2021 F1 World Championship

The 2021 F1 season was contested over 22 Grand Prix weekends, starting in March and concluding in December, with races subject to the COVID-19 regulations set by local governments and the Formula One Group.

This season was distinctive as it was the first time since 2008 that the Drivers’ Champion did not drive for the Constructors’ Championship team. It also marked the final season for the 2007 World Champion, Kimi Räikkönen.

Season

Driving for Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen secured his first F1 Drivers’ Championship with ten wins throughout the season. He made history as the first Dutch driver, the first Honda-powered champion since Ayrton Senna in 1991, the first for Red Bull since Sebastian Vettel in 2013, and the first non-Mercedes champion in the turbo-hybrid era to clinch the World Championship.

Lewis Hamilton, defending four back-to-back championships (2017-2020) and seven-time overall champion, finished as the runner-up in the Mercedes. Mercedes continued their dominance, winning the Constructors’ Championship for the eighth consecutive year.

The season was exhilarating for fans. It featured an intense battle between Verstappen and Hamilton that would play out season-long with controversial on-track moments, including race-ending accidents between the pair at the British, Hungarian, and Italian Grand Prix. This led to the championship changing hands between the two drivers several times.

Entering the final race in Abu Dhabi, equal on points, Hamilton and Verstappen’s season concluded dramatically. The handling of a safety car period, where the rulebook was not followed, in the final laps led to controversy, culminating in Verstappen passing Hamilton after a late restart to win the race and, ultimately, the Drivers’ Championship.

Mercedes’ initial protest was rejected, and they ultimately chose not to appeal further. The incident prompted significant revisions in race control, including replacing Michael Masi as race director for the 2022 season and establishing a virtual race control room to support the director.

2021 F1 Entries drivers and teams

2021 Formula 1 Race Calendar

The 2021 racing calendar included 22 Grand Prix weekends. The British, Italian and São Paulo weekends also included the Sprint format.

2021 Formula 1 Race Reports

Round 1: Bahrain Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 28 March 2021
Race start time: 16:00 local time
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.412km

The 2021 Formula One season kicked off with the seventeenth running of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen dominated all three practice sessions and secured pole during Saturday’s qualifying—the fourth of his career. In a thrilling Sunday race, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the winner over Verstappen, who managed to overtake Hamilton during the race but had to relinquish the position after being judged to have exceeded track limits, ultimately finishing in second. Valtteri Bottas completed the podium in third, contributing to a strong start for Mercedes in the 2021 Constructors’ Championship. The race sparked a considerable controversy regarding the enforcement of track limits, drawing criticism from both teams over what they perceived as overly complex regulations.

Round 2: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 18 April 2021
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Laps: 63
Circuit length: 4.909km

The 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, held in wet conditions, was the second round of the Formula One World Championship and the event’s second running under this name.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton started from pole position but lost the lead at the first corner as Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing made a bold move to take control of the race. Verstappen maintained his advantage for the remainder of the Grand Prix, ultimately claiming victory.

Hamilton’s race took a dramatic turn when he slid off the track while attempting to lap a backmarker, damaging his car and dropping down the order. However, he staged a remarkable recovery drive, benefiting from a race stoppage following a high-speed collision between his teammate Valtteri Bottas and the Williams of George Russell. After the restart, Hamilton fought his way back up to second place for Mercedes, finishing just ahead of Lando Norris, who secured an impressive podium for McLaren.

Round 3: Portuguese Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 2 May 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.653 km (2.891 miles)

The 66-lap 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton take victory for Mercedes, having started second on the grid. Max Verstappen secured second place for Red Bull Racing, while pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas finished third, rounding out the podium for Mercedes.

