Top 5 bold predictions for the 2021 season

With just a month left for the start of the 2021 season, it's hard not to think about all the new possibilities in F1 this year.

We are yet to see the cars out on track and most cars haven't been unveiled by the teams either. When talking about the pecking order or favorites, our guesses are as educated as they would have been at the end of the 2020 season.

This is why, at this early stage of the 2021 season, we present to you 5 bold predictions for the 2021 season. Why "bold"? This is because we're making these predictions without the aid of pre-season data.

These predictions are educated guesses based on previous data, our instincts (which are not the best) and a bit of wishful thinking. So without delaying it any further, let's dive into the 5 bold predictions for the 2021 season.

#1 Max Verstappen becomes world champion

Max Verstappen with a winner's trophy. Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

If there were ever any doubts about who would be the favorite to win the title in 2021, then those were erased on the day Lewis Hamilton decided to extend his contract by one more year at Mercedes. The team from Brackley boasts the fastest car in the sport since 2014.

Every season, there are contenders, there is anticipation, then Mercedes arrives and dominates. This narrative though, we feel, is about to change. Red Bull was the second-fastest car on the grid last year. It was slower than the Mercedes by a considerable margin but by the time we reached Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen put the Red Bull on pole and comfortably marched towards victory.

It is widely known that Mercedes stopped working on the 2020 car midway through the season to focus on next season's car. However, what Red Bull showed last year was the ability to methodically cut down the gap to the Silver Arrows.

The regulations for this year remain almost the same. The teams are also restricted in the amount of development allowed on the cars. This means that the gains made by Red Bull towards the end of last year, will carry forward into this season. To add to this, Honda would like to celebrate their final year in F1 with a championship, and are likely to push hard throughout the season.

Max Verstappen has shown that he can be a worthy adversary for Lewis Hamilton, even in a slower car. This year, with a car that would be much closer on pace with the Mercedes, Verstappen should be able to challenge Hamilton consistently.

Hamilton, on the other hand, with impending contract negotiations for next year and consistent pressure from Verstappen, would finally crumble, handing Verstappen the first title triumph of his career.

#2 Lewis Hamilton retires from Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton will retire at the end of the 2021 season. Photo: Andy Hone - Pool/Getty Images

If there was one thing that could easily be analyzed from the one-year contract extension for Lewis Hamilton, it is the fact that both the team and the driver seem to lack faith in each other over the long run.

One of the reasons could be that Hamilton is looking to win his record-breaking 8th World Drivers' Championship and ride off into the sunset. Whether it is because of his age or his extensive list of achievements, he may not have the motivation to continue for much longer.

The 2021 season is where we will finally see a change of the guard. Lewis Hamilton, who has dominated in the sport for over a decade, will pass the torch to Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, two of the brightest prospects in the paddock.

With Max Verstappen winning the title in 2021 and a change of regulations looming in 2022, Lewis Hamilton will pull the curtains on what is the most illustrious career in history of the sport.

#3 Ferrari will win a race in the 2021 season

Charles will lead Ferrari to a victory in 2021. Photo: Will Taylor-Medhurst/Getty Images

We don't think Ferrari will bounce back to where it was in 2019. Consistently fighting for poles, podiums and victories seems a little out of reach for the Scuderia. However, we do expect them to improve their engine performance from last season. We predict that they remain in a tight midfield battle this year as well.

However, the reason why Ferrari will win a race this season is because of a certain once-in-a-lifetime talent that goes by the name of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque, in a Ferrari that lacked engine power and was high on drag, still managed to take multiple podiums in what was a disastrous season otherwise for the team from Maranello.

In 2021, we expect more of the same from Leclerc. With Ferrari slated to recover at least some of the engine deficit from last year, we expect Leclerc to keep chipping away, and in one of those inevitable races where the big boys slip up, the shining star of Ferrari will take the checkered flag.

#4 Esteban Ocon to beat Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso will find it hard to match Esteban Ocon on his return to Formula One. Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Fernando Alonso is making a return to Formula 1 with Alpine F1 Team. He's expected, for all the right reasons, to be the lead driver of the team and guide it towards the front of the grid. In all likelihood, if we look at the odds, Alonso is well expected to beat Ocon across the season.

But, there are a few things that we need to take into consideration. Alonso is coming back after a gap of two years away from the sport. He's also had a horrible accident recently, which is sure to hinder his preparations before the start of the year. He also makes his return as one of the eldest statesmen on the grid alongside Kimi Raikkonen.

To add to this, we must not forget the reason why Esteban Ocon is rated so highly. Ocon went head-to-head against Sergio Perez in his very first season in Formula 1 and did a great job of matching the Mexican.

Last year, Ocon was caught off-guard by the pace and consistency that Ricciardo was able to display, but by the end of the year, Ocon was more or less a match for Ricciardo. In his second year with the team, he would be expected to improve even further.

Will a prime Fernando Alonso be able to beat Esteban Ocon in the 2021 season? We don't think there would be too many doubts about that. But with so many things stacked against Alonso in 2021, there's a chance we see Fernando Alonso lose to the young Frenchman.

#5 We will see the return of "Vintage Vettel"

We will see the return of Sebastian Vettel of old in 2021. Photo: AstonMartin/Twitter

Sebastian Vettel will start a new chapter of his career at Aston Martin in 2021. For all intents and purposes, Sebastian Vettel's stay at Ferrari has tarnished his legacy to a great extent. He went to the team as a four-time world champion and left as a No. 2 driver being consistently outqualified and outraced by his younger teammate.

Many even questioned why Sergio Perez was dropped in favor of Vettel as he looked horribly out of sorts throughout the season.

Vettel talked about how at just 33, he had not forgotten how to drive fast, and it's hard to disagree with that. At Aston Martin, Vettel will be part of a new home, new surroundings, and less intra-team politics. In our view, the 2021 season would see the return of Vintage Vettel: consistent, fast, and funny. Just like old times.

So these were our 5 bold predictions before the start of the 2021 season. What's yours? Drop in a comment and do let us know!