What To Look Out For in The 2021 F1 Season

After the year we've had we all have our fingers crossed for 2021, and if things go as they should do then next season is going to be pretty special. There’s a lot to look forward to and we hope you’re just as excited as we are. As 2020 thankfully signs off, we want to share all the things we can look out for next season!

New And Exciting Technologies in F1

Tech-heads across the sport of Formula One shared their collective groans at the news of car redesigns being delayed until 2022, but they'll be pleased to know that there are other gadgets being introduced to get excited about. They’ll be sure to improve the race experience as teams at the back of the grid should hopefully close the gap to the best performers, with new technologies improving downforce.

Unfortunately, the new power unit isn’t quite the revolution it was built up to be. The team’s capabilities aren’t really there yet, so they are creating goals towards the 2030 season. This means the new one will pretty much be a carry-over from 2020, with it being a little heavier due to cost restrictions.

2021 F1 calendar, teams & rules

F1’s provisional calendar was released on the 10^th November 2020 with a 23-race schedule. The Dutch GP won’t be happening in the spring however, but instead will take place at the beginning of September. The additional race in Saudi Arabia gives fans something to look forward to at the end of the calendar.

The return to Monaco for its 78^th GP next year will give the drivers and teams a return to F1's Jewel in the crown, and Red Eye will be there to give fans a front seat to the action with our exclusive hospitality packages. The streets of Monte Carlo are arguably the biggest challenge in the entire calendar, with drivers needing to put their bodies on the line with the slightest error able to cause catastrophe. An unforgettable occasion year-in-year-out – we’ll see who has got the bottle along Monaco’s street circuit in spectacular fashion. Are you ready?

The Silverstone GP remains a highlight of the summer and one we’re counting down the days for. History was made as Hamilton broke the British GP wins record last year - will 2021 see the Brit crowned as the best F1 racer of all time?

As for the new rules, the biggest one of note is the introduction of spending restrictions. F1 will introduce them to make racing fairer, giving lower budget teams a chance to compete with the top dogs. New financial rules will help level the playing field with a cost cap. Bear in mind the cost cap of £175M only covers track costs. This means teams can spend as much as they like off the track, splashing their cash on marketing efforts for the best personnel.

As for the teams and drivers, there’s a fair few changes that are sure to shake up the pack as we head into next year. We’ve already looked at who’s driving for who in 2021 but there’s also new teams coming onto the grid next year. Racing Point are set to become the Aston Martin works team following a big investment led by Lawrence Stroll. The move will see Aston Martin return to Formula 1 in a works capacity for the first time in 60 years, a move that will be sure to turn a few heads around the paddock. The other change will be to Renault, as the team, who are set to welcome the return of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in 2021, will be racing under a new name and new colours as they announced a re-brand to become the Alpine F1 Team.

Lastly, there’s alterations to the technical and sporting regulations, limiting car upgrades over race weekends to make the cost cap more viable. Currently, teams can make plenty of changes and bigger teams tend to take advantage of this. So, the changes should close the margin of benefit, to the delight of smaller teams who have less money to spend on extra parts.

With the new season nearly upon us, we’re holding our breath until the flag drops in Australia on 21^st March. Be sure to keep up with the latest news, catch you next time!