This race also marked the final Portuguese Grand Prix in recent times, as the event was not included in the Formula One calendar beyond the 2021 season after appearing on the calendar in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Round 4: Spanish Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 9 May 2021
Race start time: 15:00
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.675km

The 2021 Spanish Grand Prix was the fourth round of the Formula One World Championship. Lewis Hamilton secured victory from pole position, leading Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas to claim his 98th career win. The result extended Hamilton’s championship lead over Verstappen to 14 points.

This race was also the first Formula One event held on the newly modified layout of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Turn 10 was reprofiled from a tight hairpin into a faster, sweeping curve to enhance driver safety.

Round 5: Monaco Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 23 May 2021
Race start time: 15:00
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco
Laps: 78
Circuit length: 3.337km

The 2021 Monaco Grand Prix took place on the iconic streets of Monte Carlo, serving as the fifth round of the Formula One World Championship. It marked the 78th running of the prestigious event and the first since 2019, as the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Max Verstappen secured victory for Red Bull Racing, leading the 78-lap race after pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was unable to start due to a driveshaft failure discovered before the race. The win propelled Verstappen to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings for the first time in his career. Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, finished second, followed by the McLaren of Lando Norris in third.

The race marked Williams Racing’s 750th Grand Prix start. To commemorate the occasion, the team featured the names of 100 fans on the halo of their car, the FW43B. McLaren also ran a one-off Gulf Racing-inspired livery, paying tribute to their historic partnership with Gulf Oil, which dates back to the 1960s.

Round 6: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 6 June 2021
Race start time: 13:00 local time
Circuit: Baku City Circuit
Laps: 51
Circuit length: 6.003km

The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a dramatic race in which both championship contenders, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, encountered major setbacks. Verstappen suffered a high-speed tyre blowout while leading the race, forcing him to retire, while Hamilton made a costly error at the restart, running off the track and dropping out of contention.

Their misfortunes paved the way for Sergio Pérez to claim victory for Red Bull, securing his second career Grand Prix win, following his maiden victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel finished second, earning his only podium with Aston Martin and the final podium finish of his Formula One career. Pierre Gasly took third place for AlphaTauri, marking the last podium finish for the team before it was rebranded as Visa Cash App RB.

Following the race, Pirelli launched an investigation into the tyre failures that caused the high-speed crashes of both Verstappen and Lance Stroll, raising concerns over tyre safety.

Round 7: French Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 20 June 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit Paul Ricard
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.842 km (3.630 miles)

The 2021 French Grand Prix marked the 61st time the race had been included in the Formula One World Championship since the series began in 1950.

Max Verstappen secured pole position for Red Bull Racing, ahead of the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. However, a mistake at the start saw Verstappen run wide, allowing Hamilton to take the early lead. The Dutchman regained control of the race after the first round of pit stops, but Red Bull opted for an aggressive two-stop strategy, bringing Verstappen in for a second pit stop, which dropped him 18 seconds behind Hamilton.

With the advantage of fresher tyres, Verstappen began closing the gap and eventually overtook Hamilton on the penultimate lap to secure victory, also claiming the bonus point for the fastest lap. His teammate Sergio Pérez passed Bottas late in the race to secure third place, giving Red Bull a double podium finish.

Round 8: Styrian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 27 June 2021
Race start time: 15:00
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.318km

The 2021 Styrian Grand Prix was the second and final running of the event, following its debut in 2020. The race was added to the Formula One calendar to compensate for event cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It formed the second leg of a triple-header, with three races taking place on consecutive weekends.

Max Verstappen dominated the race, securing victory from pole position and leading every lap to claim a commanding win for Red Bull Racing. Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes, setting the fastest lap, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas completed the podium in third place.

Round 9: Austrian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 4 July 2021
Race start time: 15:00
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.318km

The 2021 Austrian Grand Prix was the second of two consecutive races held at the Red Bull Ring, following the Styrian Grand Prix the previous week at the same venue. The race saw early drama when Esteban Ocon retired on the first lap after colliding with Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo, breaking his front suspension. The incident triggered a safety car, with racing resuming on lap 4.

