Hamilton or Verstappen? Crash.net predicts the rest of F1 2021

Crash.net's F1 Digital Editor Lewis Larkam and journalist Connor McDonagh give their answers to some of the biggest questions remaining heading into the second half of what has been an epic F1 season...

Hamilton or Verstappen for the title?

Lewis Larkam: I’m sticking with my pre-season prediction of Hamilton. This is a near-impossible call but Mercedes appears to have unlocked some extra performance since Silverstone and the understanding of its W12 challenger will only increase as the season goes on. Hamilton has been sensational in the second half of seasons in recent years and has a chance to build on a big momentum swing. I expect it will go down to the wire but Hamilton has been here before many times and has the experience and to deal with any scenario that comes his way. I think he will just do enough to prevail to a record-breaking eighth crown. 

Connor McDonagh: Verstappen. He’s been the best performing driver in 2021 by some distance and without cruel instances of bad luck - Azerbaijan, Britain and Hungary - he’d be comfortably clear of Hamilton in the title race.

Mercedes or Red Bull for the constructors’?

LL: Arguably, this hinges more on the performances of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez than Hamilton and Verstappen. Prior to the carnage he caused at the start in Hungary, Bottas showed signs his performances were improving. If he can carry that into the second half of the year, I think Mercedes may just come out on top. Both Red Bull drivers appear set for engine penalties at some stage too. 

CMD: Red Bull - A tricky one to call given the inconsistent form of Bottas and Perez. Throughout his career, Perez has often performed better in the second half in seasons, combined with my expectation that Verstappen will take the title, Red Bull is my pick.

Will Hamilton and Verstappen collide again?

LL: It’s hard to imagine that Hamilton and Verstappen will get through the remaining races without making at least slight contact again, especially as the title race intensifies. I don’t think things will get completely out of hand, but I can envisage at least one more collision before the curtain falls in 2021. 

CMD: I don’t foresee them colliding as we saw at Silverstone in such a dramatic and violent way, although, wheel bangs, front wing damage is what I do expect as the title goes down to the wire.

Any more shock winners? 

LL: Lando Norris will claim a maiden F1 victory and McLaren’s first since 2012. Go bold or go home. 

CMD: Bottas winning a race would be a shock on current form. Outside of the Finn, Leclerc would be my tip. 

2022 driver market movements 

LL: I reckon Russell to Mercedes will be announced before the end of the season and I’m also predicting a completely revised driver line-up at Williams for 2022, with either Bottas or Nico Hulkenberg becoming its lead driver. The only other change will come at Alfa Romeo with Kimi Raikkonen finally calling time on his F1 career. Otherwise, I can see things staying pretty much as they are. 

CMD: Other than Russell being promoted to Mercedes and Bottas heading to Alfa Romeo or Williams, I don’t expect too much excitement otherwise in the driver market. Williams seems to be happy with Nicholas Latifi so there are two Alfa seats and one Williams spot on the table.

Who takes P3 in the drivers’? 

LL: It really should be either Bottas or Perez, and I’m backing Bottas to find some much-needed form in the second half of the year. 

CMD: It will be a tight battle with Bottas but I expect Perez to come out on top in the end. Norris has a chance but it’s dependent on the aforementioned duo being as inconsistent as they have been in the first half of 2021.

McLaren or Ferrari?

LL: Ferrari. Despite the heroics of Norris, the Scuderia appears to have the more consistent driver pairing with Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles showing little sign of ending any time soon. With an engine upgrade to come, I think Ferrari will edge out McLaren for P3. But it will be close. 

CMD: Ferrari. There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for Ricciardo and his performances. Conversely, Leclerc has been spectacular in qualifying and Sainz has settled in well at the Scuderia.

What about the rest of the constructors’ order?

LL: 1) Mercedes, 2) Red Bull, 3) Ferrari, 4) McLaren, 5) Alpine, 6) AlphaTauri, 7) Aston Martin, 8) Williams, 9) Alfa Romeo, 10) Haas. 

CMD: 1) Red Bull, 2) Mercedes, 3) Ferrari, 4) McLaren, 5) Alpine, 6) Aston Martin, 7) AlphaTauri, 8) Williams, 9) Alfa Romeo, 10) Haas.