Formula One team guide 2021

Last year: 3 | Our 2020 rating: 7/10

Aston Martin

From a pink Mercedes to a green one… the team formerly known as Racing Point ran into controversy last year for ‘copying’ the design of the 2019 championship winner from its power unit partner – but despite a mid-season 15-point penalty, the strategy worked. Yes, it lost out to McLaren in the standings, but Sergio Perez won a race. Now carrying the name of one of the world’s great performance car manufacturers, Lawrence Stroll’s millions and a tightening alliance with part-owner Mercedes make the old ‘punching above its weight’ adage truly redundant. There are no excuses now, and the same goes for Sebastian Vettel.

Last year: 4th | Our 2020 rating: 7/10

Alpine

Toleman, Benetton, Renault, Lotus, Renault again – and now Alpine. The name above the door changes and so do the colours, but in every other sense the deal remains the same: Team Enstone must accelerate the pace of its revival this season to at least bid for more podium finishes. The returning Fernando Alonso, and more vitally the Renault board, will demand nothing less from a manufacturer-backed team that has underachieved since it resumed full works status in 2016. Internal politics and regime change at the top has left the team with two bosses calling the shots – which doesn’t usually work in F1.

Last year: 5th | Our 2020 rating: 6/10

Ferrari

What next after the ignominy of a secret deal with the FIA to cover up power unit irregularities in 2019, followed by an embarrassing fall from grace last year? Has Ferrari hit rock bottom after its worst season in 40 years? The signs in Bahrain testing suggested clear progress – but perhaps not enough to rejoin Mercedes-AMG and Red Bull at the sharp end. Carlos Sainz Jr is a good signing to replace Vettel, and in Charles Leclerc it has a latent F1 superstar. But the most illustrious team on the grid needs some proper form this term if serious questions are not to be asked of boss Mattia Binotto.

Last year: 6th | Our 2020 rating: 3/10

AlphaTauri

Red Bull’s secondary team takes the mantle of Racing Point as the squad that offers the best bang for its bucks. The rejuvenation of Pierre Gasly’s career was one of the happiest stories of 2020 and his fortuitous win at Monza capped a strong year for the team formerly known as Toro Rosso, and before that Minardi. Rookie Yuki Tsunoda’s startling form in Bahrain testing (second fastest to Verstappen) highlights the potency of Honda power and raises the expectation this team can once again embarrass the manufacturer teams that surround it.

Last year: 7th | Our 2020 rating: 6/10

Alfa Romeo

It’s still middling Sauber under the attractive Alfa Romeo livery, so there’s no reason to expect anything more than mediocrity from this perennial grid filler. An unchanged driver line-up only adds to the sense of so what, although 41-year-old Kimi Räikkönen still shows the odd spark and inspires a level of popularity not commensurate with his results. Again, what’s new? The odd points finish is all we need to expect, although Räikkönen’s long-matured class might still deliver something more on occasion.

Last year: 8th | Our 2020 rating: 4/10

Williams

New ownership, serious new investment and a lairy new colour scheme (that doesn’t actually include any new sponsors) represents fresh hope for this former ‘big beast’. George Russell’s qualifying exploits finally gave Williams some reason to cheer last term and the talented Englishman will continue to tilt at windmills while he patiently waits for a seat at Mercedes-AMG. But what are the true intentions of owner Dorilton Capital? Former VW motor sport boss Jost Capito as CEO points to revived ambition – but until we see more, the jury remains out on this team’s future.

Last year: 9th | Our 2020 rating: 3/10

Haas