With our eyes turned to one of the most fascinating Formula 1 GPs, we want to make some initial reflections on the 2021 season.
Towards the new revolutionized cars 4 years after the last major “overhaul”. With one season behind us and this same season (hoping not for the next one), seen and lived in a different way than ever due to the pandemic.
So, what can be the first reflections on the 2021 season?
In these first reflections on the 2021 Formula 1 season, we have to start with our team, Ferrari.
We are enjoying it. Regarding the results it is better than last year, but the important thing is that Ferrari is rediscovering its spirit. The Charles Leclerc – Carlos Sainz partnership can bring the name of the Maranello team back to the top and the men in red are proving that they are on the right track to return to the top positions as early as next year. The Ferraristi want a return to victory!
Charles deserves it. He started the season with a few flaws and a conscious driving that will soon make a difference. There is a bit of IceMan in him, if only for the coldness with which he places the car both in qualifying and in the race.
Carlos is adapting quickly and if he makes any mistakes he can be okay. Ferrari is a team on the rise and all this work will certainly lead to its clear growth. He will have his chances of winning, if not this year, in the next ones.
Both deserve a winning car and in Maranello they are working hard for the year 2022, to give both of them a car capable of challenging for victories. For this year it has been said that the package will remain like this, without further development. It is worth mentioning the excellent step forward made in terms of performance: the increase in power has benefited the whole car package.
Competitiveness for the podium is evident. The important thing is that you are working on the team, on the results, on the safety and confidence of your own means. In these conditions it would certainly be exciting to beat Lewis and Max.
Alongside Scuderia Ferrari, currently with a few points ahead, Norris and Ricciardo are confirming the excellent McLaren project, this year with a Mercedes engine. The Woking team is the real opponent of the Maranello team this season, but both will want to establish themselves at the top next year.
In this the similarity between the two teams is evident: both are working hard to return to the levels that compete with Mercedes and Red Bull. Lando Norris started the season in a great way and even if in Barcelona he was a bit in the shade, it doesn’t take away from his strong start. His progress is evident.
Ricciardo left with the honors of glory, but kept the handbrake on. In Barcelona we saw a bit of that driver we know.
Both are dangerous and if there are any McLaren tracks on the calendar, they can certainly entertain all the public, except the other teams.
Ferrari and McLaren have raised the bar of performance among competitors for third place: for Alpine, Alpha Tauri and Aston Martin it seems strange that these three teams have finished so far in the rankings, after last year’s performances.
Of course we have only seen a few races, but something has been understood and for these first reflections on the 2021 Formula 1 season it is enough.
In Alpine they have to react if they want to compete with whoever is in front. Alonso can still give a lot, class makes the difference. Ocon can do well if he finds continuity. It seems that Renault is slow, we are not here to do a technical analysis (which we will analyze in other articles, comparing the cars), but the car would need a boost. Also of luck.
The Alpha Tauri instead gave the impression of being a good car, initially; both drivers seem unable to keep their mental health in shape. Aggressive, sometimes unnecessarily. This is probably why the same car fails to perform again. They scored points, both Gasly and Tsunoda, but they are not very fit.
Anonymous instead Aston Martin, which seems to have understood little of the previous project, so much so that it is unable to adapt it correctly at home. The fact is that the machine is not constant and does not even have significant performance. The drivers are struggling and from a certain point of view it can be said that Lance Stroll is making a good impression. Sebastian Vettel does not seem able to help the team for now, once again lapped and out of points.
Alfa Romeo, Williams and Haas are the rear of these first reflections on the 2021 Formula 1 season.
In the Alfa house they suffer from a lack of concentration. Both on the track and in the pits, the Biscione team does not seem to have the right preparation to face this F1 season, falling into several blunders, with a car that also looks very good. The drivers look good on the track, however “something always happens” that ruins the race. A lot of bad luck, but this must not distract, nor break down the team. The Alfa name must be honored.
The English team, in their first season without the historic ownership at the helm, started well, thanks more to speed in qualifying than in the race. The Mercedes- powered Williams has good qualities, making great use of the performance flattening.
The split score 0 doesn’t do it justice but it doesn’t even prove whether Russell is ready for Mercedes. He will prove it. For now he is monstrous in qualifying.
Latifi needs to drive and grow, F1 is fast, while for now he is a little less fast. Scoring points is of course difficult, the teams in front have some more speed available and if the two drivers want to reach their goals, points are needed. So the team also needs Latifi’s reaction.
Haas, which has focused on the old car project, to give its brand new drivers experience, could say that there is only one driver to gain experience.
Mick Schumacher is meeting the level of expectations for him, test driving and learning how to feel in an F1 car, the time will come for the fast car too. At the moment the focus is on oneself. And if he already beats Williams at times, it is a historic challenge.
Mazepin seems to take it out on the car and the situation is becoming embarrassing, with some drivers having no words of praise for him. He will have to improve a lot… and keep improving, without destroying the car, or spinning so often.
Only the two big names are missing in these early reflections on the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Mercedes is the team that technically has suffered most negatively from the new 2021 rules. Toto and team have not been able to benefit from the usual enormous advantage acquired over the seasons, so this season’s surprise faces overwhelmingly.
Red Bull did a great job, now the car fits well in different conditions. They are close. Even if the gap is still there.
Verstappen can bridge the gap between Red Bull and Mercedes. It is not a shame if for some time now, when we talk about Red Bull, we talk about Max. For now Sergio Perez is not able to help the team at the top, but indeed we believe he is an excellent choice because he has room for improvement and will have excellent chances of winning in the future. That’s what Horner hopes for. But who knows if he will be enough for Red Bull to win the world championship.
For its part, Mercedes is Hamilton. The beginning of this season, the return to winning on track, correctly and againt a strong opponent, showed the Englishman is still very fit and able to restore the hierarchies. Especially at home: the Bottas chapter seems to be at the end, not so much for the performances that were unfortunate but also a bit poor. Russell would thank for an opportunity.
The two opponents are close and the challenge will give us great battles.
The second drivers will also be decisive. Bottas and Perez do not have an easy life, they drive the best cars but they have overwhelming teammates and behind them Ferrari and McLaren are there to exploit every mistake. The points prove it.
It is not possible to make a mistake.
They are all there.
All in a couple of seconds.
On the dry lap.
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