2021 Teammate Battle Predictions!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Bit of fun before the serious business begins...

Hamilton V’s Bottas

Verstappen V’s Perez

Leclerc V’s Saintz

Alonso V’s Ocon

Ricciardo V’s Norris

Vettel V’s Stroll

Gasly V’s Tsunoda

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi

Schumacher V’s Mazepin

Russel V’s Latifi

I reckon, apart from mercedes red bull and williams, all the driver pairing elsewhere have some potential for fireworks

Maybe not at Alfa as Antonio doesn’t seem to have it in him and Kimi doesn’t seem to care either but Haas is going to be very interesting, Gasly needs to keep his stock up, what about alonso?

[Deesee]

Verstappen V’s Perez

I’m going Checo..

Leclerc V’s Saintz

Charl.. sooo quick.. unfortunately quicker than Carlos


Alonso V’s Ocon

Esteban Ocon, this guy is really really good.. Alonso is a great bench mark for him, see MSC and Rosberg.

Ricciardo V’s Norris

Dani is quicker, Lando will pull in more points..and more good will.

Vettel V’s Stroll

Not sure if Seb will see the season through.. car in the simulator is a bit of a mess..

Gasly V’s Tsunoda

Both top guys and AT have the most tokens for development would be great to see the team move up the rankings.

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi

I have no interest in Alfa.

Schumacher V’s Mazepin

? Would have rather have seen other FDA drivers TBH.

Russel V’s Latifi

Russell may beat Latifi, but not by much..

[TheDeuce]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Bit of fun before the serious business begins...

Hamilton V’s Bottas

Verstappen V’s Perez

Leclerc V’s Saintz

Alonso V’s Ocon

Ricciardo V’s Norris

Vettel V’s Stroll

Gasly V’s Tsunoda

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi

Schumacher V’s Mazepin

Russel V’s Latifi

I reckon, apart from mercedes red bull and williams, all the driver pairing elsewhere have some potential for fireworks

Maybe not at Alfa as Antonio doesn’t seem to have it in him and Kimi doesn’t seem to care either but Haas is going to be very interesting, Gasly needs to keep his stock up, what about alonso?

Dunno... proper in-team driver battles seem increasingly rare these days, not least as the teams are quick and accurate to select the likely victor in most cases and then keep the newly demoted 'no2' out of the way or otherwise occupied most of the time..

I think Alonso won't bond with Ocon in any way at all, he might actually manage to avoid even mentioning him. I can't see any synergy there, and I also (even as not a big fan of Alonso..) can't see Ocon bothering him on track.

The rookies will likely drive like dicks on occasion and there will be some short lived upsets.

I actually think potentially the most enduring battle could be at Ferrari.

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Verstappen V’s Perez

I’m going Checo..

That's a fairly bold pre-season prediction - good luck with it!

[anonymous-user]

Hamilton V’s Bottas - Hamilton

Verstappen V’s Perez - Verstappen

Leclerc V’s Saintz - Leclerc

Alonso V’s Ocon - Alonso

Ricciardo V’s Norris - Ricciardo

Vettel V’s Stroll - Vettel

Gasly V’s Tsunoda - Gasly

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi - Raikonnen

Schumacher V’s Mazepin - Schumacher

Russel V’s Latifi - Russell


Boring choices, I know!

[resolve10]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Hamilton V’s Bottas - Hamilton

Verstappen V’s Perez - Verstappen

Leclerc V’s Saintz - Leclerc

Alonso V’s Ocon - Alonso

Ricciardo V’s Norris - Ricciardo

Vettel V’s Stroll - Vettel

Gasly V’s Tsunoda - Gasly

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi - Raikonnen

Schumacher V’s Mazepin - Schumacher

Russel V’s Latifi - Russell


Boring choices, I know!

Exactly how I'd call it, except I can't see Hass getting any points on the board at all so you might call that a draw

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

Verstappen V’s Perez

I’m going Checo..

