A week after the F1 summer break, fans have lost their source of entertainment for two weeks. After a beguiling season, the teams and their drivers rest, have fun and discuss ways to gain an advantage in the second half. Crashes, duels, team strategies, we’ve seen everything. After an intense Hungarian GP, things are not what they used to be.
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The dominance of Mercedes is threatened, midfield battles escalated, new achievements were made. Looking back on the first half, who grew, who won and who stumbled?
Formula 1 F1 – Hungarian Grand Prix – Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary – August 1, 2021, Mercedes Valtteri Bottas collides with Red Bulls Sergio Perez Pool via REUTERS / Peter Kohalmi
Emerge winners
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As a team whose success depended on a driver, McLaren has had a pleasant season so far. Lando Norris has taken over the starting grid and is in P3 on the driver’s board. Norris painted the grid orange and thus scored crucial points for the team. So far, the Woking team has clinched two podiums and shares 163 points with its rivals at Ferrari. Working with a new engine has worked well this season as the MCL35M has shown an incredible pace.
Hoping to secure P3 by the end of the season, McLaren would have to put up a tough fight against Ferrari. Although the pace was good, both McLaren drivers believe it can be better. The papaya-colored team got off to a successful start, but will they keep it up?
Formula 1 F1 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – July 4th, 2021, McLarens Lando Norris at the REUTERS / Lisi Niesner race
Renault’s rebirth as Alpine has really turned a new page for the team. The return of F1 veteran Fernando Alonso has proven more beneficial than expected. The team is making its way through the midfield as the fourth highest number of points. The only Renault-powered car on the grid did a brilliant job in qualifying.
The team celebrated their first win of the season when Esteban Ocon took over the Hungarian GP. Ocon and Alonso pushed the car to its limits. Alpine uptrend could lead them to battle for podiums in the second half.
Formula 1 F1 – Great Britain Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Great Britain – July 18, 2021, Williams’ George Russell during the REUTERS / Peter Cziborra race
Williams crawled out of the depths of the board and ended the first half on a high. With double points at the Hungarian GP, the team occupies eighth place in the constructors’ championship. George Russell’s performance in qualifying shows that the car has some potential for top 10 finishes. After a pointless 2020 season, Williams has recovered and is ready for more.
Check out this story: F1 drivers fight on the track
Previous F1 defeats …
Haas F1 is the only team with 0 points. The American team started its season by welcoming two rookie drivers. Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, who have not yet been able to impress, to the frustration of team boss Günther Steiner. While Haas cannot show any pace on the track, their expectations for the season are nowhere near being met.
Red Bull’s financial losses are far from forgotten. The Milton Keynes outfit has taken a lot of damage this season. Chassis upgrades, accompanied by numerous crashes, make the team question the budget cap.
Since the team is burning out of their pockets, there were also point losses in the last few races. Just in time for the summer break, Mercedes has dethroned Red Bull from the board. While financial problems loom over their heads, Red Bull will have to come back stronger in the second half.
Aston Martin was a team to watch out for in F1. They showed tremendous promise to have Sebastian Vettel at the wheel, and while Vettel has given the team podiums, things got in the way. FIA fuel regulations resulted in Vettel being disqualified from the Hungarian GP; costs the team 18 points.
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Formula 1 F1 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – July 3, 2021 Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in action in qualifying REUTERS / Lisi Niesner
Although Vettel was spotted on the top half of the grid, Lance Stroll is struggling. While the team is fighting for points, the new team still has a lot to prove.
The Belgian GP reopens the paddock, offering teams new opportunities to do better. As the competition intensifies, there is no doubt that the second half will be better than the first.
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The post Summary of the F1 season summer break: analysis of the winners and losers first appeared on monter-une-startup.
