Who could be the next new race winner in F1? – Motorsport week

Esteban Ocon was named the youngest Formula 1 winner with a shock triumph in the last race before the summer break in Hungary. This means that Ocon has been the 111th other driver on the Formula 1 podium since 1950. But who is best placed to be the number 112 winner? MotorsportWeek.com is considering the possibilities.

Lando Norris

Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren MCL35M. Monaco Grand Prix, Thursday, May 20, 2021. Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Lando Norris didn’t make his debut until 2019 but is certainly already the best candidate to become the next winner. When he came to Formula 1, McLaren was still in the early stages of their recovery, but now the company is leading the midfield with Ferrari, having set itself apart from the rest. That supposedly leaves Norris in a favorable position when the front runners get into trouble. In the one case where this happened, Norris was knocked out right at the start, being a victim of his own brilliant escape. Even so, Norris enjoys an outstanding campaign. He’s been on the podium three times and holds third place in the championship, just behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. He almost pulled a bumper in Austria, which underscores the MCL35M’s own speed, and has shadowed Daniel Ricciardo in a way that makes the seven-time race winner appear like a shadow of himself.

Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari celebrates his second place on the podium. Monaco Grand Prix, Sunday 23 May 2021. Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Every full-time Ferrari driver since Ivan Capelli’s miserable tenure in 1992 has become a race winner. Jean Alesi, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa won their first wins with Ferrari after having a chance elsewhere. Charles Leclerc was the latest addition in 2019 and it seems unthinkable that Sainz won’t include his name on this list. Moving from Sainz to McLaren enabled him to take the next step as a racing driver and underscores his belief that he is a real potential frontrunner. Last year he almost scored a first win at Monza when he landed half a second behind Pierre Gasly at Monza, while he was second to Max Verstappen earlier this season in Monaco. This year, Leclerc’s peaks were higher in both qualifying and races, but Sainz held his own and proves why Ferrari was so anxious to secure his services.

Lance walk

Lance Stroll (CDN) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR21. Austrian Grand Prix, Friday, July 2, 2021. Spielberg, Austria.

Aston Martin has taken a step backwards this year, limiting Lance Stroll to eighth place as the best race while the opportunities presented to him were seized by his illustrious teammate. But Stroll’s team owner father Lawrence has great long-term ambitions for Aston Martin and it would certainly require an unlikely drop in performance before Lance’s position was seriously threatened. But could Stroll’s best chances have come and gone? Stroll had three strong chances in a car modeled after a title winning machine at Monza, Istanbul and Sakhir last year, but failed to capitalize on all three occasions. Drivers like Nico Hülkenberg and Romain Grosjean showed brilliant racing performances at the beginning of their careers – the Frenchman was a regular podium visitor in 2012/13 – but remained without a win. Stroll is still only 22, but 100 starts will be piled up by the end of the year. So far, victory will only come under random circumstances.

George Russell

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 in the FIA ​​press conference. Sakhir Grand Prix, Thursday 3rd December 2020. Sakhir, Bahrain. FIA pool picture for editorial use only

Russell has taken seven points in 49 races but deserves a spot on this list due to his association with Mercedes. Russell’s appearance as the deputy of Covid-affected Lewis Hamilton at last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix showed why he was taken under the wing of Mercedes. Russell qualified just 0.026 seconds behind Valtteri Bottas, who had done well with Hamilton in qualifying for four and a half seasons together, and was in control of the race at the front. As is well known, a mine disaster and a subsequent tire damage robbed Russell twice of a possible victory. Russell won’t be a contender for victory given Williams’ position in 2021, but any one-off Mercedes shot – much like Sakhir in 2020 – would put Russell into the fray. If Mercedes were to promote Russell for 2022, he would also establish himself as a regular contender for victory – provided the world champions did not suffer a sudden drop in rankings.

Anyone else?

The start of the race. Great Britain Grand Prix, Sunday 18th July 2021. Silverstone, England.

11 of the 20 drivers on the grid are race winners, with Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez and Ocon joining the club in the past 12 months. Elsewhere, Yuki Tsunoda, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin remain. Neither has so far shown any performance that suggests they can become Grand Prix winners. Tsunoda’s prospects will depend on his growth for the remainder of 2021 and Red Bull’s long-term belief in him, with Schumacher in a similar predicament under Ferrari’s guidance. There are some youngsters supported by Formula 1 teams currently competing in Formula 2 and Formula 3 who could eventually emerge as race winners. Because when Daniel Ricciardo celebrated his first victory, the next new Formula 1 winner, Max Verstappen, was not yet in Formula 1. Ditto Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc. However, given the shortage of 2022 seats and the presence of the winless Norris and Sainz, it would be a surprise if this situation were to repeat itself.

Who do you think will be the next new Formula 1 winner? Leave your thoughts below …