That's a fairly bold pre-season prediction - good luck with it!

Any time

Checo can run strategies that Max can’t, Horner knows Checo well.

Checo does not have to out Quali Max, just be within 2/3ths to take advantage in the race.

Regardless we will have to see a more rounded Max (good thing IMO) to beat checo.

Wheel to Wheel Albon was better than both, unfortunately 5ths slower over a lap and 30/40 seconds down the road on a GP..

Checo has the ability to be 30 seconds up the road in a GP.

[TheDeuce]

resolve10 said:

Exactly how I'd call it, except I can't see Hass getting any points on the board at all so you might call that a draw

I suppose we could say there is a four way battle between both Williams and Haas drivers again... He who chances a lucky point gets bragging rights??

Although frankly I'm expecting Williams to quite easily best Haas this season - on merit at least. On paper who knows? Both teams points in recent times have been highly circumstantial!

F1 is currently in 4 tiers:

1) The top teams, the guys that could actually be imagined to win multiple races
2) Battle for fourth (actually third last season when Ferrari were on their backside)
3) Best of the rest (midfield battles)
4) The least st losers - a battle betwixt Haas and Williams that is simply tragic yet somehow mildly interesting

[anonymous-user]

Deesee said:

Any time

Checo can run strategies that Max can’t, Horner knows Checo well.

Checo does not have to out Quali Max, just be within 2/3ths to take advantage in the race.

Regardless we will have to see a more rounded Max (good thing IMO) to beat checo.

Wheel to Wheel Albon was better than both, unfortunately 5ths slower over a lap and 30/40 seconds down the road on a GP..

Checo has the ability to be 30 seconds up the road in a GP.

The problem for Perez is RB will hobble him so long as MV is in the hunt. They want Perez just behind to out pressure on others' strategy.

[Deesee]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

he problem for Perez is RB will hobble him so long as MV is in the hunt. They want Perez just behind to out pressure on others' strategy.

I’m sure you’ll find that was the Racing Point strategy from 2020.

[anonymous-user]

Deesee said:

I’m sure you’ll find that was the Racing Point strategy from 2020.

I think their strategy for 2020 was telling us all how well Daddy's Little Angel was doing just as he was typically putting it on its roof/into the barriers/into a competitor.

I'm hopeful that Vettel will find himself in a car that suits his style this season and shows Stroll up for the spoiled, 2nd string, family shoe-in that he is.

[TheDeuce]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

I'm hopeful that Vettel will find himself in a car that suits his style this season

Porsche Boxster? Looks the same whichever way it's pointed

[anonymous-user]

TheDeuce said:

Porsche Boxster? Looks the same whichever way it's pointed

He needs something front wheel drive. Which coincidentally his car for the past couple of seasons has been at most races, if only for a short while.

[Deesee]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

I think their strategy for 2020 was telling us all how well Daddy's Little Angel was doing just as he was typically putting it on its roof/into the barriers/into a competitor.

I'm hopeful that Vettel will find himself in a car that suits his style this season and shows Stroll up for the spoiled, 2nd string, family shoe-in that he is.

I’d love Seb to do well.. fk it take the championship to Abu Dhabi..

Unfortunately Lance is pretty handy (especially in changeable conditions) and a decent F1 driver, his dad has been involved in F1 sponsorship prior to his birth, to be fair to him, F1 driver or captain of industry..

Lance could win races in 2021.. Seb should..

[TheDeuce]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

TheDeuce said:

Porsche Boxster? Looks the same whichever way it's pointed

He needs something front wheel drive. Which coincidentally his car for the past couple of seasons has been at most races, if only for a short while.

I like the guy a lot... But already I know it's got to be 50/50 that he spins during the first GP. I can already feel it happening.

Croft: "Ohhhhh and a NEW season with ANOTHER NEW spin for Sebastian Vettel"
Brundle: "It wasn't just the Ferrari then"

[DanielSan]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Bit of fun before the serious business begins...

