2021 predictions
First published: Monday December 28th, 2020
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Its that time of year again where many fans like myself try and predict the outcome of the next F1 season. The 2020 season had so many unpredictable moments, the season being opened by two races in Austria, the inclusion of 6 new or unused circuits, Gasly and Perez both becoming a race winner and Ferrari finishing the year in 6th place in the constructors championship. I for one think the 2021 season will be so boring compared to the 2020 season just because of how unpredictable this year was, but I might be wrong
Drivers Championship 1st 2nd and 3rd - The top three for the 2020 season was a familiar sight, Hamilton winning yet again, Bottas playing second fiddle at Mercedes and Verstappen was third, although he was very close to Bottas in the end. I think 2021 will be exactly the same order. Hamilton will win a record breaking 8th title but I think Bottas will be much closer to him in second and Verstappen a bit further back in third
Constructors Championship 1st 2nd and 3rd - once again, 2021 will probably be very similar to 2020, Mercedes will most likely take their eighth consecutive title, however, with Perez moving to Red Bull I think the fight could be a lot closer than it has in recent years. With that said Red Bull will easily take 2nd and with the fight for third in the constructors so close this year, I think Aston Martin will come third because had Racing Point not lost 15 points because of their illegal brake ducts, they would have come third in 2020.
Podium Finishers - the 2020 season saw 13 drivers take a podium, the most since 2009 I believe. Races such as the Italian Grand Prix or the Sakhir Grand Prix saw no Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull drivers which hadn't previously happened since the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix and there where 5 different drivers on these two podiums. In 2021 we will obviously see Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen on the Podium. I think that Perez will take a few podiums as well as both Aston Martin drivers. Ricciardo and Norris will both take podiums with the new McLaren Mercedes team and I think Leclerc and Sainz will both have surprise podiums with Ferrari.
Rookies - there are some new faces in F1 for the 2021 season. F2 champion Mick Schumacher with his new teammate Nakita Mazapin and the first driver to be born in the 21st century, Yuki Tsunoda. A young driver by the name of Fernando Alonso will also be racing in 2021. of these drivers, I think Tsunoda will have the best season in terms of points, and I think Alonso will have the best season in terms of beating a team mate as I don't think he will be out-qualified by Ocon once in 2021.Driver swaps - in 2018 there wasn't a single team change, in 2020 there where 5 if you include Hulkenberg twice. I think that Mazepins aggression and the amount of criticism Haas are getting from the situation will lead them to pull out Mazepin either for one race or a few races towards the end of the season.
if you have read this far I want to say thank you for taking the time to come and read this, and I invite you to leave your own predictions in the comments