To mark the new year, we look ahead to the big stories of the 2021 Formula 1 season in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast.
With rules tweaks to combat rising downforce levels, carry-over cars, tweaked Pirelli tyres and myriad driver moves, there are plenty of storylines for 2021 that will make it more than just a repeat of last year.
Mark Hughes and Scott Mitchell join Edd Straw to discuss the potential for changes to shake up the competitive order, and whether anyone can take the fight to all-conquering Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes as they chase an unprecedented eighth consecutive world championship double.
Ferrari’s hopes to put an “inadequate” 2020 campaign behind it and finish third in the championship are also evaluated, as are new signing Carlos Sainz Jr’s chances of measuring up to Charles Leclerc.
The difficulties McLaren faces as it adapts its 2020 car to take the Mercedes engine package and the impacts on Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes are discussed, as are Fernando Alonso’s chances of thriving on his returning to the team formerly known as Renault but now branded as Alpine.
That’s not the only rebrand, as Racing Point becomes Aston Martin for 2021 as well as welcoming four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to the fold – but is that an upgrade or a downgrade to its driver line-up given Sergio Perez’s qualities?
There’s also a look at rookie Yuki Tsunoda’s hopes with AlphaTauri, while we ask which of the three teams in the ‘Class C’ group at the back has the best chance of latching onto the back of the midfield.
The Race F1 Podcast is released at least once a week and available free to subscribe to from all good podcast suppliers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
