2021 Formula One World Championship

The 2021 Formula One World Championship was the 72nd season of the Formula One World Championship. The motor racing championship is the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars.

Entries

The following constructors and drivers were under contract to compete in the 2021 World Championship. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Pirelli. Each team was required to enter at least two drivers, one for each of the two mandatory cars.

Teams and drivers that competed in the 2021 World Championship
Entrant Constructor[1] Chassis Power unit Race drivers
No. Driver name Rounds
  Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari C41[2] Ferrari 065/6[3] 7
88
99
  Kimi Räikkönen[a]
  Robert Kubica
  Antonio Giovinazzi
1–13, 15–22
13–14
All
  Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda AlphaTauri-Honda AT02[4] Honda RA621H[5] 10
22
  Pierre Gasly
  Yuki Tsunoda
All
All
  Alpine F1 Team[6] Alpine-Renault A521[7] Renault E-Tech 20B[8] 14
31
  Fernando Alonso
  Esteban Ocon
All
All
  Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team[9] Aston Martin-Mercedes AMR21[10] Mercedes-AMG F1 M12[11] 5
18
  Sebastian Vettel
  Lance Stroll
All
All
  Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow[b] Ferrari SF21[13] Ferrari 065/6[14] 16
55
  Charles Leclerc
  Carlos Sainz Jr.
All
All
  Uralkali Haas F1 Team[15] Haas-Ferrari VF-21[16] Ferrari 065/6[17] 9
47
  Nikita Mazepin[c][d]
  Mick Schumacher
All
All
  McLaren F1 Team McLaren-Mercedes MCL35M[19] Mercedes-AMG F1 M12[20] 3
4
  Daniel Ricciardo
  Lando Norris
All
All
  Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 W12[21] Mercedes-AMG F1 M12[22] 44
77
  Lewis Hamilton
  Valtteri Bottas
All
All
  Red Bull Racing Honda Red Bull Racing-Honda RB16B[23] Honda RA621H[24] 11
33
  Sergio Pérez
  Max Verstappen
All
All
  Williams Racing Williams-Mercedes FW43B[25] Mercedes-AMG F1 M12[26] 6
63
  Nicholas Latifi
  George Russell
All
All
Sources:[12][27]

Free practice drivers

Across the season, five drivers drove as a test or third driver in free practice sessions. Callum Ilott and Robert Kubica drove for Alfa Romeo Racing at two and three Grands Prix respectively, while Roy Nissany and Jack Aitken drove for Williams at three Grands Prix and at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, respectively.[12] Zhou Guanyu drove for Alpine at the Austrian Grand Prix.[12]

Team changes

McLaren announced that they would change from using Renault power units to ones built by Mercedes, resuming the McLaren-Mercedes partnership that ran between 1995 and 2014.[28] Racing Point became known as Aston Martin. The name change was brought about by the team's part owner Lawrence Stroll investing in the Aston Martin marque.[29] Renault became known as Alpine, taking on the name of Renault's sportscar brand.[6]

Driver changes

 
Mick Schumacher made his Formula One debut with Haas.
Nikita Mazepin (left) made his Formula One debut with Haas replacing Kevin Magnussen (right), who was Haas's reserve and test driver for the 2021 season.

Four-time World Drivers' Champion Sebastian Vettel left Ferrari at the end of the 2020 Championship after racing with the team for six seasons.[30] Vettel's seat was taken by Carlos Sainz Jr., who had left McLaren.[31] Daniel Ricciardo moved from Renault to McLaren, where he replaced Sainz.[32] Ricciardo was replaced by double World Champion Fernando Alonso, who drove in Alpine's first season, having last raced in 2018 for McLaren.[33]

Vettel moved to Aston Martin, where he replaced Sergio Pérez.[34][35] Pérez, who had previously signed a contract to drive for Aston Martin's predecessor, Racing Point, until 2022,[36] moved to Red Bull Racing where he replaced Alex Albon, who was Red Bull Racing's reserve and test driver for the 2021 season.[37] Pérez became the first driver since Mark Webber in 2007 to join the team without being previously a Red Bull Junior Team member.[38]

Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, who had raced for Haas since 2016 and 2017 respectively, left the team at the end of 2020.[39] 2020 Formula 2 Champion Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, took one of the seats at the team[40] while the other was filled by Nikita Mazepin, who finished fifth in the Formula 2 Championship.[41][42]

Yuki Tsunoda, who finished third in 2020 Formula 2 Championship, graduated to Formula One with Scuderia AlphaTauri, replacing Daniil Kvyat, who moved to Alpine as their reserve driver.[43] Tsunoda became the first Japanese Formula One driver since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.[44]

