SPORT Navigating The Edge: High-Speed News From The 2021 Formula 1 Season

The 72nd annual FIA Formula One World Championship kicked off on the 28th of March, 2021 in Bahrain, and it continues with pit stops across the globe until its conclusion on December 12th in Abu Dhabi. We’re bringing you a frontrow recap of the season’s major events and key moments.

Sunday, March 28th

In the debut race of the season, the young Max Verstappen, representing the Netherlands and driving for Red Bull Racing, started out strong and in pole position. The race was thrilling, from its first round of pit stops through the final moments of the final lap. Lewis Hamilton (driving for the UK and Mercedes) pulled ahead and while Verstappen edged his way towards an attempted pass at Lap 53, he ran too wide and left Hamilton the lead.

Verstappen came in 2nd place (well done!), just 0.745 seconds behind Hamilton.

Sunday, May 2nd

The third round of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship kicked off at the Algarve International Circuit, just outside Portimao, in Portugal. The circuit’s innovative, modular track measures at 4.684km for Formula 1 races. Lewis Hamilton secured two key overtakes: Even after Verstappen flew past him after an early Safety Car restart, Hamilton passed him by, going after Valtteri Bottas next.

Hamilton may have placed first but Verstappen placed second,  stealing the show with his smooth piloting.

Sunday, May 9th

Held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Spanish Grand Prix is one of the longest-running motor racing events in the world. Race weekend 2021 brought tense, whiplash-inducing laps with Max Verstappen off to a strong start, taking the lead at Turn 1. In his 100th race driving for Red Bull Racing, Verstappen piloted this Spanish circuit with ease. However, in the final few laps of the race, Lewis Hamilton pulled ahead, claiming and maintaining the lead position. 

Hamilton’s late pass secured his victory. Verstappen came in second, scoring an extra point for setting the fastest lap. His Red Bull Racing Honda teammate, Sergio Perez, finished 5th.

Sunday, June 6th

The Baku City Circuit, known for delivering drama, did not disappoint. Max Verstappen, while having taken the initial lead ahead of both his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez and his rival Lewis Hamilton, crashed out within just five laps from go. His left rear tyre blew out on the pit straight, and he hit the wall at about 200mph. He emerged uninjured but obviously frustrated. Perez, on the other hand, dazzled, earning 25 points in all for his performance.

Despite the drama for Verstappen, his teammate Sergio Perez placed first, winning the race by 1.385 seconds.

Sunday, June 27th

The Styrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria marked another epic battle between Verstappen and Hamilton. The drivers both lined up in the front row but Verstappen quickly took the lead, navigating the track with ease. Perez and Bottas battled it out at high speeds along the course, too.

Verstappen kept his edge the whole race, finishing in first place, thus extending his overall lead to an 18-point advantage over Hamilton. Perez claimed fourth place, with Bottas taking third. Overall it was a strong performance by Red Bull Racing at the Steiermark Grand Prix, the first of two races held in Austria..

Sunday, July 4th

This ninth round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship, held again in Spielberg, Austria, was action packed. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) landed not one but two 5-second penalties and Lando Norris (Mclaren Mercedes) was given a penalty as well. Drama continued into the final lap thanks to a Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel collision just after Turn 5.

With all that going on, Max Verstappen managed to keep his lead from lights to flag with a strong start and a breathtaking finish. That makes three consecutive wins for Verstappen. Three cheers for Red Bull Racing!

Sunday, July 18th

On the Silverstone Circuit in England, Max Verstappen started out strong. But soon after Turn 1, Lewis Hamilton’s left-front wheel touched Verstappen’s right-rear wheel. At the whiplash speed of 180mph, this caused Verstappen to crash backwards into the tyrewall. Taking advantage of the collision and Hamilton’s 10-second penalty, Charles Leclerc temporarily gained the lead for a good part of the race.

Ultimately, Hamilton won the race, followed by Leclerc and then Bottas in third place. And while Verstappen was able to walk out of his car following the crash, he was taken to the hospital. Here at TAG Heuer, we’re in awe of all the drivers’ perseverance. We’re glad to report that Max is fine and that the Red Bull Racing team is still ahead in terms of overall points. The excitement and tension are bigger than ever!

