A brand new Formula One season starts on Sunday, with the 2021 calendar opening in Bahrain.
Sir Lewis Hamilton is the reigning drivers’ champion, but he’ll start in second on the grid behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who has impressed in the lead-up to the big start. His team-mate Valtteri Bottas is third, with Charles Leclerc in fourth despite his fears that Ferrari were set for another difficult season - he finished only eighth in the standing last year.
The Bahrain Grand Prix last year was noable for being the scene of Romain Grosjean’s horror smash, though the former Haas racer has virtually revisited the spot of his accident recently. Hamilton won that race ahead of Verstappen last year, with Alexander Albon also on the podium. All the current drivers will be keen to get off to a good start in the first race of the season, with Emilia Romagna next in line and the Portuguese and Spanish Grand Prix soon to follow on the new season schedule.
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