Category: Race Preview

25 Jun – 27 Jun 2021

Schedule

Austrian GP Track Map

Austrian GP Track Facts

Number of Laps: 71
Track Length: 4.318km
Race Distance: 306.452 km
Best Laptime: 1:05.619  by Carlos Sainz(2020)
2020 Race 1 Pole Position: Valtteri Bottas
2020 Race 1 winner: Valtteri Bottas

2020 Race 2 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
2020 Race 2 winner: Lewis Hamilton

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

The 2021 Austrian GP will be held at Red Bull Ring, home race for the team leading the championship battle against the former champions. As the battle for the World Driver’s Championship continues between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, with the later gaining an upper hand at the last race at Paul Ricard. We move to the next round to the double header at Red Bull Ring in Austria! This is a repeat of 2020 where we had a double header where Mercedes dominated both the races. With long straights and few low speed corners this track favors low downforce cars, which puts Red Bull as favorites for the win. Situated in the Styrian mountains and it is a visual spectacle. Will Hamilton be able to fight back in the WDC and try and gain back the lead? Let’s find out at the 2021 Austrian GP!

Bored of waiting for the race day? Catch some banter in our Episode 6: F1reside Chat.

18 Jun – 20 Jun 2021

Schedule

French GP Track Map

Azerbaijan GP Track Facts

Number of Laps: 53
Track Length: 5.842km
Race Distance: 309.69 km
Best Laptime: 1:32.740  by Sebastian Vettel (2019)
2019 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
2019 Race winner: Lewis Hamilton

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

The 2021 French GP will be held at Circuit Paul Ricard which was built in 1969 and held the maiden French GP in 1971. In modern times this circuit started hosting F1 since 2018. Before that the last time F1 cars raced on this track was in 1990. This track hasn’t produced good racing with these long modern F1 cars. However, with how close all teams are to each other in terms of performance, we can expect some good racing.

This circuit is known for it’s hypnotic blue and red stripes on the run off areas. These stripes are a replacement for grass or gravel traps which are present on traditional circuits. Since gravels traps can lead to certain dangerous situations, which is where these red and blue stripes come into the picture. They are made of a material that is more abrasive than asphalt and will cause higher tire degradation for a diver that ventures into them.

Bored of waiting for the race day? Catch some banter in our Episode 6: F1reside Chat.

04 Jun – 06 Jun 2021

Schedule

Azerbaijan GP Track Map

Azerbaijan GP Track Facts

Number of Laps: 51
Track Length: 6.003km
Race Distance: 306.049 km
Best Laptime: 1:43.009 by Charles Leclerc (2019)
2019 Pole Position: Valtteri Bottas
2019 Race winner: Valtteri Bottas

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

The Baku city circuit is one of the newest street city circuits on the F1 calendar. First introduced in 2016, it has quickly become a fan favorite among street circuits. This circuit is the second longest circuit besides Spa-Francorchamps on the calendar. The 2.22 km(1.38 mi) straight is the longest on the 2021 calendar. This circuit has given us some exciting racing with the ultra wide and long straight, 90 degree corners and extremely narrow old fort wall section brings a unique challenge for the contenders.

The long straights favor teams running a low drag setup and teams with a good engine. Given the Bendgate might give Red Bull a slight advantage over Mercedes, which they(merc) will make up in their straight line speed because of the engine that they house in their car. The Championship battle is just heating up between Lewis and Max as well as Mercedes and Red Bull.

Bored of waiting for the race day? Catch some banter in our Episode 6: F1reside Chat.

20 May – 23 May 2021

Schedule

Track Map

Track Facts

Number of Laps: 78
Track Length: 3.337km
Race Distance: 260.286 km
Best Laptime: 1:14.260 by Max Verstappen (2018)
2019 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
2019 Race winner: Lewis Hamilton

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

The Monaco GP is considered as the crowned jewel in Formula 1’s calendar. Along with Indi 500 and Le Mans it forms the Triple Crown of Motorsporting. Unlike all the circuits till now in the 2021 Season this is a street circuit on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. The first Monaco GP was held in the year 1929. This is one of the few tracks that pre dates the Formula 1 Championship. This track is probably the favorite among drivers and it’s always a huge achievement to achieve pole position on this track.

The track is narrow, winding and one of the most difficult tracks to drive on. With no run off areas and barriers everywhere, this track is unforgiving. A single mistake can essentially end your race. With some unique elements like the Hairpin turn and the Tunnel makes this a unique challenge for all drivers. Most of the races in the Hybrid Era are won during the qualification as overtaking on these narrow streets is near impossible. Qualification and Strategy play a huge role in this race. With Mercedes and Red Bull so close to each other in performance and the track favouring the high down force Red Bull cars, this year might bring us a much more exciting Monaco GP.

Bored of waiting for the race day? Catch some banter in our Episode 6: F1reside Chat.

07 May – 09 May 2021

Schedule

Track Map

Track Facts

Number of Laps: 66
Track Length: 4.675 km
Race Distance: 308.424 km
2020 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
2020 Race winner: Lewis Hamilton

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

2021 Spanish GP

The Spanish GP will be held at  Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya located in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain. This track was built in 1991 and held its first Formula 1 GP in the same year. This track has recently been home for Pre-season testing for F1. However, this year the pre-season testing was held at Bahrain.

With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit. While drivers enjoy driving on this track, this track is guilty of having terrible wheel to wheel racing due the nature of the track, dirty air generated by the cars, narrow track, and the worst offender T14/T15 Chicane. Because so much testing is done at this circuit, Formula One drivers and mechanics are extremely familiar with it. This has led to criticism that drivers and mechanics are too familiar with Catalunya, reducing the amount of on-track action.

There is some hope as the circuit has made certain modifications to T10 which initially was a pseudo hairpin left hander and now it has been reverted to a variation of the original layout of this turn, which is a much more gently arcing left-hander. As the battle for the championship heats up between Lewis Hamilton and max Verstappen, let’s see what this track has instore for us for the 2021 Spanish GP.

Bored of waiting for the race day? Catch some banter in our Episode 6: F1reside Chat.

16th April – 18th April 2021

Schedule

Track Map

Track Facts

Number of Laps: 63
Track Length: 4.909km
Race Distance: 309.049 km
Best Laptime: 1:15.484 by Lewis Hamilton (2020)
2020 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
2020 Race winner: Valtteri Bottas

Catch our Race Review of the 2021 Imola GP in Episode 7: 2021 Imola GP Race Discussion.

Find out the Race Schedule in your local time zone at the F1 Official Race Schedule Page.

This track is located at Imola, in the northern part of Italy. The area around Imola is home to several racing car manufacturers – namely Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Minardi (now AlphaTauri), and Dallara.

Following the Second World War, the town launched a program to try to improve the local economy. Four local motor racing enthusiasts proposed the construction of a new road linking existing public roads, which was used by the local car manufacturers to test their prototypes

This track was reintroduced last year in 2020 due to the unprecedented COVID-19 situation. This vintage track has been around since 1953 and home to Formula 1 since 1963. The track quickly became a fan and driver favorite and made its appearance again in 2021. Weather conditions in this part of the country are always unpredictable and thus leads to some unpredictable racing. The track has always provided top quality races that keep viewers hooked on to their TV screens and seats. Hoping that the 63 lap stunning race that we saw in 2020 makes a repeat here. Let’s continue to see how this dynamic track and its race shapes the championship table.