On the final lap, Kimi Raikkonen collided with Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin, forcing Vettel to retire just before the finish.

At the front, Max Verstappen dominated the race, securing his first career Grand Slam—taking pole position, setting the fastest lap, leading every lap, and winning the race. Valtteri Bottas finished second with Mercedes with Lando Norris third for McLaren.

Round 10: British Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 18 July 2021
Race start time: 15:00
Circuit: Silverstone Circuit
Laps: 52
Circuit length: 5.891km

The 2021 British Grand Prix made F1 history by introducing Formula One’s first-ever “Sprint Qualifying” event—a new format held on Saturday, covering a 100-kilometre (62-mile) distance. Points were awarded to the top three finishers: three points for the winner, two for second place, and one for third. The results of the sprint determined the starting grid for Sunday’s race.

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in traditional qualifying, securing pole position for the sprint. However, it was Max Verstappen who won the Sprint Qualifying, earning pole position for the Grand Prix.

The race was defined by a dramatic first-lap collision between Hamilton and Verstappen at Copse Corner, sending Verstappen into the barriers and forcing him to retire. The crash led to a 10-second time penalty for Hamilton, who was deemed at fault for the incident. Despite the penalty, Hamilton mounted a remarkable comeback, overtaking the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in the final laps to claim victory, securing his eighth British Grand Prix win. Leclerc finished second, while Valtteri Bottas completed the podium in third.

Round 11: Hungarian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 1 August 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Hungaroring
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.381km

Esteban Ocon secured his maiden Formula One victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, delivering a historic win for Alpine. It marked the first victory for the Enstone-based team since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix and the first win for a Renault-badged engine since the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz completed the podium, following the disqualification of Sebastian Vettel, who originally finished second with Aston Martin but was penalised due to a fuel sample irregularity. Williams also secured their first double points finish since the 2018 Italian Grand Prix and scored their first championship points since the 2019 German Grand Prix.

Round 12: Belgian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 29 August 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 44
Circuit length: 7.004km

Max Verstappen won the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix for Red Bull, with the Williams of George Russell in second and Lewis Hamilton finishing third for Mercedes.

Originally planned to run for 44 laps, the race ended prematurely during the third lap due to wet conditions. The first two laps were completed behind the safety car before a red flag halted the race on lap three. According to sporting regulations, the final results were taken from the end of the first lap, and half points were awarded to the top 10 finishers since less than 75% of the scheduled race distance was completed.

As of 2021, this race held a place in F1 history for the record as the shortest Formula One World Championship race in terms of both distance (6.880 km or 4.275 mi) and number of laps raced (1). It surpassed the previous records set at the 1991 Australian Grand Prix for distance and the 1971 German Grand Prix for the fewest laps raced. This event also marked the first time since the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix that half points were awarded, a rare occurrence that has only happened six times in Formula One history. Subsequent regulation changes for the 2022 season eliminated the possibility of half-points being awarded in the future.

The decision to run two laps behind the safety car before red-flagging the race on lap three sparked considerable controversy. The FIA and race director, Michael Masi, faced criticism from the media, fans, teams, and drivers for their handling of the weekend, particularly on race day. Notably, this race remains the only World Championship event to not run under full green flag conditions.

Full Race Report

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  2021 Belgian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Round 13: Dutch Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 5 September 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
Laps: 72
Circuit length: 4.259km

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen won the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix, marking the first Zandvoort race since 1985, and making him the first Dutch driver to win his home race. Lewis Hamilton finished in second place for Mercedes, followed by his teammate Valtteri Bottas in third. Initially scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Verstappen went on to win again in 2022 and 2023 before Lando Norris won the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix on 25 August 2024.

