Formula 1: 2021 Silly Season still loaded with storylines

While many big moves have already taken place, there are still several storylines to watch for as the 2021 Formula 1 Silly Season progresses.

Formula 1 Silly Season seems to start earlier and earlier every year, and this year was no different. With the coronavirus pandemic delaying the start of the 2020 season by several months, Silly Season for the 2021 season got underway even before the start of the 2020 campaign.

Ferrari kicked it off by confirming the impending departure of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at the end of the season, and shortly thereafter, they announced McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. as his replacement alongside Charles Leclerc.

McLaren announced that Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo is set to replace Sainz, and they confirmed that Lando Norris is also set to be back with the team in 2021. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is set to come out of retirement to replace Ricciardo.

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These confirmations join the very few confirmations that had already been made prior to the start of the year. Over the offseason, Leclerc signed with Ferrari through 2024 while Max Verstappen signed with Red Bull Racing through 2023.

These deals came after Racing Point (to be rebranded as Aston Martin starting next year) had signed Sergio Perez through 2022 and Renault had signed Esteban Ocon through 2021. Additionally, amid Mercedes promotion rumors, Williams announced that they have George Russell under contract through 2021. Russell has since confirmed that, and rookie Nicholas Latifi also confirmed that he is set to return to the team next year.

But even with all of that out of the way, there are plenty of storylines to watch for as Silly Season progresses.

Both of Mercedes’ seats are still open for next year, although it is likely that both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will be back for a fifth consecutive season as teammates next year, especially given that Russell, a Mercedes junior driver, recently confirmed that his Williams deal runs through next season.

The seat alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing is open, with current driver Alexander Albon the favorite to return to the team in 2021, provided he continues to have a respectable season.

If not, the team have AlphaTauri drivers Pierre Gasly and Daniel Kvyat, both former Red Bull Racing drivers who were demoted, whom they could potentially give a second chance.

Perhaps most notably, Vettel has been rumored for a shock move to Aston Martin, but with Lance Stroll’s father Lawrence being the team owner, Lance losing his ride doesn’t appear likely. As a result, there have also been discussions that Perez’s deal could be ended early for Vettel to join the team.

That leaves three other teams without anybody under contract for 2021: Alfa Romeo Racing, AlphaTauri and Haas.

Alfa Romeo Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen has been the subject of post-2020 retirement rumors, given that he is slated to break the all-time Formula 1 starts record this year. But he has not said anything about his future. Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari’s selection for the team in each of the last two seasons, could be on the hot seat regardless.

As noted, AlphaTauri’s two drivers are two former Red Bull Racing drivers and two potential 2021 Red Bull Racing drivers, so the 2020 season is a big year for both. Even if neither one lands a promotion from the Red Bull sister team, that doesn’t necessarily mean staying at AlphaTauri for another year is out of the question.

Finally, Haas made what many considered a shocking decision to retain Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen for 2020. No pair of teammates have been together longer than these two, yet they are constantly finding ways to give the team headaches via on-track altercations.

Yet both are back again in 2020. Is there any reason to believe that that will change in 2021, as long as the 2020 season doesn’t end up being a total disaster? If they do end up letting one go, expect it to be Grosjean given his recent struggles, and expect them to replace him with one of their two test drivers, Pietro Fittipaldi or Louis Deletraz, or a pay driver.

Perhaps that pay driver will be Perez or Stroll, should Vettel end up replacing one of them at Aston Martin. Or maybe those two will stay put and Vettel will end up at one of these three teams; he has already been rumored to join each of the three at some point.

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With everything factored in, nine seats are filled at five of Formula 1’s 10 teams and 11 seats are still unconfirmed at six teams for next season.

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