#2021 f1 drivers driver

Max Verstappen (Neth, 23) No 33 Debut Australia 2015 Wins 10 Poles 3 Titles 0 Best finish 3rd Last season 3rd.

#2021 f1 drivers driver

With a formidable driver lineup, if they can put Mercedes on the back foot from the start, Red Bull have a real shot at ending their hegemony. Honda’s engine (brought forward from planned use in 2022) looks finally right up to speed and the chassis has none of last season’s squirrelly characteristics. Red Bull look to have their strongest ride to open a season since 2013. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters Red BullĬar RB16B Engine Honda Principal Christian Horner Debut Australia 2005 GPs 303 Titles 4 Last season 2ndĮnjoyed great pace and reliability in testing. Lewis Hamilton during testing in Bahrain, where Mercedes found the going tougher than usual.

Consistency from the off in matching and beating Hamilton will be vital. Whether he can do so remains moot but he cannot allow the world champion to break him psychologically in the opening races. Roundly beaten by Hamilton in 2020, the Finn has to find another level this year to have any chance of retaining his seat. Valtteri Bottas (Fin, 31) No 77 Debut Australia 2013 Wins 9 Poles 16 Best finish 2nd Last season 2nd. He cannot afford to be distracted by consideration of when he might end his career. He crushed all the opposition last season and appears as motivated as ever despite expressing concern about the car’s characteristics. Attempting to secure a record eighth title, Hamilton remains in exemplary form. Lewis Hamilton (GB, age 36) No 44 Debut Australia 2007 Wins 95 Poles 98 Titles 7 Last season champion. Yet enormous strength in depth and a proven capacity to address issues with alacrity means that while Mercedes face their greatest challenge since the turbo-hybrid era began they remain favourites. Endured a trying testing as mechanical problems dogged an unstable car, so are potentially at their most vulnerable for years.