Sunday, August 1st

The race at the Hungaroring was action-packed and full of unexpected turns. It started with rain, two big crashes in the very first lap, and a red-flag stoppage. There was even a race disqualification later in the day for Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel. After five drivers were eliminated in the first lap, with several others experiencing damage (Max Vertsappen included), Lewis Hamilton pulled ahead. A lap later, he was forced to pit, dropping back and leaving the lead position wide open.

The surprise winner? Esteban Ocon, driving for Alpine Renault, earning his first-ever Formula 1 victory. Verstappen finished in P10 and his teammate Sergio Perez was eliminated in the first lap crash. And just like that, the overall 2021 F1 standings shifted, with Mercedes in 1st place and Red Bull Racing in 2nd. The stakes are high as we begin a several-week pause before the next race. Rest up, pilots!

However, conditions remained rough and after two full laps were completed behind the safety car, race controllers called the cars back to the pit lane. The final decision? Due to poor visibility and weather conditions, the race would not continue and half-points would be awarded—for only the sixth time in Formula 1 racing history. Max Verstappen was declared the winner, thanks to the half-points accumulated during the completion of his second lap. While Lewis Hamilton still tops the F1 leaderboards, this race helped close the gap for Max, now behind by just three points. 

Max ultimately won the race to massive support from the crowd of 70 thousand spectators. Orange smoke celebrated the native Dutch pilot’s victory (and the first Dutch driver to win the Dutch GP) and his return to championship lead, now 3 full points ahead of Lewis Hamilton. In the winner’s own words: “It’s incredible to win here today on another home track”. To top it all off, after a difficult start, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez won driver of the day by the public. It was a big day for Red Bull Racing at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Sunday, September 12th 

On this past sunny Sunday at the hallowed circuit in Monza, Italy, faithful Grand Prix fans gathered at the “Temple of Speed” with bated breath. Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) started in pole position and Daniel Ricciardo lined up second for McLaren.

The race took a dramatic turn at Lap 26 of 53, shaking up the runnings. As Lewis Hamilton exited the pits, he cruised alongside Max. The two drivers bumped wheels, lifting Verstappen’s vehicle into the air and bringing it down on Hamilton’s before both vehicles slid into the gravel trap. Thankfully, both drivers were unhurt, but they were out of the race. 

Sergio Perez, having sacrificed half-a-second earlier on to give Max a tow, finished 5th. With Hamilton and Vertsappen out of the race, Ricciardo claimed victory, followed by teammate Lando Norris, and then Valtteri Bottas in third. There were many surprises and just as much teamwork on the track and while some of the drivers walked away shaken by the results, they walked away uninjured and looking towards the next race.

Sunday, September 26th 

It was a record-breaking afternoon at the Sochi Autodrom in Russia, as Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula 1 driver in history to reach 100 victories. The 15th race in the Formula 1 season was probably the most dramatic Russian Grand Prix to date, starting with dry conditions and ending in downpours. 

As well as Hamilton’s triumph there was an unforgettable drive from Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who finished in 2nd after starting last. Red Bull Racing had triggered a back-of-the-grid penalty by fitting Verstappen’s car with a new Honda engine, but Verstappen had the speed and skill necessary to deliver a stunning drive from the back. Laying down impressive times throughout the race, a calculated switch to intermediates helped him secure his place on the podium. 

Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez lost out because of a slow late stop, and finished in 9th (after starting in 8th). Verstappen is now 2nd overall in the 2021 Drivers’ Standings – just three points behind Hamilton – with Perez in 5th.

Sunday, October 10th

Filling in for the Singapore Grand Prix (due to Covid-related restrictions), the Turkish Grand Prix got off to a running start. Its track—known for turning points, especially one that accounts for 12% of the entire course—often convinces pilots to drive with a careful combination of tyres. Indeed, Max Verstappen remarked that for him, the race was all about managing tyres, rather than fun or speed. 

The race report? It was tough and exhausting but Red Bull Racing claimed a double podium. Verstappen took second place and his teammate Sergio Perez, who played a true team game holding rival Lewis Hamilton at bay, took third. 

Max has now officially taken the F1 championship lead and the Red Bull team is in second place overall.

