The new F1 season guide 2021 is here, we have new drivers, teams, regulations and a full calendar. This year will see 23 races take place this year, a record! Obviously depending on COVID-19 restrictions around the world.
The big regulation change planned for this season has been pushed back by 12 months in order to cut costs at a time when the teams are under huge financial pressure due to the pandemic. There are still changes though, with one of them being a cost cap. There have also been team changes, new driver line-ups too.
When is the next F1 race?
Sunday 18th April 2021.
Where is the next F1 race?
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola. When Formula One visits Imola, it is seen as the home circuit of Scuderia Ferrari, and masses of supporters come out to support the local team.
Here is your F1 season guide 2021
Drivers
Some highlights of the driver line-ups:
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is still at Mercedes, he will drive alongside team-mate Valtteri Bottas for a fifth straight season, with the Finn’s current deal also set to expire at the end of this season.
Red Bull had a strong performance in the pre-season testing so are probably classed as the form team. Alex Albon has been replaced by Sergio Perez, who had looked set to miss out on a seat altogether following his exit from Racing Point. Max Verstappen is still at Red Bull too.
Sebastian Vettel signed for the rebranded Aston Martin team after Ferrari’s decision not to keep him. Lance Stroll keeps his place at the new-look Silverstone outfit after a strong showing in 2020.
Fernando Alonso returns to F1 after a two-year hiatus. The double F1 world champion begins his third stint with the Enstone team – rebranded as Alpine for 2021 – with Esteban Ocon.
Red Bull sister team AlphaTauri has rookie driver Yuki Tsunoda, who finished third in the F2 championship in 2020. He partners Pierre Gasly.
Haas has 2020 F2 champion Mick Schumacher – son of seven-time world champion Michael. He will make his F1 debut for the US team in Bahrain. His team-mate will be fellow F2 graduate Nikita Mazepin.
The full list is below.
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton (#44), Valtteri Bottas (#77)
Red Bull – Max Verstappen (#33), Sergio Perez (#11)
McLaren – Daniel Ricciardo (#3), Lando Norris (#4)
Aston Martin – Lance Stroll (#18), Sebastian Vettel (#5)
Alpine – Esteban Ocon (#31), Fernando Alonso (#14)
Ferrari – Carlos Sainz Jr (#55), Charles Leclerc (#16)
AlphaTauri – Pierre Gasly (#10), Yuki Tsunoda (#22)
Alfa Romeo – Kimi Raikkonen (#7), Antonio Giovinazzi (#99)
Haas – Mick Schumacher (#47), Nikita Mazepin (#9)
Williams – George Russell (#63), Nicholas Latifi (#6)
Check out the rest of our F1 season guide 2021 below.
Teams
There are again 10 teams this year.
Mercedes – F1 W12 – Mercedes
Red Bull – RB16B – Honda
McLaren – MCL35M – Mercedes
Aston Martin – AMR21 – Mercedes
Alpine – A521 – Renault
Ferrari – SF21 – Ferrari
AlphaTauri – AT02 – Honda
Alfa Romeo – C41 – Ferrari
Haas – VF-21 – Ferrari
Williams – FW34B – Mercedes
Check out the rest of our F1 season guide 2021 below.
Rules
There minor changes could still see the pecking order shaken up. The biggest difference is a reduction in the cars’ floor, which – together with changes to the diffuser and brake ducts – is intended to reduce downforce by around 10%. It was evident how low this was in the pre-season testing photos.
Pirelli has introduced a new range of tyres for 2021 that should be more durable.
F1’s long-anticipated cost cap has finally been introduced. In 2021 the teams will be limited to a budget of $145 million, although this doesn’t cover driver salaries, engine supply deals or the wages of the three highest-earning members of each team. Marketing, employee bonuses and travel costs are also exempt from cost cap limits.
Further reductions in the spending limit are set to be introduced over the next few seasons. Nothing has been agreed though.
Another measure that’s meant to close up the field is a new success handicap on the amount of time teams can spend developing their cars in the windtunnel. As Williams finished last in the constructors’ championship in 2020, it can do more aero testing than anyone else in 2021. Mercedes, as champions, are permitted to do the least of all 10 teams. Interesting!
Check out the rest of our F1 season guide 2021 below.
Current 2021 F1 calendar
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix has been postponed until November, with the first race of the year now set to take place in Bahrain.
For the second year running the Chinese Grand Prix has been called off, with its place taken by the Portuguese Grand Prix as the third round of the championship. Imola features once again – one of my favourites.
Two new races have been added to the calendar: F1 is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the first time for the penultimate round of the 2021 championship, with a new street circuit constructed in Jeddah. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is the second new addition to the calendar.
Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit 26-28 March
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola 16-18 April
Portuguese Grand Prix, Algarve International Circuit 30 April – 2 May
Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 7-9 May
Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo 20-23 May
Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit 4-6 June
Canadian Grand Prix, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 11-13 June
French Grand Prix, Circuit Paul Ricard 25-27 June
Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring 2-4 July
British Grand Prix, Silverstone 16-18 July
Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring 30 July – 1 August
Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps 27-29 August
Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort 3-5 September
Italian Grand Prix, Monza 10-12 September
Russian Grand Prix, Sochi Autodrom 24-26 September
Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit 1-3 October
Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka 8-10 October
United States Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas 22-24 October
Mexico City Grand Prix, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 29-31 October
Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Interlagos 5-7 November
Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park 19-21 November
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah Street Circuit 3-5 December
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit 10-12 December
Depending on where you are in the world, you might need a VPN to access the race.
Thanks for reading our F1 season guide 2021.
Now, let’s race!