalise during the crazy races in Italy and Bahrain. It was another consistent season, though, and Norris just about edged his more-experienced teammate in the qualifying and race head-to-heads over their two years together. It may be the end of the ‘Carlando’ bromance but Ricciardo will likely prove just as fun and at least as fast.

Highlight: Getting to demonstrate his signature champagne-spraying technique at the first race.

Lowlight: An engine failure when competing for a podium at the Nürburgring left him sat in a deckchair.

Grade: B

Sergio Pérez

4TH | PTS: 125 | WINS: 1 | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

It took the prospect of Sergio Pérez leaving the sport for some people to truly appreciate him. Once the news broke that he would be replaced by Sebastian Vettel next year, pundits and drivers alike came out and said it would be a travesty if the Mexican didn’t find a seat for 2021. Pérez justified their remarks with a series of stellar performances, culminating in an emotional maiden win at the Sakhir Grand Prix and fourth in the standings despite missing two races with Covid-19.

The poisoned chalice of the second seat at Red Bull is his reward. It’s not an easy job, but Pérez is a wise, old head these days and knows his strengths and weaknesses. He’s unlikely to best Verstappen on a Saturday too often but his ability to preserve his tyres may well bring him back into the running on race day.

Highlight: A very well-deserved win in Sakhir, even after finishing the opening lap in last place.

Lowlight: An engine failure a week earlier in Bahrain costing him a podium.

Grade: A-

Lance Stroll

11TH | PTS: 75 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 1 | FL: 0 | RET: 5

A strong start to the year – including a podium at Monza – saw Lance Stroll temporarily holding fourth in the standings. But then came a horrible run of bad luck. A tyre failure when chasing another podium in Mugello was followed by being spun out on the first lap in Russia and then a very messy episode at the Nürburgring. Stroll withdrew due to a ‘stomach bug’ but was then confirmed as having Covid-19 a week later.

He took a surprise pole position in Turkey and led for much of the race, but an ill-advised pit stop saw him fall back to ninth. Being flipped upside-down in Bahrain, followed by another podium a week later and then a frustrating race in Abu Dhabi completed a rollercoaster season for the Canadian. He has certainly shown more flashes of speed this season, though, and can compare himself against a four-time world champion next year in the rebranded Aston Martin.

Highlight: That surprise maiden pole – the first by a Canadian not named Villeneuve.

Lowlight: A costly, heavy crash in Mugello.

Grade: B-

Daniel Ricciardo

5TH | PTS: 119 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 3rd) | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 2 | RET: 1

It took the best part of two years, but Daniel Ricciardo did eventually succeed in his goal of a podium at Renault – their first in over a decade – and thus earned a tattoo for team boss Cyril Abiteboul. Ricciardo was already confirmed to leave the team, though, as he moves to McLaren for 2021.

Whilst the Renault project that persuaded the Honey Badger to leave Red Bull appears to be making more progress than it was last year, McLaren is still arguably a step up in team – third in the standings this year and with Mercedes engines for 2021. Ricciardo also crushed another well-respected teammate in Esteban Ocon and now has Norris in his sights for next year.

Highlight: Finally claiming that podium after numerous near misses.

Lowlight: A safety car costing him third place two races earlier in Mugello.

Grade: A-

Esteban Ocon

12TH | PTs: 62 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 2nd) | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 4

It has been a challenging year for Esteban Ocon. His reputation as a potential star of the future has taken a hit after something of a mauling by his older teammate. 15-2 in qualifying and 13-4 on race day doesn’t make for pretty reading, but there were some mitigating factors.

He certainly had the worst of the reliability issues and was returning the sport after a year as a reserve driver to a brand new car. Nonetheless, he will likely need to do better next season to retain his seat and the replacement for Ricciardo is none other than double world champion Fernando Alonso. Who, whilst turning 40 next year, is unlikely to be a pushover…

Highlight: Another driver with a maiden podium – this time in Sakhir.

Lowlight: Yet another mechanical failure when running strongly at the Eifel Grand Prix.

