"It's lights out, and away we go!" The waiting has finally come to an end. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Formula 1 season was cut short due to travel difficulties and a rise in positive cases among drivers and F1 staff members. Nonetheless, Formula 1's highly anticipated, 23-race season began this weekend with the first Grand Prix taking place in Bahrain. The long-awaited F1 season is expected to be more exciting than ever before with more races, changes in regulations, and new drivers and teams.
Red Bull's Year to Shine?
Will 2021 finally be the year we see a proper battle between Mercedes and Red Bull? Rightfully so, the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen––two racers who have been the most consistent and fastest since 2018––is once again one of the most hyped match-ups this season. Red Bull has strengthened their driver line-up by replacing Alex Albon with former Racing Point driver Sergio Perez. The Bulls hope that Perez will back-up Verstappen's strong performance and place more pressure on rivals Mercedes. Moreover, Red Bull upgraded their power unit by fast-tracking a plan with engine provider Honda that was meant to take place in 2022. Honda's superb hybrid technology will be vital in keeping Red Bull competitive against other teams with high-quality engines.
Fans already got to see Hamilton and Verstappen go head-to-head during the nail-biting Bahrain Grand Prix. While Mercedes struggled with a lack of pace and frequent lock-ups throughout the pre-season, Mercedes’ Hamilton triumphed over the Dutchman in an intense race that went down to the wire. Verstappen’s pole position lead from a successful qualifying session did not last long as Hamilton led the race after the first round of pit stops. With three laps remaining, Verstappen tried one last time to overtake Hamilton but ran too wide and had to give back the first place. The season opener was a disappointment for Red Bull and relief for the British; yet, with Hamilton winning by just 0.7 seconds, there will be a close battle for supremacy in the upcoming races.
New Season, New Rules
Without a doubt, the biggest change in 2021 is the introduction of Formula 1's first-ever cost cap––a new policy that will set the spending limit at $145 million (though the budget cap is expected to reduce to $140 million in 2022 and $135 million in 2023). The set of financial regulations will prevent teams' monetary investments from solely impacting performance and will greatly contribute to bringing back the game's competitive spirit by promoting a level playing field.
Another tweak you will notice is the alterations to the floor shape. In past years, the floors were rectangular with various longitudinal and lateral slots: a deliberate structure to increase downforce generated around floor edges, which created stronger suction underneath the car and improved overall ground effect. Yet, this year, F1's new aero rules require all cars to implement a floor with triangular cutaways near the rear in hopes of reducing downforce and generating surface area.
Moreover, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has made a rule change that will only affect one team: the dominant Mercedes Silver Arrows. Under 2021 F1 rules, Mercedes will be banned from using their standard Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system. In 2020, we saw World Champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate Valterri Bottas regularly push and pull their steering wheels to change the front tires' camber levels––an advantage of the DAS system that allowed Hamilton and Bottas to easily control tire temperatures on circuits with long straights. To ensure fair play, the FIA outlawed the DAS model; better luck next time, Mercedes.
Redemption for Daniel Ricciardo
Surprisingly, the seven-time race winner Ricciardo hasn't taken the chequered flag since the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix. Following a surprising move to Renault after a fallout with Red Bull, the 31-year-old has made another move: This time to McLaren. Though some may find his move questionable, McLaren is a team that is quickly rising to the top. McLaren finished third in the Constructors' Championship last year and switched from using the least competitive Renault engine to the exceptional Mercedes-AMG unit: encouraging signs for future success. The two-time World Champion possesses enough talent and skill to win races and score points; Ricciardo's overtaking maneuvers and ability to perform under pressure are second to none. Yet, the Australian needs a team capable of successfully supporting his ambitions, and McLaren could bring back the old-Ricciardo.
While race schedules are still in flux, the 2021 F1 season will welcome fans to the stands, and this year particularly, the fans are in for a treat. With newcomers Yuki Tsunoda, Mick Schumacher, Nikita Mazepin, and racing teams Alpine and Aston Martin entering the grid, the midfield battle and the fight for third place in the Constructors' Championship will be extremely intense and close. For Red Bull, the ingredients are there to win multiple races, and there could be some serious questions to answer if they fail to do so. And as for who will be crowned Champions, we'll just have to wait and see.
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