Formula 1: Two-round, 10-team 2021 mock draft
By Asher Fair
Williams – Round 2, Pick 1 (Pick 11 overall): Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas is ranked a bit lower than #11 overall on the “big board”, but Williams take him here to pair with Max Verstappen.
Verstappen is a clear alpha driver, and Bottas has proven to be a capable number two driver to Lewis Hamilton during his four-plus seasons at Mercedes. He is capable of winning from time to time, but his job is simply to bring the car home in one piece and get as many points as he can. In most races, he does that.
Instead of picking another young gun such as the guy Haas pick next at #12 overall, Williams stay safe by going with the veteran as they build around Verstappen.
Haas – Round 2, Pick 2 (Pick 12 overall): Mick Schumacher
After Williams pass up on him to avoid potential conflict with Max Verstappen, Haas take Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, with the #12 overall pick, giving them two young drivers produced by the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Schumacher has proven throughout his professional racing career that he needs time to adapt to a new ride, as he has demonstrated again throughout the start of his first season with Haas in 2021.
But once he gets it together, he is capable of getting the most out of the car, just as he did to win the 2018 Formula 3 European Championship in year number two and the 2020 Formula 2 title in year number two as well.