Grade: C

Sebastian Vettel

13th | Pts: 33 | Wins: 0 | Podiums: 1 | Poles: 0 | FL: 0 | Ret: 2

Back in January, the odds of Sebastian Vettel finishing the season in 13th would have been pretty huge. And yet, what once would have been headline-worthy, is now mundane.

It has been a rough year for the former champion. After being informed back in May that his services would no longer be required come the end of the season, Vettel has often looked disinterested and off the pace. Perhaps understandably so, considering the appalling car that Ferrari produced for 2020 and his lack of an incentive to work towards improving it for next year.

There was, at least, a surprise podium in Turkey and it was fitting that he shared that podium with Hamilton as he matched the record of Vettel’s idol. A new project in Aston Martin green suits Vettel well and will surely see him producing the performances which we know he can deliver.

Highlight: Using his experience to claim one final podium for Ferrari amid the madness of Istanbul.

Lowlight: Spending most of the season half a second off the pace of his teammate.

Grade: C-

Charles Leclerc

8TH | PTS: 98 | WINS: 0 | PODIUMS: 2 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 4

Ferrari may have had a shocking year, but it has at least allowed the raw talent of Charles Leclerc to shine. He has consistently overdelivered and earned himself two unlikely podiums early in the year, whilst building on his momentum from last year and, frankly, crushing Vettel. The German’s farewell message even described Leclerc as “the most talented driver he has come across in 15 years of F1”.

There have been mistakes, however. Leclerc clumsily took both Ferraris out at the first corner in Styria and caused another early incident in Sakhir. He also threw away podium at the final few corners in Turkey. It is easy to forget, though, that this is only his third season in the sport and, if he irons out those errors, he could well deliver on Vettel’s big words over the next few years.

Highlight: A stunning drive to third place at Silverstone.

Lowlight: Judging by his radio message, that error in Turkey cut him deep.

Grade: B+

Daniil Kvyat

14TH | PTS: 32 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 4th) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 2

Daniil Kvyat came on strong towards the end of the year, with an impressive fourth place at Imola and some great qualifying performances. But it was a case of too little, too late as he was dropped by AlphaTauri for the latest Red Bull prodigy in the shape of Yuki Tsunoda and is left without a seat for 2021.

The Russian’s Red Bull rollercoaster has finally come to an end but he appears determined to find a route back into the sport. He has certainly shown some talent over the years but has rarely been consistent. Will any team decide to give him a chance in 2022? Time will tell.

Highlight: Nearly snatching a podium at Imola.

Lowlight: The agonising minutes waiting to hear about Romain Grosjean after his (innocent) involvement in the accident.

Grade: C

Pierre Gasly

10th | PTS: 75 | WINS: 1 | PODIUMS: 1 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

What a difference a year can make and what a difference it has made for Pierre Gasly. Just over 12 months after being dropped by Red Bull, he took an incredible maiden victory at Monza in an AlphaTauri.

Whilst it obviously required a fair dose of luck, it was a fitting reward for what is one of F1’s great comebacks in recent years. Gasly has been excellent all year and the big question now is where he can go next. There is seemingly no place for him at Red Bull in the future and the rumours are that he has been speaking to Renault (or Alpine as they will be known) about a seat for 2022. He will need to ensure he beats Tsunoda first though.

Highlight: No competition. The biggest shock victory in years.

Lowlight: Being denied a shot at another podium in Imola by a mechanical failure.

Grade: A-

Kimi Räikkönen

16TH | PTS: 4 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 1

With Alfa Romeo struggling to get into the points, many expected Kimi Räikkönen to call it a day at the end of the season. And he has certainly seemed unenthused – even by his own standards – this year. But no, he lives to race once more.

He will turn 42 during the 2021 season but generally still delivers on race day, even if he seems to have lost some outright speed during qualifying. As much as it’s hard to believe, he must truly love racing if he’s happy to continue driving round in the lower midfield for another year.

Highlight: Bwoah, who knows? It was all okay.

Lowlight: See above.