Mid-season changes

During the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Kimi Räikkönen tested positive for coronavirus.[45] He was replaced at Alfa Romeo Racing by reserve driver Robert Kubica, who last raced at the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, driving for Williams.[46] Räikkönen was also replaced by Kubica at the subsequent Italian Grand Prix.[47]

Nikita Mazepin did not take part in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to positive of coronavirus tests. Haas only fielded one car at the event, rather than replacing Mazepin by reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

Grands Prix results

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Report
1   Bahrain Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Valtteri Bottas   Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes Report
2   Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   Lewis Hamilton   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
3   Portuguese Grand Prix   Valtteri Bottas   Valtteri Bottas   Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes Report
4   Spanish Grand Prix   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes Report
5   Monaco Grand Prix   Charles Leclerc   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
6   Azerbaijan Grand Prix   Charles Leclerc   Max Verstappen   Sergio Pérez   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
7   French Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
8   Styrian Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
9   Austrian Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
10   British Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Sergio Pérez   Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes Report
11   Hungarian Grand Prix   Lewis Hamilton   Pierre Gasly   Esteban Ocon   Alpine-Renault Report
12   Belgian Grand Prix   Max Verstappen None   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
13   Dutch Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
14   Italian Grand Prix   Max Verstappen[e]   Daniel Ricciardo   Daniel Ricciardo   McLaren-Mercedes Report
15   Russian Grand Prix   Lando Norris   Lando Norris   Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
16   Turkish Grand Prix   Valtteri Bottas[f]   Valtteri Bottas   Valtteri Bottas Mercedes Report
17   United States Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
18   Mexico City Grand Prix   Valtteri Bottas   Valtteri Bottas   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report
19   São Paulo Grand Prix   Valtteri Bottas   Sergio Pérez   Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
20   Qatar Grand Prix   Lewis Hamilton   Max Verstappen   Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
21   Saudi Arabian Grand Prix   Lewis Hamilton   Lewis Hamilton   Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
22   Abu Dhabi Grand Prix   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing-Honda Report

World Drivers' Championship standings

Pos. Driver BHR
 
EMI
 
POR
 
ESP
 
MON
 
AZE
 
FRA
 
STY
 
AUT
 
GBR
 
HUN
 
BEL
 
NED
 
ITA
 
RUS
 
TUR
 
USA
 
MXC
 
SAP
 
QAT
 
SAU
 
ABU
 
Points
1   Max Verstappen 2P 1 2 2F 1 18 F 1PF 1P 1PF Ret1 P 9 1P 1P Ret2 P 2 2 1P 1 22 2F 2 1PF 395.5
2   Lewis Hamilton 1 2PF 1 1P 7F 15 2 2F 4 12 2P 3 2F Ret 1 5 2F 2 1 1P 1PF 2 387.5
3   Valtteri Bottas 3F Ret 3PF 3 Ret 12 4 3 2 33 Ret 12 3 31 5 1PF 6 15PF 31 P Ret 3 6 226
4   Sergio Pérez 5 11 4 5 4 1 3 4 6 16F Ret 19 8 5 9 3 3 3 4F 4 Ret 15  190
5   Carlos Sainz Jr. 8 5 11 7 2 8 11 6 5 6 3 10 7 6 3 8 7 6 63 7 8 3 164.5
6   Lando Norris 4 3 5 8 3 5 5 5 3 4 Ret 14 10 2 7PF 7 8 10 10 9 10 7 160
7   Charles Leclerc 6 4 6 4 DNSP 4P 16 7 8 2 Ret 8 5 4 15 4 4 5 5 8 7 10 159
8   Daniel Ricciardo 7 6 9 6 12 9 6 13 7 5 11 4 11 13 F 4 13 5 12 Ret 12 5 12 115
9   Pierre Gasly 17  7 10 10 6 3 7 Ret 9 11 5F 6 4 Ret 13 6 Ret 4 7 11 6 5 110
10   Fernando Alonso Ret 10 8 17 13 6 8 9 10 7 4 11 6 8 6 16 Ret 9 9 3 13 8 81
11   Esteban Ocon 13 9 7 9 9 Ret 14 14 Ret 9 1 7 9 10 14 10 Ret 13 8 5 4 9 74
12   Sebastian Vettel 15 15  13 13 5 2 9 12 17  Ret DSQ 5 13 12 12 18 10 7 11 10 Ret 11 43
13   Lance Stroll 10 8 14 11 8 Ret 10 8 13 8 Ret 20 12 7 11 9 12 14 Ret 6 11 13 34
14   Yuki Tsunoda 9 12 15 Ret 16 7 13 10 12 10 6 15 Ret DNS 17 14 9 Ret 15 13 14 4 32
15   George Russell 14 Ret 16 14 14 17  12 Ret 11 12 8 2 17  9 10 15 14 16 13 17 Ret Ret 16
16   Kimi Räikkönen 11 13 Ret 12 11 10 17 11 15 15 10 18 WD 8 12 13 8 12 14 15 Ret 10
17   Nicholas Latifi 18  Ret 18 16 15 16 18 17 16 14 7 9 16 11 19  17 15 17 16 Ret 12 Ret 7
18   Antonio Giovinazzi 12 14 12 15 10 11 15 15 14 13 13 13 14 13 16 11 11 11 14 15 9 Ret 3
19   Mick Schumacher 16 16 17 18 18 13 19 16 18 18 12 16 18 15 Ret 19 16 Ret 18 16 Ret 14 0
20   Robert Kubica 15 14 0
21   Nikita Mazepin Ret 17 19 19 17 14 20 18 19 17 Ret 17 Ret Ret 18 20 17 18 17 18 Ret WD 0
Pos. Driver BHR
 
