The 2021 F1 season is about to kick off. And there was on Thursday, the customary pre-event press conference for the season-opening Bahrain GP, with drivers contemplating their shakedown in the pre-season testing, and assessing their chances against their competitors. 

HAMILTON

The team Mercedes faced a not so smooth preseason testing. They trailed their closest competitors — Red Bull — both in terms of laps completed and times set. Their lead driver Lewis Hamilton even went off on the second day of testing, proof that the W12 was tricky to handle.

When asked about the oddness of starting the year not as the clear favorites compared to Red Bull, Hamilton asserted:

“Each year is a little bit of an unknown, but of course more often we have a better feeling of what’s happening with our car” 

“It’s massively exciting for us as a team. We are currently not the fastest and how are we going to work together, how are we going to unite in order to get to where we want to be”

The seven-times world champion insisted on the excitement for the fans to see teams being close in performances, and also the excitement brought by the challenge of having to collectively work with his team to chase that eight championship. 

“I’m so excited for that challenge and seeing so many other teams close. It’s going to be great for fans.”

“But I love that collaboration with the men and women in my team and trying to get to our common goal.”

The Briton hinted that Mercedes’ woes during testing had been addressed, in a collaborative work with the factory-based crews, despite the short amount of time they had to do so.

“We are in the best shape we can possibly be in considering that we only had three days of testing,” said Hamilton.

“There’s been a huge amount of analysis [by] the engineers, the guys back at the factory, there’s a huge amount of data from everyone to try and understand, churn the numbers and make improvements in that short period. But I think we come here positive.”

“We’ve tried to understand naturally, in terms of quantifying how big or small an issue we may or may not have. I think we’re in the early phases.”

“Just knowing that everyone on the ground here, all the engineers and also the aerodynamicists – particularly back at the factory – have been working around the clock to rectify any abnormal things that happen with the new car and new regulation shifts.”

In the end, even though the team’s members have done their best, Hamilton acknowledged there was still work to do to reach the sweet spot of the car’s setup.

“I’m fully confident that they’ve, in the short space of time, done the absolute best. But it’s going to be a continued hustle to get the car to be where we want it to be.”

The contract negotiations were a big talking point of the offseason, and with Hamilton renewing only for one year, the question about his future beyond 2021 remained. The Briton stated:

“In the current position, I don’t feel like this is the end” 

“Of course, we’ve got these changes that are happening next year, which are exciting. I think this looks like it could be the most exciting season yet.”

“We’ve got new teams, we’ve got new formats and it’s closer. I don’t feel like I’m at the end, but the next eight months or so, I’ll find out whether I’m ready to stop or not. I don’t think I will personally, but you never know.”

“I think this sport is in, I think, the best place it’s been in terms of the steps we’re taking. I’m really proud of what F1 is doing in terms of acknowledging that they have a great platform to work towards a better world.” Hamilton added.

“And I love what I’m doing. I’ve arrived more excited than I have in a long time. I’m just excited to get going.”

“We’re going to have a real great battle one way or another and that’s what I’ve always loved.”

BOTTAS

Valtteri Bottas encountered a gearbox issue that deprived him from one third of his testing time. He however had a smoother ride than his teammate. Yet, the overall performance at the Sakhir track left the german team scratching their heads to figure out the reasons why they were struggling.  When asked if Mercedes had understood what went wrong with its car handling in testing Bottas said: 

"We struggled quite a bit for sure, but it was also pretty extreme conditions overall.”

"It was really windy which makes it quite hard to understand the changes you're making and it compromises the run. It makes it even harder to understand and to learn in those conditions.”

"But yeah, the fact is we struggled with the car balance.”

"We always want more performance than we have currently overall both from the car side and chassis and aero side, and from the humans in the team.”

The Finn, just like his teammate, highlighted the work the team put in order to understand and solve the issues they faced with the handling of their 2021 contender.

