The 2021 season is presented in part very similar to its predecessor. The change of regulation that was planned for this year was ultimately postponed due to the economic effects brought about by the pandemic. In this way, the new technical regulations and the introduction of the budget ceiling of 175 million that would end inequality will enter into force in 2022, while this season the rules will remain virtually identical.
Even so, the 2021 season is full of incentives, especially for the Spanish public, with the return of Fernando Alonso to Formula 1 and the signing of Carlos Sainz for Ferrari. In addition, two teams have changed their name (Aston Martin and Alpine) and there will be up to three new debutants in the category (Schumacher, Mazepin and Tsunoda). The calendar and the GPs will be something that the FIA will deal with, but a priori 23 races will be contested, the highest figure in history.
These are the most remarkable changes in F1 for the 2021 season:
RETURN OF ALONSO
Fernando Alonso returns to the ‘Gran Circo’ of Formula 1 after two full years of absence. The Asturian rider decided to end his career in the highest category of motorsport at the end of the 2018 season, after 17 seasons and two world championships.
Only two years later, after having tried his luck in several automotive disciplines, especially highlighting his victory in Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Toyota, Alonso announced on July 8 his return to F1. It will be to drive again in Renault, team newly named as Alpine F1, in which will be his third stage in the French brand.
CARLOS SAINZ IN FERRARI
The non-renewal of Sebastian Vettel by the Scuderia Ferrari was one of the great topics of conversation before the start of the atypical 2020 season. The Italian team decided to dispense with the services of the German rider and separate their roads for the year 2021. That’s where Carlos Sainz enters the scene who, thanks to his great performance with McLaren during the previous season, managed to be the chosen one to be the companion of Charles Leclerc.
After having left a great taste in the mouth in the Woking team, the Madrid rider enters the most exciting and exciting challenge of his sports career.
ASTON MARTIN AND ALPINE
The team grid will not vary for the 2021 season, but two of them have changed their name. Lawrence Stroll, Lance’s father and owner of the Racing Point F1 Team, reached an agreement with Aston Martin that the automotive company would stop sponsoring Red Bull and rename its team. In this way, Aston Martin will return to F1 after more than 60 years of absence.
Renault is the other team that changes its name to Alpine F1, replacing yellow with black, blue, white and red. The arrival of Laurent Rossi and the dismissal of Cyril Abiteboul, key to this change.
DEBUTANTS
In a grid for the 2021 season renewed and full of changes, including the movements of Sainz, Vettel, Ricciardo and Pérez, in addition to the already mentioned turn of Alonso, there are up to three debutants in the category. The best known is Mick Schumacher, unmistakable for his last name and son Michael, who was the first addition of the Haas team for the current season. His partner will finally be Nikita Mazepin, who has been involved in several controversies during the post-season that came to question his entry into F1.
Finally, the third debutant will be Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese pilot of the Red Bull young riders program who will run for the Alpha Tauri team to replace Daniil Kvyat.
NEW CIRCUITS
Zandvoort will finally be released on the calendar after having been scheduled for last season, but could not have done so because of the health crisis. The Netherlands will therefore once again be hosting a Grand Prix for the first time since 1985. The other big novelty for this season will be the GP of Saudi Arabia, which despite still pending the approval of the circuit, Jeddah will almost certainly host the first GP in its history.
CONFIRMED SCHEDULE