Hamilton V’s Bottas Quali and Points- Hamilton

Verstappen V’s Perez -Quali and Points - Verstappen

Leclerc V’s Saintz - Quali - LeClerc. Points- Sainz

Alonso V’s Ocon - Quali - Draw. Points - Ocon by less than 10

Ricciardo V’s Norris - Quali - maybe a draw. Points - Ricciardo

Vettel V’s Stroll - Quali and Points - Vettel

Gasly V’s Tsunoda - Quali and Points- Gasly, I'm adding a mid season caveat to change this depending on how Tsunoda settles in.

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi - Quali - Giovanazzi. Points- Raikkonen

Schumacher V’s Mazepin Quali - draw. Points errr not sure either will get any in that car this year. But Schumacher to bag one of the freak results.

Russel V’s Latifi - Quali - Russell. Points. Who knows if they'll get any, Russell to finally bag 1 or 2 if they do this season.

[Sandpit Steve]

Having just watched the McLaren launch, Ricciardo v Norris looks like it could be a great pairing this year. They’ll certainly have fun along the way, that’s for sure!

As others have said, the Ferrari pairing is going to be closer than many expect too.

Red Bull would also be good, if it wasn’t abundantly clear the team has already decided the finishing order between the drivers, and Checo is getting a big cheque to finish right behind or play interference for Max at the expense of his own race.

Mercedes may have a natural #1 and #2, but at least they let them race each other. Bookie has Lewis 2/5 and Valtteri 11/1 for the title, which says everything even if it’s a little harsh on the Finn.

Vettel has half a season prove himself against Daddy’s boy, and he needs to be miles ahead to not be thinking of his own future.

Alonso and Ocon will probably hate each other by the summer, but the Frenchman needs a solid start with a potential Mercedes seat up for grabs.

Gasly and Tsunoda is an interesting one, with the Japanese being talked about as a potential future race winner. They might be quite close once the rookie gets on top of the car.

Kimi and Gio. Okay, whatever, who cares?

Mick and George will both be miles ahead of their pay-driver team mates, but points are still going to be elusive and they both have lots of eyes on them for the future. George got a small taste of it in Sakhir last year, he definitely wants a works Mercedes drive for ‘22.

[AJB88]

Hamilton V’s Bottas - Hamilton

Verstappen V’s Perez - Verstappen

Leclerc V’s Saintz - Leclerc

Alonso V’s Ocon - Alonso

Ricciardo V’s Norris - Ricciardo

Vettel V’s Stroll - Vettel

Gasly V’s Tsunoda - Gasly

Raikonnen V’s Giovanazzi - Raikonnen

Schumacher V’s Mazepin - Schumacher

Russel V’s Latifi - Russell

I know a lot of people are writing him off and saying he will get beat by his team mate, but I think we see a new Vettel this year that beats his team mate easily.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Sandpit Steve said:

Having just watched the McLaren launch, Ricciardo v Norris looks like it could be a great pairing this year. They’ll certainly have fun along the way, that’s for sure!

People keep saying this but myself and quite a few others don't seem to see it that way, there's something about both their demeanours in my opinion that betrays the narrative the media are desperate to promote.

[TheDeuce]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

People keep saying this but myself and quite a few others don't seem to see it that way, there's something about both their demeanours in my opinion that betrays the narrative the media are desperate to promote.

Perhaps that Lando was presented first and proceeded to open by declaring himself in a leadership role at the team left both drivers feeling slightly awkward afterwards?

I can just about understand Lando figuring this was his time to stamp a little authority - I suppose their first appearance of the season together was as good a time as any to slip the comment in there. It can't have felt very welcoming from DR's perspective though.

Also perhaps a tiny bit premature as Lando hasn't actually raced against DR yet. He might yet reconsider who the boss is 'around ere'.

On the other hand it's the first official we've seen of any of the drivers since last season so I suppose we're all probably reading too much in to the details