2021 Formula One Race Rankings

Season Stats:

  • Drivers’ Champion: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
  • Constructors’ Champion: Mercedes
  • Pineapple King: Antonio Giovinazzi (4)
  • Dead Last King: Nikita Mazepin (10)

NOTE: The Belgian GP was formally red flagged after a token two laps under the safety car, thus no actual racing took place. The results are, regardless, counted into the Pineapple and Dead Last stats abover but no race report for the event exists (there is a short blog though). Due to the race leader completing fewer than 75% of the laps, the drivers were given only half-points. The podiums were: Max Verstappen (1st), George Russell (2nd) & Lewis Hamilton (3rd).

There are no Race Reports for the US and Mexican Grand Prixs as I was unable to watch them.

Race Ranking:

  1. Emilia Romagna GP – A chaotic and rainy race saw Max Verstappen win and Lewis Hamilton amazingly finish second after going off the track and destroying his front-wing twice. The race was red-flagged due to a violent crash between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell. Norris achieved a third place for McLaren. Kimi Räikkönen also would have taken points but lost them to a penalty.
  2. Saudi Arabian GP – Lewis Hamilton won the chaotic Jeddah race after two restarts and running into the back of Max Verstappen. The second restart also caused an immediate Red Flag due to three cars being taken out. Despite an intense battle at the front, most of the attention was sadly drawn to the stewards decision making. Still, good round for Bottas, Ocon and Ricciardo who all occupied the top-5. Less so for Kimi Räikkönen who brought in the rear after tangling with Vettel.
  3. Hungarian GP – Esteban Ocon took his maiden victory after a chaotic start where several cars were taken out. Lewis Hamilton was the only one to go to his grid on the restart, but still achieved a podium. Sebastian Vettel was number-2 but was disqualified after the race. Williams also managed to get both cars on points. Valtteri Bottas received a 5-grid penalty for the next race due to the incident which effectively took both Red Bulls out of race contention (though Verstappen did score some points).
  4. Abu Dhabi GP – Max Verstappen took race victory and the title on the final lap, after falling behind Lewis at the start. Unepic retirements for Räikkönen, Russell, Giovinazzi and Perez. Latifi spun and crashed which brought the Safety Car on track and gave Max the final chance he needed. Sainz also took another podium for Ferrari and Tsunoda also had his best result of the season. Nikita Mazepin missed the race due to catching Covid.
  5. Brazilian GP – Lewis Hamilton fought his way back against title rival Max Verstappen who still held the points advantage at the end of the race. Bottas botched the start but still got the third place podium (Bottas won the third Sprint Race of the season). Lots of debris on the track from midfielder collisions which caused both an Actual and two Virtual Safety Car sessions.
  6. Austrian GP – Max Verstappen drove an unchallenged race. Both Mercedes and Ferrari swapped positions to give Bottas and Sainz better shots at points. Norris achieved another podium. Lots of penalties (including two for Perez) were handed out to numerous drivers for various infractions. Russell also missed out on Williams’ first points for the second race in a row. On the final lap, Räikkönen and Vettel also crashed heavily.
  7. Styrian GP – Max Verstappen led from start to finish with Mercedes unable to challenge him, though they still took the two other podiums. Lots of action in the midfield with Ferrari recovering from a poor qualifying to take both cars to points. George Russell’s good points chances were dashed by technical difficulties, while Gasly’s puncture also ruined the races for Giovinazzi and Latifi.
  8. British GP – Lewis Hamilton took victory despite a lap one incident where he collided with Verstappen, resulting in the latter being dropped from the race. Leclerc achieved his first podium of the season and both McLarens made the top-5. Foul ups were seen at the pits. The Bristish race weekend also debuted the Sprint Format which was won by Verstappen followed by both Mercedes drivers.
  9. Bahrain GP – Lewis Hamilton took victory at the start of the season. Yuki Tsunoda took points in his first race ever. Mazepin slammed into the wall on the first lap.
  10. French GP – Max Verstappen took back the race lead and victory on the closing laps from Hamilton after losing the lead at the start. Mercedes’ strategy failed in spectacular fashion leading to swearing from Bottas and another podium for Perez. Both McLarens and Aston Martins made points, while Ferraris were left hung out to dry.
  11. Azerbaijan GP – Sergio Perez took a surprise victory after his team-mate’s accident caused a Red Flag and sprint restart. Hamilton botched his chances on the restart going wide. Both Stroll and Verstappen were the victims of disastrous car failures. Vettel grabbed the 2nd place podium while Gasly took 3rd, and AlphaTauri took the most points of all the teams, finishing both cars on points.
  12. Italian GP – Daniel Ricciardo took McLaren’s first victory in nine years, coupled by Lando Norris on second and Valtteri Bottas on third, starting all the way from the back of the grid (due to penalties despite winning the sprint event). Verstappen and Hamilton were both beached by a collission. A great race for Ferrari and Alpine but terrible for Alfa Romeo and Haas. Kubica substituted for Räikkönen for the second race in a row with not great results.
  13. Russian GP – Lewis Hamilton took victory despite a poor qualifying and not that promising a start to the race. Rain on the final laps caused Lando Norris to lose his composure and drop from the lead. Max Verstappen managed a podium despite starting last with Carlos Sainz taking 3rd for Ferrari. Kimi Räikkönen also scored points for Alfa Romeo and the Aston Martins collided, though luckily without serious damage.
  14. Turkish GP – Valtteri Bottas won from pole after his team-mate took an engine penalty. A solid concentrated drive on a semi-wet surface. Alonso got caught out, Vettel went dry too early, Perez defended well against Hamilton. Hamilton himself forfeited the podium for one more pit-stop, giving Red Bull two of the podiums instead.
  15. Qatar GP – Lewis Hamilton led from start to finish, with Verstappen and Alonso on podiums. Bottas, Russell and Latifi all suffered tyre punctures late in the race.
  16. Portuguese GP – Lewis Hamilton drove an unchallenged victory. Alpine got both cars on points for the first time ever. Kimi Räikkönen unfortunately touched his team-mate’s car and beached himself out of the race. Nikita Mazepin was also penalised multiple positions for ignoring blue flags
  17. Dutch Grand Prix – Max Verstappen drove to an unchallenged victory while Mercedes fumbled on strategy. Alpine got both cars on points, Kubica substituted for Räikkönen who was forced to sit out due to Covid. Perez also drove to points despite starting from the pits.
  18. Monaco GP – Most of the action happened before the race as pole-sitter Charles Leclerc failed to start. Max Verstappen ran away with the victory, with Carlos Sainz taking Ferrari’s first podium (alongside Norris at 3rd). Valtteri Bottas’s race was ruined by a faulty bolt-changer. Both Aston Martins were on points and Giovinazzi also brought home Alfa Romeo’s first point. Beyond which, overtaking was notoriously difficult.
  19. Spanish GP – Lewis Hamilton took a victory by defending against Verstappen with Bottas far behind on third. Mick Schumacher also fought the Williams cars for once. Otherwise uneventful.