Round 14: Italian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 12 September, 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.793km

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo won the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, who capitalised on a strong front-row start and an incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to take the lead. Ricciardo was joined by his teammate Lando Norris in second, with Mercedes‘ Valtteri Bottas finishing third. This victory marked Ricciardo’s first since the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix and remains his latest win to date. It also marked McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory since Jenson Button’s 2012 win in Brazil and their last until Lando Norris’ triumph at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. Additionally, it was McLaren’s first 1-2 finish since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix and their first win at Monza since the 2012 Italian Grand Prix, as well as their first double podium since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. As of 2024, this race marks the final Grand Prix appearance for Robert Kubica and the last win for an Australian driver until Oscar Piastri‘s victory at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Round 15: Russian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 26 September 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Sochi Autodrom
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.848 km (3.634 miles)

The 2021 Russian Grand Prix marked the tenth running of the event and the eighth and final race held at the Sochi Autodrom.

McLaren’s Lando Norris secured pole position and led most of the race. However, he lost the lead after opting not to switch to intermediate tyres as weather conditions worsened. The race was ultimately won by Mercedes‘ Lewis Hamilton, who became the first driver in Formula 1 history to achieve 100 Grand Prix victories. Max Verstappen finished second with Red Bull, with Carlos Sainz taking third for Ferrari. Hamilton’s win also allowed him to reclaim the championship lead from Verstappen.

This would be the last Formula One race at Sochi and the final Russian Grand Prix as of the 2024 season, following the cancellation of future races due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Round 16: Turkish Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 10 October 2021
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Istanbul Park
Laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.338 km

Valtteri Bottas won the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix for Mercedes, with a controlled drive in wet conditions. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished second, taking back the lead in the championship standings, while his teammate Sergio Perez took third after an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton had struggled after starting 11th due to a grid penalty and the decision by Mercedes to call him in late for fresh intermediate tyres, which ultimately cost him a potential podium. Bottas dominated the entire race, quickly leading from the start and handling the slippery conditions to secure his first win of the season. It turned out to be Bottas’s last win with Mercedes before moving to Alfa Romeo the following season.

Held during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the race was originally scheduled from 11-13 June but was rescheduled when the British government imposed travel restrictions. These restrictions affected most of the paddock, where the teams are based in the UK. It was the second consecutive year in which the Turkish Grand Prix had appeared on the calendar as a replacement round.

Round 17: United States Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 24 October 2021
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.513km

The 2021 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) saw a thrilling battle between Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen started from pole position and, after a tense strategic battle, held off Hamilton to win the race by just 1.3 seconds, extending his lead in the championship. Hamilton finished second, while Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, completed the podium in third despite battling dehydration due to a malfunctioning water bottle. Verstappen pitted earlier and managed his tyres expertly to fend off Hamilton, who had fresher tyres in the closing laps. The result was crucial for Verstappen’s title challenge in a fiercely contested 2021 season.

Round 18: Mexico City Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 7 November 2021
Race start time: 14:00
Circuit: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.304km

The 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix marked the 21st running of the Mexican Grand Prix, rebranded to recognise the support from the Mexico City government. Initially scheduled for 31 October, the race was postponed by a week due to adjustments in the Formula 1 calendar, which reduced the total number of races from 23 to 22 because of COVID-19.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory, with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finishing second and Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez taking third. The race was also memorable for Kimi Raikkonen, who, driving for Alfa Romeo, finished in 8th place, scoring the final points of his Formula 1 career.

Round 19: Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 14 November 2021
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Interlagos – Autodromo Jose Carlo Pace
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.309km

The 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix marked the first time the event appeared on the Formula One calendar under this name, previously known as the Brazilian Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton faced significant setbacks after being disqualified from Friday’s qualifying due to a DRS infringement, which forced him to start the Sprint Race from the twentieth position. Despite this, he made an incredible recovery to fifth place. However, an additional five-place grid penalty for exceeding his allocation of internal combustion engines meant he started further down in the main Grand Prix. Nevertheless, Hamilton surged through the field in a historic ‘for the ages’ drive and ultimately overtook race leader and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who went wheel to wheel several times to claim victory. Valtteri Bottas, who had started the Sprint Race from pole, finished third, helping Mercedes extend their lead over Red Bull Racing in the Constructors’ Championship, while Verstappen retained his lead over Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship.