EMI
 
POR
 
ESP
 
MON
 
AZE
 
FRA
 
STY
 
AUT
 
GBR
 
HUN
 
BEL
 
NED
 
ITA
 
RUS
 
TUR
 
USA
 
MXC
 
SAP
 
QAT
 
SAU
 
ABU
 
Points
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Finished, in points
Blue Finished, no points
Not classified (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate
Excluded (EX)

Notes:

  •   – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
  •   – Half points were awarded at the Belgian Grand Prix as less than 75% of the scheduled distance was completed. Fastest laps were not recognised in the final classification.
  1. Kimi Räikkönen was entered into the Dutch Grand Prix, but later withdrew after testing positive for coronavirus.
  2. Ferrari entered round 1 as "Scuderia Mission Winnow Ferrari", rounds 2–6, 15, 17–22 as "Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow", and rounds 7–14, 16 as "Scuderia Ferrari".[12]
  3. Nikita Mazepin is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency in response to state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.[18]
  4. Nikita Mazepin was entered into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but later withdrew after testing positive for coronavirus.
  5. Valtteri Bottas finished first in sprint qualifying, but was required to start the race from the back of the grid for exceeding his quota of power unit elements. Max Verstappen was promoted to pole position in his place.[48]
  6. Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in qualifying, but received a ten-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of internal combustion engines.[49] Valtteri Bottas was promoted to pole position in his place.[50]

