When will we see the 2021 cars and the liveries?
Formula 1’s ‘launch season’ certainly looks a little different to the norm this year amid the global pandemic. Moreover, with teams needed to advance their 2020 chassis for the new season for cost-cutting purposes, 2021 opponents with management are more evolutionary than ever.
But that doesn’t mean we won’t see any pre-season shows, with the diary starting to fill up from mid-February. With pre-season tests not until mid-March, these events are likely to take place over several weeks.
McLaren is currently scheduled to debut on February 15, in an event that will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and digital channels at 7pm. Alfa Romeo on February 22 and world champions Mercedes on March 2 have also confirmed release.
The rebranded Alpine and Aston Martin teams have said they will launch themselves at a new time in February and March respectively. Ferrari has also announced that they will be launching a team sometime before testing.
Car and crew launch dates
| Date | Team | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 15th | McLaren | Waking up |
| February 22nd | Alfa Romeo | Warsaw |
| March 2nd | Mercedes | Virtually |
When are there pre-season tests?
As far as 2015, the F1 pre-season program extended to three test sessions and 12 days. For 2021 that’s down to just one three-day trial.
And, for the first time in recent memory, that session will not take place in Barcelona. Instead, the Bahrain International Circuit will host its first pre-season test for seven years, two weeks before F1 returns to the desert center for the season-opening opening race.
Pre-season test dates
| March 12-14 | Bahrain International Circuit |
When does the new season start and when are the races?
The second version of the top 2021 race calendar 2021 was released in early January, with Australia moving back from their traditional season-opening slot to November and China suspended from its position in April. Imola was added again while the third round remains unconfirmed.
New F1 boss Stefano Domenicali recently told Sky Sports that the sport needed to remain “flexible” about the pandemic in the midst of a pandemic.
Who is driving for who?
Mercedes
Drivers: Lewis Hamilton (* contract forthcoming) and Valtteri Bottas
Engine: Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton does not yet have a Mercedes contract but it is still expected that an agreement will eventually be reached in the coming weeks to formally confirm the seven-time champion in their line again. Valtteri Bottas will remain on it for the fifth consecutive campaign after agreeing a one-year extension in August.
Red Bull
Drivers: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Engine: Honda
For the first time since 2007, Red Bull have gone beyond their trusted driver development program to fill one of their sets after saving Sergio Perez from what would have been a year without a reason to just before Christmas. The long-time Racing Point / Force India driver, who became an F1 winner last month, is set to become the latest driver to take on the strong challenge of being a teammate to Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s established team leader. Honda will start their final year in F1, but Red Bull remains optimistic that they can take over the Japanese manufacturer ‘s engine until 2022.
McLaren
Drivers: Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris
Engine: Mercedes
Two big wins at the mobile Woking squad for 2021 – test race winner Daniel Ricciardo and, seven years after their long-term partnership expired, Mercedes engines. Lando Norris, who is still only 21, will compete in his third season in F1 after the first two years of his career up against former team player Carlos Sainz.
Aston Martin
Drivers: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll
Engine: Mercedes
Gone has been the Racing Point name for the past two years and the world-famous Aston Martin venue, with both groups now under the same ownership. The high-profile rebranding is accompanied by the big arrival of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, with Lance Stroll staying together for his third season at his father’s team.
Alpach
Drivers: Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon
Engine: Renault
A mix of past and future here at what Renault had for 2021. Fernando Alonso returns for Enstone’s third spell after two years away from F1 but the team’s name and image are going under rebranding – the Renault flagship car brand is Alpine. After one challenging year alongside Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon is now facing an F1 driver who is even more successful as his teammate.
Ferrari
Drivers: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
Engine: Ferrari
The world champion in the Ferrari line may not be at the start of the season for just the second time in the last quarter, but Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz ‘s new signing are two of F1’ s best drivers. new generation. Leclerc has used Vettel as the Scuderia team leader over the past two seasons and Sainz, a fast and talented player for himself, will take on a new challenge.
AlphaTauri
Drivers: Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda
Engine: Honda
Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda arrives to join Monza race winner Pierre Gasly after defeating the team last year in his test rounds for them and a race-winning F2 rookie season. Gasly has re-established his role at the team since mid-2019 and has grown to become one of F1’s most consistent drivers. Like the Red Bull sister team, AlphaTauri enters the final year of their current engine configuration.
Alfa Romeo
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi
Engine: Ferrari
One of only three teams living with an unchanged line, Alfa Romeo will continue to combine unparalleled F1 experience at 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen, 41, and Antonio Giovinazzi who is getting better for third years in a row. The big focus on trying to improve the team’s competitiveness after 2020 will be difficult.
Haas
Drivers: Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher
Engine: Ferrari
In a complete reversal of the drivers accelerated by the financial impact of the global pandemic, Haas has turned an experience of 300 Grands Prix in their line for an all-rookie pair. Planning for the future towards the revision of the 2022 rules, Ferrari’s young F2 champion and Mick Schumacher is joined by Russian Nikita Mazepin.
Williams
Drivers: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi
Engine: Mercedes
George Russell is the team’s main inspirational driver and will enter the third and final year of his Williams contract, with Mercedes likely to come calling for 2022. Nicholas Latifi will remain for a second term, when which both drivers and the celebrity team will be claiming for the 2020 turnaround going back to points in the first full year of its new ownership period.