The United States Grand Prix, held on a hot, sunny day at the Circuit of the Americas (AKA, COTA) in Austin, Texas, was a completely sold-out affair, with 140,000 spectators in attendance. Even after losing his pole position to rival Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen was able to recoup his lead, thanks to a strategic combination of pacing and tyre usage, with some surprising support from the Red Bull pit wall.

At COTA, the Red Bull Racing team’s approach was considered balanced and assertive, which certainly worked to their advantage. Max finished first, beating Hamilton by just 1.3 seconds, and teammate Sergio Perez came in third. 

The recap according to Max? “It was exciting. The whole race, the pressure was on…” And Red Bull Racing certainly held up under that pressure…not to mention under the scorching Texas sunshine.

In terms of overall season standings, Verstappen remains in first place while Red Bull Racing is in second place.

The grandstands at the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix were abuzz as the race opened with Mercedes starting in the front row. Valtteri Bottas was on pole and Lewis Hamilton on P2, with Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez just behind. By Turn 1, Max snagged the lead, and he continued to pull off the fastest laps, working his way up to a 7-second lead by Lap 21.

Spoiler alert: Max won the race, beating Lewis Hamilton by an impressive 16 seconds. Sergio followed Hamilton, finishing third. This marks Max’s 9th victory of the 2021 F1 circuit, and at this point, that means that no other pilots can win more races than him this season. Sergio’s podium position was particularly special in this race: It’s the first time a Mexican pilot has taken a podium finish at the Mexican GP. Taking into account Max’s win in the Netherlands, this is the second time this season that Red Bull Racing celebrates a “native” win for their drivers. 

Even RBR opponent Hamilton had to admit that Red Bull’s pace “was just unbelievable” on the track and that Mercedes may very well be in trouble. For now, Max remains in the lead for the Drivers’ Championship and Red Bull Racing trails Mercedes by just 1 point for the Constructors’ Championship. 

Congratulations, Red Bull Racing for a race well done!

It was an action-packed weekend in Brazil, culminating in Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Later described as a “sensational battle between the two rivals,” as in Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, this particular F1 race saw unexpected twists and turns.

Despite an incident at Lap 48 when Max ran Lewis (and himself) off the track, the two rivals continued to battle it out for top position on the podium. While Hamilton started in P10, he managed to speed his way past Sergio Perez and all the way to first place, beating out Max for the win.

Max ran a strong race, placing second and coming in 10 seconds behind Hamilton. As of this weekend, Hamilton has closed in on Max’s lead for the Driver’s Championship, cutting it from 21 to 14 points. Well done, Red Bull Racing, and best of luck in the next race! Anything can happen at warp speed.

We visited unfamiliar territory at the Losail International Circuit for Formula 1’s inaugural Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar. Red Bull Racing’s Verstappen started off strong and fast from P7, even though he was run off the track for the blink of an eye.  By Lap 4, he already secured himself a podium position.

Fresh off his victory in Sao Paulo, Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton brought a lot of momentum to the race, and he managed to finish first, 25 seconds ahead of Max. The Qatar podium saw Hamilton in first, followed by Verstappen in second, with Fernando Alonso coming in third⸺taking his first podium in seven years! Sergio Perez finished fourth. 

This Hamilton win cut into Max’s lead in the title fight, and now things remain truly neck-and-neck in the battle for the 2021 championship. Godspeed to all the pilots!

The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah did not disappoint in terms of twists, turns, high-speed action and calls to race control. There were three Virtual Safety Car periods just from Lap 28 to Lap 36.

Some highlights from this past weekend’s action: Red Bull Racing teammates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez nearly crashed into each other, but in a split second, they avoided collision. On Lap 15, rivals Vertsappen and Hamilton were neck and neck, until Verstappen pulled ahead. On Lap 37, the rivals collided and Verstappen had to let Hamilton pass. Verstappen maintained his lead until Lap 43 when Hamilton pulled ahead.

The final results? A good showing by Mercedes, with Hamilton in first place, Verstappen in second, followed by Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas in third. With this win, Hamilton gained 36 points and Verstappen earned 18, putting the two championship protagonists on equal footing with 369.5 points each. For now, it’s a draw and the race to the finish could not be any closer.

See you all back here after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.