2021 Formula One World Championship Media

References

  1. "CONFIRMED: All 10 teams reach new Formula 1 Concorde Agreement". Formula1. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  2. Franco Nugnes (19 January 2021). "Alfa Romeo: si chiamerà C41 la monoposto 2021" (in italiano). Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. "Alfa Romeo Racing C41". Alfa Romeo Racing. Sauber Group. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. "AlphaTauri name date to reveal 2021 F1 car – the AT02". Formula1. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. "AT02 Fire Up: 8D Audio". 16 February 2021. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Renault to rebrand as Alpine F1 Team in 2021". Formula1. 6 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. Smith, Luke (14 January 2021). "Alpine to launch A521 F1 car next month after livery tease". Autosport.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  8. Alpine F1 Team [AlpineF1Team] (2 March 2021). "Alpine A521 Renault E-TECH 20B @OconEsteban @alo_oficial #A521Launch Blue heart in the comments if you're in love!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. Adam Cooper (7 January 2021). "Aston Martin set to drop pink livery as it reveals title sponsor". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. "Aston Martin reveal name of 2021 F1 challenger ahead of next week's launch". Formula1. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  11. "The AMR21". Aston Martin Formula One Team. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Official entry lists:
  13. "Ferrari reveals SF21 name, launch plan ahead of 2021 F1 test". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. "SF21, the New Ferrari Single-Seater – Ferrari.com". Ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. "Uralkali Announced as Haas F1 Team Title Partner". Haas F1 Team. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  16. "Haas become final team to reveal 2021 launch date". Formula1. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  17. "VF-21". Haas F1 Team. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  18. Luke Smith (5 February 2021). "Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  19. Rencken, Dieter; Collantine, Keith (3 November 2020). ""No nasty surprises" designing Mercedes installation for McLaren MCL35M – Key". RaceFans.net. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  20. "McLaren MCL35M Technical Specification". McLaren. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  21. Noble, Jonathan (2 February 2021). "Mercedes announces launch date for 2021 F1 car". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  22. "Mercedes W12: ecco la scheda tecnica". motorsport.com (in italiano). 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  23. Rencken, Dieter; Collantine, Keith (14 October 2020). "Red Bull will address current car problems in RB16B – Horner". RaceFans. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  24. "Meet The RA621H". Honda.Racing. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  25. Smith, Luke. "Williams reveals launch date for 2021 FW43B Formula 1 car". Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/154912/williams-reveals-launch-date-for-fw43b-f1-car. Retrieved 5 February 2021. 
  26. Luca Manacorda (5 March 2021). "La scheda tecnica della Williams FW43B". MotorBox (in italiano). Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  27. "2021 FIA Formula One World Championship – Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 March 2015. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  28. Takle, Abhishek (28 September 2019). "McLaren to return to Mercedes engines from 2021". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/motor-f1-mclaren/update-1-motor-racing-mclaren-to-return-to-mercedes-engines-from-2021-idUSL3N26J04H. Retrieved 28 September 2019. 
  29. "Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc". London Stock Exchange. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  30. Smith, Luke (12 May 2020). "Ferrari announces Sebastian Vettel split". Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/149387/ferrari-announces-sebastian-vettel-split. Retrieved 12 May 2020. 
  31. Coch, Mat (14 May 2020). "Ferrari confirms Sainz as Vettel's replacement". speedcafe.com. https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/14/ferrari-confirms-sainz-as-vettels-replacement/. Retrieved 14 May 2020. 
  32. "Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo to join McLaren after spell with Renault". ABC News. 14 May 2020. https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/daniel-ricciardo-leaves-renault-to-join-mclaren-formula-one/12249854. Retrieved 14 May 2020. 
  33. "Fernando Alonso to make sensational return to F1 with Renault in 2021". Formula1. Formula One Administration. 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  34. "Vettel to make sensational Racing Point switch in 2021 as they re-brand as Aston Martin". Formula1. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  35. Galloway, James (10 September 2020). "Sebastian Vettel joining Aston Martin for F1 2021 replacing Sergio Perez". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  36. "Perez signs three-year contract extension with Racing Point". Formula1. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  37. "Perez to partner Verstappen at Red Bull in 2021, as Albon becomes reserve driver". F1 (Formula One World Championship). 18 December 2020. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-perez-to-partner-verstappen-at-red-bull-in-2021-as-albon-becomes.21qHfmHAyfzAjVHT3PfVBd.html. Retrieved 18 December 2020. 
  38. Coch, Mat (19 December 2020). "Perez replaces Albon at Red Bull for 2021 F1 season". speedcafe.com. https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/12/19/perez-replaces-albon-at-red-bull-for-2021-f1-season/. Retrieved 20 December 2020. 
  39. "Grosjean and Magnussen announce they are to leave Haas at the end of 2020". Formula1. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  40. "Mick Schumacher to race for Haas in 2021 as famous surname returns to F1 grid". F1 (Formula One World Championship). 2 December 2020. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-mick-schumacher-to-race-for-haas-in-2021-as-famous-surname-returns.66XTVfSt80GrZe91lvWVwJ.html. Retrieved 2 December 2020. 
  41. Haas sign F2 racer Nikita Mazepin for 2021 on multi-year deal. Formula One World Championship. 1 December 2020. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-haas-sign-f2-racer-nikita-mazepin-for-2021-on-multi-year-deal.4PefsyopWnbM4MQYZBkKSj.html. Retrieved 1 December 2020. 
  42. "FIA Formula 2 Championship 2020 standings". Driver Database. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  43. "Kvyat joins Alpine as reserve F1 driver". motorsport.com. 2 March 2021. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/kvyat-joins-alpine-as-reserve-f1-driver/5548814/. Retrieved 2 March 2021. 
  44. "Tsunoda to make F1 racing debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, in place of Kvyat". Formula1. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  45. "Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN – Dutch GP team statement". sauber-group.com. Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  46. "Robert Kubica to compete in the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix". sauber-group.com. Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  47. "Raikkonen ruled out of Italian Grand Prix, with Kubica set to deputise again for Alfa Romeo". Formula1. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  48. "Verstappen set for pole position for Italian Grand Prix as penalty-hit Bottas wins Monza Sprint". Formula1. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  49. "Hamilton set for Turkish GP grid penalty after taking new Mercedes engine". Formula1. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  50. "Bottas claims pole for Turkish GP as fastest driver Hamilton takes grid penalty". Formula1. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.