Without a doubt, 2021 will remain in the memory of all Formula 1 fans. After many seasons of absolute dominance by Mercedes , we were finally able to enjoy an unprecedented hand in hand between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
After looking at “The Big Five Disappointments of the Year”, it’s time for Motorsport.com to take a look at the five big surprises ahead of the 2021 F1 season.
1. Carlos Sainz and Ferrari
After two very good seasons at McLaren, Carlos Sainz joined in 2021 as the new Scuderia Ferrari driver, a move that surprised everyone and was announced with background rumors claiming that he was coming as second driver and that he would be “interim” until the expected arrival of Mick Schumacher. In fact, Mattia Binotto himself dropped it.
However, the man from Madrid took very little time to show that he was worthy enough to be part of the most successful team in the history of Formula 1. Sainz adapted perfectly to the SF21 , one of the most complicated single-seaters on the grid, and except for a few than another accident, completed a dream season.
Thanks to his great regularity, Carlos Sainz was the only driver to finish all the races in 2021, in addition, he did so by scoring points in 20 of the 22 grand prix races, something that helped him finish the World Championship in fifth position as “first of the rest”, only behind the two Mercedes and the two Red Bulls.
From the Ferrari side, the Maranello team also surprised everyone. After one of the worst seasons in the history of the team in 2020, the Italians were able to turn the situation around and ended up beating McLaren in the fight for third position in the constructors, a battle that definitely has the flavor of victory.
2. Max Verstappen
In his seventh season in Formula 1, the Dutch driver was finally able to count on a truly competitive car that could fight for the title and he jumped at the chance. After a titanic battle against Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen ended up being crowned world champion for the first time.
However, the most surprising thing about the Dutchman was not that, but rather his ability to complete 22 Grand Prix practically without making any mistakes, something that until not many years ago was impossible to imagine.
Verstappen ‘s consistency and efficiency throughout 2021 stands out even more when compared to his rival, as he made far fewer mistakes in his first real title fight than Hamilton did in his eleventh (seven won and four, 2007, 2010, 2016). and 2021 in which he fought until the end).
With these data on the table and reviewing Max Verstappen’s history since he arrived in Formula 1, we could say without fear of being wrong that Red Bull has reached its peak of driving, maturity and performance in 2021, a accumulation of things that have finally made him world champion deservedly.
3. Lando Norris
In continuous ascent. In his third season in Formula 1, Lando Norris had the difficult task of competing against Daniel Ricciardo, one of the most proven drivers on the current grid of the highest category of motorsport.
Although it is true that the young Briton had already shown very good qualities in his first two seasons with McLaren, nobody expected him to be able to continually beat Ricciardo, both in the qualifying sessions and in the race.
For most of the year, Lando Norris was rubbing shoulders in the standings with drivers who were not at all within his reach, such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, but after a somewhat irregular end to the season for McLaren , the Briton ended up falling to the sixth position in the last grand prix of the year.
The four podiums achieved in 2021 and his 160 points mean that Lando Norris has finished the season with his best records since he reached the premier class in 2019, three years of continuous ascent that at the moment seem to have no ceiling.
4. Williams Racing
The recovery is real. After three seasons on the road in the desert, the Williams team seems to have begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, after three years, the Grove team has managed to abandon the category’s red lantern and, what is even more important, improve its sensations.
With a total of 23 points, Williams finished eighth in the constructors’ standings, ahead of Haas and Alfa Romeo, the latter more than surprising. In addition, George Russell scored a controversial podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix which never took place, but still remains the team’s best result since the 2017 Azerbaijan GP.
5. Esteban Ocon
After being crushed by Daniel Ricciardo in 2020 and considering that Fernando Alonso was arriving at the team to replace the Australian driver, the outlook for the French driver was not very promising before the start of the season.
However, Esteban Ocon was able to carry Alpine’s weight in the first Grand Prix of the season, races in which Alonso was still getting back to his best level.
In addition to that, both drivers forged a great relationship on and off the track that lifted the Enstone team to fifth position in the constructors’ standings, a position that surely would not have belonged to them due to the performance of the car throughout 2021. .
To finish, Estaban Ocon got his first victory in Formula 1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a race he led for the vast majority of laps holding off the onslaught of Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin. A triumph that tasted like glory and that meant a more than important boost for the team for the rest of the season, also thanks to the key role that Alonso played on that summer Sunday at the Hungaroring.
