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On a more racing related note, this is the third and final piece in the Driver’s Grades series where I will be discussing the eight remaining grid members and evaluating their respective seasons. With eight racers to consider, let’s get started!
Valtteri Bottas B-
It can’t be much more, or much less, for the Finn, when you consider what has happened in 2021. He did play an important part in Mercedes holding onto the Constructors title for an unprecedented eighth year in a row, but never looked like competing on an individual basis. He attained approximately half the points of his teammate and, ultimately, ended up losing his seat for next year. He will be racing with Alfa Romeo next year, as referenced in the previous article, but his days of racing in a competitive car are over, for now at least. His performances this year were average throughout and on too many occasions, he failed to capitalise on Max and Lewis’ incidents. He was frequently behind Ferrari’s, McLaren’s and Sergio Perez, something his teammate rarely was. Still, he did achieve numerous podiums and still finished third overall in the Drivers’ Standings. Surely a minimum requirement for a Mercedes driver, however.
Lewis Hamilton – A
Half a lap from an eighth world title, it seems harsh to give Lewis Hamilton much less. He competed right to the end and didn’t really put a foot wrong throughout the year. Azerbaijan at the restart and then some team order errors in Monaco and France for example, ended up costing Hamilton even more of a slice of history. The only driver venturing into the three-digit wins counter, he had a strong year, despite often being down on pace when compared to the Red Bull. Despite all the victories, despite being in a class above eightenn over drivers for much of the year, and despite being the only driver other than Max not to be lapped all season, ultimately, he failed. Events out of his control may have led to this, but that counts for very little consolation. Personally, I am hoping he comes back stronger, hungrier and more determined than ever, to become the undisputed most successful driver in Formula 1 history.
Sebastian Vettel – B
Overall, Aston Martin have had a very disappointing year, with flashes of brilliance. The newly branded team, as a whole, seem a step off their Force India and Racing Point predecessors. Sebastian Vettel has had a similar sort of year, on an individual level. He had the podium in Azerbaijan and then the nearly-podium in Hungary. Furthermore, on occasion, he secured some solid, albeit single digit, points scores.
However, too often, the car has been on of the poorer on the grid. The gap to the front teams has only increased and Vettel would have been hired to be challenging for regular podiums, not fighting for 14th. A somewhat inconsistent season for the veteran four-time champion then. Fans will be hoping that his car can be improved and we see him challenging more towards to the front, when March rolls around.
Lance Stroll – B-
Like his Aston Martin companion, the Canadian driver would have been hoping for much more, this season. Whereas the German seemed to dominate the comparable qualifying statistics, Lance Stroll was the one who was more solid when it came to race day. That being said, he only managed 34 points across the season whereas his German teammate scored 43. This figure is even more alarming when you consider Stroll scored 75 points in 2020. He seems safe in his seat with his father practically his boss, but pressure will start to mount increasingly if he fails to compete more frequently next year. There is certainly more than an element of this which is down to the car, but in the cut throat game of Formula 1, results do matter. He now has a wealth of experience to build on, and will hope that next year brings a rejuvenation of sorts, for the Canadian’s career.
Fernando Alonso – B
Much like Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso experienced somewhat of an inconsistent year, which peaked with the third place podium finish in Qatar. On the other hand, there were plenty of times where the Alpine car was battling down in the teen positions. In comparison so the Renault it used to be, the French constructor seem to have taken one step forward but also two steps back, as they have regressed down the grid. Finishing ahead of Alpha Tauri was key in achieving that extra prize money to spend on next season’s setup. Alonso himself showed some flashes of his excellent best, over the course of the year, although it was far too infrequent. As the Spaniard is only certain of his seat for one more year, and with no guarantees for 2023 or beyond, Fernando will be hoping to push even more next season, and make strong finishes, a thing of regularity. It would take something almost extraterrestrial for the Spaniard to stand on the podium as a race winner again. That being said, it could happen. It already did for his teammate.
Estaban Ocon – B+
A season that will be remembered for one race. That’s surely how Estaban Ocon looks at his year in 2021. The miraculous events that occurred in Hungary midway through the season, gave the Frenchman and the Alpine team, their first ever win. Aside from this race, there were several other strong performances, and Ocon was unlucky to miss out on a second podium in the penultimate race of the season in Saudi Arabia, by a tenth of a second. His grade cannot be an “A”, however, because there was simply too much inconsistency. It is understandable that some cars may suit certain tracks, but the Frenchman didn’t get the most out of his car for most of the season.
Like his teammate, he spent long periods in the lower positions and seemed a step and a half away from the likes of McLaren and Ferrari. Another year in the bank for the Frenchman to continue to learn his trade through 2022, and he is a candidate to end up in a Mercedes seat in the not too distant future. A couple more podiums and some more consistent points finishes will surely be the aim for both Ocon and his teammate.
Pierre Gasly – A
Pierre Gasly unquestionably had his best season yet in Formula 1 this season. He may not have added to his race wins after last year’s race at Monza, but he did manage to add to his overall podium tally with a terrific showing in Azerbaijan. Moreover, he frequently scored solid points finishes and managed to be fourth on several occasions. Whilst his qualifying performances may have outdone his actual race day showings, he still managed to score over 100 points, and was the sole reason for Alpha Tauri challenging Alpine and outright beating Aston Martin in the midfield battle. Another year with the team will do the Frenchman no harm, although the so-called bigger teams will surely be keeping an eye on his progress. Currently, he’s happy at a team who are delighted to have him. Having had his fingers burned at Red Bull previously, who knows where and what 2023 and beyond, may hold. Regarding 2021 specifically, finishing after the Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari pairings in ninth place, is about was good as can be expected from Gasly.
Yuki Tsunoda – C
The rookie struggled at times this season, especially in comparison to his teammate. The Japanese driver impressed on occasion, including on his debut in Bahrain early in the year. However, more often than not, the driver has made silly mistakes and points finishes were a rarity, especially towards the latter stages of the campaign. The Alpha Tauri points haul, as previously alluded to, was mainly the product of the other side of the garage, with the Japanese driver scoring only 32 points in comparison to the 110 from Gasly. The final outing in Abu Dhabi may have gone some way in rebuilding the confidence of the young driver. With another year on the grid next year confirmed, there is a strong feeling that Yuki can make huge strides using the experience his has gained this year. Should another disappointing season materialise, he will certainly struggle to hold onto his space on the grid in 2023. You cannot afford to be only ahead of the bottom three team’s drivers, especially in a car as capable as the Alpha Tauri.
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