Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Formula 1: Way-too-early 2021 driver lineup prediction

By Asher Fair

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 17: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W10 leads Alexander Albon of Thailand driving the (23) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and Pierre Gasly of France driving the (10) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR14 Honda at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 17, 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 17: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W10 leads Alexander Albon of Thailand driving the (23) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and Pierre Gasly of France driving the (10) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR14 Honda at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 17, 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 28: Carlos Sainz of Spain driving the (55) McLaren F1 Team MCL34 Renault leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL34 Renault (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 28: Carlos Sainz of Spain driving the (55) McLaren F1 Team MCL34 Renault leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL34 Renault (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /

McLaren

Lando Norris

Is there a more perfect driver lineup in Formula 1 right now than McLaren’s as far as driver camaraderie is concerned? The team have Lando Norris signed to a deal with an option for beyond the 2020 season following his impressive rookie year, and they have confirmed their spot in the 2021 season by switching from Renault engines to Mercedes engines.

Carlos Sainz Jr.

Again, is there a more perfect driver lineup in Formula 1 right now than McLaren’s? Carlos Sainz Jr.’s breakout year in 2019 following a rocky start shows that if the Woking-based team can make enough strides in the right direction, they can contend for podium finishes on a more regular basis. There is no reason for them not to utilize the option they have in Sainz’s contract to retain him.

Renault

Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon’s contract with Renault, which he signed in August to replace Nico Hulkenberg starting in 2020, runs through the 2021 season.

Jack Aitken

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul hinted that Renault may look to go with a young lineup in 2021, and Jack Aitken gives them the option to do that. The 24-year-old was Renault’s third and reserve driver in 2018 and their test driver in 2019. The former Renault Sport Academy driver won three races in the 2019 Formula 2 season and finished in fifth place in the driver standings driving for Campos Racing.

Home/Formula One