The Formula 1 grid already has 20 confirmed drivers and there are no unknowns to solve. Get to know the teams and their lineups.
Credit: Illustrative Image
After the renewal of Hamilton Formula One: this is how the teams were formed for the 2021 season The Formula 1 grid already has 20 confirmed drivers and there are no unknowns to solve. Get to know the teams and their lineups.
When Lewis Hamilton will renew for Mercedes was the only big question that remained to be resolved about the driver market for the 2021 Formula 1 season, and this Monday the confirmation has arrived.
For their part, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen renewed their contracts even before the start of 2020, and signed for beyond 2021, so they left their seats guaranteed for several years.
The other pieces were placed in the puzzle during a convulsed 2020 for the market.
You have to read
Formula 1 teams and drivers confirmed for the 2021 season:
Mercedes: He has already confirmed Valtteri Bottas for 2021. Lewis Hamilton also renewed (for just one year) and is aiming for his eighth world title.
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc signed in December 2019 until 2024. Ferrari announced the departure of Sebastian Vettel before starting the 2020 season and the signing of Carlos Sainz until 2022.
Red Bull: Max Verstappen also renewed in January 2020 until 2023. His contract includes exit clauses, as revealed by Helmut Marko. His teammate for 2021 will be Checo Pérez. Alex Albon becomes reserve and development driver for the team.
McLaren: Lando Norris will remain at McLaren after extending his contract in the fall until 2022. Carlos Sainz will leave for Ferrari in 2021 after his second year. Norris’ new teammate will be Daniel Ricciardo, who signed a multi-year contract in May.
Renault: Daniel Ricciardo leaves for McLaren and Fernando Alonso will return to F1 with the team with which he won two titles. Esteban Ocon has a contract until 2021 after signing for two years and it is confirmed.
AlphaTauri: After his triumph at Monza and his good performance, Pierre Gasly earned his renewal and will remain in the team for 2021. Daniil Kvyat announced his departure in Abu Dhabi. His replacement will be the F2 driver and Honda protégé Yuki Tsunoda.
Racing Point/Aston Martin: Sergio Pérez announced before the Tuscan GP that he would leave the team that will be called Aston Martin from 2021. Sebastian Vettel will be his replacement with a “multi-year” contract. Lance Stroll will be his partner, also with a contract for 2021.
Alfa Romeo: Although it was rumored that they could give the opportunity to Mick Schumacher or sign Pérez, they renewed their line-up before the end of the season and for the third consecutive year their pair of drivers will be formed by Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Haas: The US team confirmed Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher as its drivers for 2021 in early December, changing their lineup for the first time since 2017. They are two rookies who will replace Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, both out of F1 in 2021.
Williams: George Russell has a 2021 contract with Williams. His teammate, Nicholas Latifi, too. In October the option arose for Pérez to join the team with a new owner. However, Williams clarified that he will continue with Russell and Latifi, respecting what was decided at the beginning of the course by the previous owners.
Also, after his great career with Mercedes at the Sakhir GP as a substitute for Hamilton, it was rumored that Russell could move on to the Silver Arrows team, but they confirmed Bottas and the Briton will have to continue another year in Williams.