Grade: C+

Antonio Giovinazzi

17TH | PTS: 4 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

Ninth at the opening grand prix of the year was as good as it got for Antonio Giovinazzi in 2020. There were two further points-scoring races but not much else of note.

The Italian has made some progress and edged out his teammate in qualifying, but most of the paddock expected him to make way for one of the many Ferrari academy drivers in F2 next year. As it was, Mick Schumacher went to Haas, Callum Ilott became Ferrari’s test driver and Robert Shwartzman has been given another year in F2. So, Giovinazzi gets another season. He will need to do something pretty special with it to prove his worth.

Highlight: Probably keeping his seat for next year.

Lowlight: Crashing at Spa for the second consecutive year (and receiving very little sympathy from his teammate).

Grade: C

Romain Grosjean

19TH | PTS: 2 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

It had been a fairly understated season from Romain Grosjean up until Bahrain, with very few incidents – which made a pleasant change from last year. But then came a crash that was the equivalent of a season’s worth of incidents, and then some.

The images of Grosjean miraculously escaping the fireball that had engulfed the remnants of his Haas will leave an indelible mark on the sport. It is a shame that he did not get to sign off in the manner that he would have liked with a heroic return in Abu Dhabi, but things will have been thoroughly put into perspective by that crash. Grosjean gets to go home to his young family and that is the biggest prize.

Highlight: Surviving a horrific, 53-G crash.

Lowlight: The point at which he “accepted death” whilst stuck in the cockpit.

Grade: An Honorary A

Kevin Magnussen

20TH | PTS: 1 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 10TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 7

2020 proved to be another frustrating year for Kevin Magnussen and he honestly seems happy enough to be losing his seat. Haas struggled again – particularly now that they were hampered with an underpowered Ferrari engine – and the 28-year-old managed just one single point all year. He certainly wasn’t aided by reliability, ending up with comfortably the most retirements on the grid, largely thanks to mechanical issues.

It is bizarre to think that Magnussen’s sole podium in his entire F1 career was on his debut. He has since said it was actually a poisoned chalice in that it set his expectations too high. A move to race for Chip Ganassi in the WTSCC will hopefully allow him to experience that champagne feeling for the first time in seven years.

Highlight: Briefly running third in Hungary after a strategy gamble paid off.

Lowlight: Most of the rest of the year.

Grade: C+

George Russell

18TH | PTS: 2 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 9TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 1 | RET: 4

Having spent most of the year once again excelling in a slow Williams, George Russell was suddenly propelled into the limelight as he replaced the Covid-stricken Hamilton at Mercedes. And boy, did he seize his opportunity.

Russell had earned the ‘Mr. Saturday’ nickname after never having been outqualified by a teammate and dragging the Williams into Q2 on numerous occasions. And he very nearly kept his perfect record despite his lack of experience – and barely fitting into the car – qualifying just two hundredths behind Bottas. He then topped that on Sunday by passing Bottas off the line and controlling the race. Only for a botched Mercedes pit stop and a puncture to cruelly deny him an extraordinary result.

Nonetheless, he enhanced his already burgeoning reputation and is now metaphorically – if not quite literally – hammering on Toto Wolff’s door for a seat at Mercedes in 2022.

Highlight: Passing Bottas to lead into the first corner for the first time.

Lowlight: Either the poor luck in Sakhir or spinning under the safety car when on for his first points with Williams.

Grade: A-

Nicholas Latifi

21st | PTS: 0 | WINS: 0 (BEST: 11TH) | PODIUMS: 0 | POLES: 0 | FL: 0 | RET: 3

Nicholas Latifi came into the sport with a reputation as nothing more than a pay driver but, whilst not exactly setting the world alight, he has been closer to Russell than Robert Kubica was last year. And few have criticised the decision to retain him for next season.

He is another, though, who will likely have to find another level to prove remain in the sport for 2022. Especially with Williams under new management and less desperate for funds.

Highlight: Very nearly an unlikely point in 11th on his debut.

Lowlight: Russell’s appearance in a Mercedes meaning Latifi dropped below him in the standings.

Grade: C-