Formula 1 2021 Season Recap

Just over a month ago the Formula 1 2021 season ended in a dramatic Abu Dhabi final race that concluded in a Max Verstappen victory, winning his first-ever World Championship at the age of 24.

The 2021 season was an exciting season full of action, close racing, controversy, and so much more. Max Verstappen scored 10 race wins, and Lewis Hamilton eight, while Verstappen finished with a record-breaking 18 podiums. Verstappen and Hamilton were seemingly always just within reach of the other, every race more intense than the last.

While most of their races went all the way to the finish line, on several occasions, Verstappen and Hamilton came too close together. At the Silverstone Grand Prix in the United Kingdom, Hamilton and Verstappen collided on the first lap, sending Verstappen into the wall at a force of 51g, as Red Bull reported. Hamilton was handed a 10-second time penalty for the crash that landed Verstappen briefly in the hospital, but Hamilton still won the race.

Silverstone was not the last contact that Verstappen and Hamilton would make, as in Italy in September, a collision that the Stewards deemed Verstappen’s fault had his car nearly entirely on top of Hamilton’s. Neither emerged from the collision seriously hurt, but Verstappen was handed a 3-place grid penalty for the next race in Russia.

Other notable events this season not involving the two title contenders include Daniel Riccardo’s first race win for Mclaren, which was a Mclaren 1-2 as Riccardo’s teammate, Lando Norris, landed second place. Also, Esteban Ocon finished first for the first time at the Hungary Grand Prix, a race that saw many drivers unable to finish due to rainy conditions.
After the tight season, Max Verstappen just barely overpassed his rival, Lewis Hamilton, in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

His success did not come without controversy, as some argue that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) handed the championship to Verstappen. A safety car was called on Lap 53 when Nicholas Latifi found himself in the wall at Turn 14, a crash that would have those on social media blaming him for Verstappen’s win. The safety car that was called as a result allowed for Max Verstappen to pit and change to soft tires, the faster of the Pirelli’s. When Verstappen rejoined the track, he had been lapped by five cars.

Formula 1 race director, Micheal Masi, told cars to unlap themselves, putting Verstappen back in position behind Hamilton. Soon after, before the end of the lap, the safety car pitted, and normal racing resumed. Verstappen was then able to overtake Hamilton, winning both the race and the championship.

As the 2022 season approaches, many teams are making changes. George Russell, formerly of Williams Racing, will be joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, replacing Valterri Bottas. Bottas is moving to Alfa Romeo Racing, where there is an open seat as Kimi Raikkonen retires. Also moving to Alfa Romeo is Guanyo Zhou, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi, who is leaving Formula 1. Former Red Bull reserve driver, Alex Albon, will be replacing George Russell at Williams.