Gentlemen, start your engines
What are the key challenges for each driver in 2021? Mark Hughes presents his start-of-term report
Mark Hughes
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Lewis HamiltonMission: To stand alone as the greatest of all time The challenge is laid bare for Lewis. Win one more title for the ‘unbeatable’ all-time record. |
Lando NorrisMission: Take the fight to his star team-mate In his third season, he needs to come close to matching Ricciardo to keep his future star credentials valid. |
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Charles LeclercMission: Maintain his place as Ferrari’s future hero This means delivering a less error-riddled season, while retaining leadership against the ambitious Sainz. |
Antonio GiovinazziMission: Close the gap to Räikkönen He needs to justify his reprieve by out-performing Räikkönen consistently, something he’s yet to do. |
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Valtteri BottasMission: Emerge from Hamilton’s shadow The Finn will need an extraordinary season to hold onto the seat. Replacements are ready to take his place. |
Sebastian VettelMission: Prove he’s not past it and dominate Stroll After a truly awful season, his credibility is at a low. Getting it back is achievable in a quick car but not a given. |
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Carlos SainzMission: Upset the apple cart, and Leclerc All he needs do is his usual and he can emerge as a superstar in this F1 environment. |
Nikita MazepinMission: Try to shake off his loutish image Similar challenges to Mick Schumacher, but even tougher as there is a great will to see Schumacher succeed. |
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Max VerstappenMission: Fight for the title, or lure Mercedes in A golden chance to end Mercedes’ domination if the car is up to it. Hamilton’s replacement for 2022? |
Lance StrollMission: Prove he’s up to it and add consistency Stringing together his impressive peaks would make for a great driver, but it’s been that way for a while. |
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Pierre GaslyMission: Keep showing Red Bull it was wrong He’s reached the level where he’s outgrown the junior Red Bull team so needs another impressive season. |
Mick SchumacherMission: Show some Schumacher flair In a car of which nothing is expected, he just needs to occasionally mix it with the others to get experience. |
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Sergio PérezMission: To be more than just Max’s rear gunner A richly deserved opportunity after so long, but Verstappen is likely to cast him in a Bottas role. |
Fernando AlonsoMission: Show the world he’s still brilliant Displaying the relentless pace of his previous days is the first order of business, relative to the car’s level. |
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Yuki TsunodaMission: Match up to his team-mate’s performance If he can achieve parity to Gasly, and make a couple of stand-out performances, he’ll be in a good place. |
George RussellMission: Make Mercedes come knocking… Difficult to see this as anything other than a holding season. Biggest challenge? Maintaining focus. |
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Daniel RicciardoMission: Show the world that he’s champion material Needs to establish team-leader status over the thrusting young talent of Lando Norris. |
Esteban OconMission: To perform like the rising star he was His status as a future star was damaged by being almost whitewashed by Ricciardo. Can’t happen with Alonso. |
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Kimi RäikkönenMission: Carry on just being Kimi… He’s not one for targets. If the Alfa is good enough, it would be great to see a reprise of his vintage Alonso battles. |
Nicholas LatifiMission: Get closer to Russell consistently Being half-a-second adrift of Russell as a rookie wasn’t a disgrace, but he needs to narrow that gap this season. |
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