Round 20: Qatar Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 21 November 2021
Race start time: 17:00 local time
Circuit: Lusail International Circuit
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.380km

The inaugural 2021 Qatar Grand Prix took place at the Lusail International Circuit, marking the 20th round of the Formula One World Championship. Originally absent from the season’s calendar, it was added to replace the 2021 Australian Grand Prix, which had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event was the first Qatar Grand Prix, establishing the start of a 10-year contract to host the race from 2023 onwards at a new, purpose-built circuit. Notably, there was no Qatar Grand Prix in 2022 as the country was focused on hosting the FIFA World Cup.

In an exciting first race in Qatar, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claimed the win ahead of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso finishing third to earn his first podium since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix and his first with Team Enstone since the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix. Hamilton’s win at Lusail also marked the 30th different circuit where he had achieved an F1 Grand Prix victory.

Round 21: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Race date: Saturday, 5 December 2021
Race start time: 20:30 local time
Circuit: Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Laps: 50
Circuit length: 6.174km

The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place on this day in 2021 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Originally scheduled for 28 November, the race was postponed due to the rescheduling of the Australian Grand Prix amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claimed victory, finishing ahead of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas narrowly secured third place over the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, finishing just 0.102 seconds ahead, marking Bottas’s last podium with Mercedes. This race also became significant for Hamilton, as it became (amazingly) his final win until the 2024 British Grand Prix and his last pole position until the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The race wasn’t without controversy. On lap 37, Max Verstappen made an illegal overtake on Lewis Hamilton and was instructed to let him pass. Verstappen slowed down before a DRS detection zone, intending to regain an advantage, but Hamilton, unaware of the plan, was surprised by Verstappen’s sudden braking, leading to a collision that damaged Hamilton’s front wing and Verstappen’s diffuser. After the race, the stewards issued Verstappen with a 10-second time penalty and two points on his super license, though his second-place finish stood. Hamilton later criticised Verstappen, calling his driving and title defence “over the limit.”

The weekend was tinged with sadness, as former Williams team co-founder and owner Sir Frank Williams had passed away one week earlier, on 28 November 2021, at the age of 79. In tribute, teams added commemorative messages on their cars, and a minute of silence was observed an hour before the race. Former Williams driver and 1996 Champion Damon Hill honoured Williams with a lap of honour in the FW07, the team’s first championship-winning car.

Round 22: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 12 December 2021
Race start time: 17:00
Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit
Laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.281km

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the end of the season and held enormous stakes, determining the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships. The leaders, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton entered the race tied on 369.5 points each. In a dramatic turn of events, Hamilton led a significant portion of the race and seemed poised to clinch an unprecedented eighth World Drivers’ Championship title. He had taken the lead right from the start, making a decisive move on the first lap at turn one. However, in the closing moments of the race, a highly controversial safety car restart occurred. Verstappen capitalised on this opportunity and overtook Hamilton on the final lap, securing the win and, ultimately, the Drivers’ Championship.

Following the race, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) began an inquiry into the race start proceedings following the Saftey Car period. This investigation led to substantial changes in race control, including replacing Michael Masi as the race director and revising the safety car regulations. The inquiry ultimately determined that race officials had wrongly applied the regulations due to human error but upheld the race results.

Max Verstappen’s win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked his first Drivers’ Championship, ending Red Bull’s driver championship drought since 2013. While Mercedes claimed their eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, setting a new record in the sport’s history. The race also saw Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion at 42 years of age, retire from Formula 1 after an impressive two-decade career.

Full Race Report

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  2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

2021 Formula 1 Race Results

2021 Formula 1 Standings

Driver standings

Team standings