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The external factors that could decide the F1 title in 2021


The external factors that could decide the F1 title in 2021

The title run-in 2021 promises to be one of the most exciting finale to a Formula 1 season in years.

After Max Verstappen swapped the championship lead no less than six times in the first 16 races of the season, only six points separate him from Lewis Hamilton.

Mercedes has some leeway in the battle of the constructors and has the largest lead this year with 36 points ahead of Red Bull.

But since the competitive picture between Mercedes and Red Bull is almost too close – and with a dynamic that is likely to fluctuate back and forth in races in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi – fine margins are likely to be Price determine the result of this year’s championship.

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It could also be decided by several factors beyond the control of the two title protagonists.

Reliability and bad luck

Reliability is the biggest concern that both Mercedes and Red Bull have on their way to the closing stages of the season.

This is especially true for Mercedes, as the team admits they are trying to “contain” a problem with their internal combustion engine that forced Valtteri Bottas to use a new engine in consecutive races in Monza and Sochi.

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Hamilton was given a 10-place penalty last time in Turkey after Mercedes installed a fourth ICE in their car in hopes of carrying it through the rest of the campaign and reducing the risk of failure.

A DNF for Hamilton or Verstappen at this late stage of the season would be disastrous and likely title-defining.

Verstappen also had to take a new engine with him in Russia, but this was more due to an accident damage he caused in his racing accident at the British GP after contact with Hamilton than to reliability concerns.

The Red Bull driver has suffered two retirements this year – his fall at Silverstone and a tangle at the Italian GP that Hamilton also wiped out for his only DNF to date in 2021.

Even Verstappen could not see the checkered flag in Azerbaijan after a dramatic flat tire, but was classified as 18th after more than 90% of the race distance.

The role of the “No. 2 “driver

The fate of the World Cup could ultimately be decided by the teammates of Verstappen and Hamilton.

Hamilton’s Mercedes stable-mate Valtteri Bottas finally came through in 2021 with his first win in over a year at the last time at the Turkish GP with a dominant performance in wet conditions.

It was an important result for Mercedes that allowed the team to extend its lead over Red Bull. Bottas also prevented Verstappen from scoring eight extra points on a day that Hamilton was forced to recover.

Bottas kept Verstappen behind with a convincing performance that was in stark contrast to his rather weak attempt to slow the Dutchman’s progress in Russia, underscoring Bottas’ frustrating inconsistency this year.

But since Bottas ‘Alfa Romeo deal was announced ahead of the Italian GP, ​​no other driver has scored more points than the Finn, whose form recovery is the perfect time for Mercedes’ championship ambitions.

But it could be just as good news for Red Bull if Sergio Perez’s impressive podium finish in Turkey turns out to be a turning point in a challenging first year alongside Verstappen.

Perez followed Verstappen home in third place in Turkey and also delayed Hamilton’s attack with a powerful defense. Red Bull hopes that he will be able to get among the front runners more often in the last few races in order to increase Verstappen’s bid for the title.

All the points – even for the fastest lap – that either Bottas or Perez can take away from their team-mate’s rivals will be decisive.

A competitive midfield

Could an improving McLaren and Ferrari also determine the fate of this year’s world championship?

Aside from Turkey, McLaren has been battling for both pole positions and wins in the last few races and has some tracks ahead of them that should suit their 2021 car.

Monza, where Ricciardo landed the first McLaren win in nearly 10 years and where Norris Hamilton stayed in both the sprint and the main Grand Prix, was a prime example of how McLaren could disrupt the fight for the title, albeit on a track on the overtaking turned out to be particularly difficult.

Ferrari has also seen strong progress over the year, particularly since its upgraded engine was launched in Russia.

If Norris, Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and possibly even AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly can get the most out of their cars in qualifying on a rare day off for Verstappen or Hamilton, they could prove to be a frustrating – and potentially costly – obstacle.

The post The external factors that could decide the F1 title in 2021 first appeared on monter-une-startup.