"The team has been really flat out and understanding everything from the test and making sure that at least approaching this weekend we hopefully are going to start, in theory, in the best place with the set-up and everything.”

He however asserted that they weren’t totally affirmative as to how much they did recover from their testing performance. For Bottas, the practice sessions would be a good indication to where they stand in terms of performance.

"It's unknown how much we've recovered from testing and how much performance we gained by learning [in the days since].”

"That's something we're going to learn hopefully in practice and at the latest on Saturday and Sunday.”

Ultimately, Bottas saw no reason to panic, considering how long the season ahead is.

"But at least I know that the team has done everything we can in the short time but the season is so long so there's no reason to panic, we just need to work hard."

VERSTAPPEN

Red Bull came from testing looking strong. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez enjoyed around the Bahraini track some solid runs, topping the timesheet, mounted on the second softest tyres’ compound — The C4. A common admission is that the team from Milton Keynes enters the competition as favorites, even though both Horner and Verstapen are keen to return that status to Mercedes.

Sergio Perez is a new addition to the team, and Verstappen was asked how he expected the team dynamic to be :

“I’ve known Checo for many years here in the paddock, and of course now that we are teammates, you get a bit more of an insight into how Checo is working,” he said.

“I think everything so far has been very smooth and with the feedback, we both are heading in the same direction - and I hope it's the right direction!“

The Dutchman added how beneficial Perez’ past experiences are and is hopeful that their new line-up will be competitive enough to put Mercedes under pressure.

“But, it's all going very smooth and it's nice of course also to get a bit more of an insight from his side, from his past experiences and other teams. That's always very good.”

“And, yeah, I just hope that as a team now we can really score a good amount of points, and really put the pressure on Mercedes every single race weekend.”

PEREZ

After a seven-years stint at Racing Point, Perez dropped his cases at Red Bull. The Mexican reflected on his first impressions about his new team, emphasizing on the hunger for racing and the winning mentality that prevail there.

“The team is full of racers you know. Everyone is just a racer in the team. It is a very good atmosphere. It's all about winning, you know: the mentality, and the focus, it's very different. Straight away you can notice that.”

“They do everything to the limit, whether it's pit stops, whether it's a meeting, or whether it's related to performance. They just go flat out and that's something very impressive.”

Perez however talked about the areas he wasn’t yet accustomed to, but stated how keen he was to improve.

“Of course there are areas that I was not used to, areas that I see that they can be improved as well. So it's all about growing together, and having an impact into the team as well.”

Considering who he’ll be up against, Checo said about battling his teammate:

“Basically, I want to beat Max and Max wants to beat me, and that just to the benefit of the team," he explained.

“We want to push the team forwards, and if we are able to create that competition between us, that will just be to the benefit of the team.”

“I think we are both very mature, and we've been here long enough to cope with that. And yeah, I just hope that I'm able to put the pressure on Max and that we can both grow together and push the team forward.”

Checo wanting to beat Max + Max wanting to beat Checo = 🍿 in 2021#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zDS1uO2nMg

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 25, 2021

ALONSO

After a two-seasons hiatus, Fernando Alonso is back to Formula one. His accolades speak on his behalf, but despite those, the two-times world champion anticipates his level of form might not be 100% yet.

"It always takes time and I'm not 100% [up to speed] yet" he said.

For Fernando, his situation is not an unusual one, and can be compared to drivers who are changing teams, or have to adapt to new regulations or tyres. 

"It is the same for many people I guess and for many drivers who have changed teams and some of them need to adapt a bit to the new aero regulations, the tyres.”

"You will always feel more comfortable after five, six or four races so for me it is no different.”

"I'm happy where we are now but I think in a couple races I will feel more comfortable even in the cockpit and the seat. We are still making small modifications, better positions, there are things that we need to keep adjusting."

The Spanish champion conceded "there are no guarantees” that he will be on the same level as he was achieving with McLaren in 2018, but said he was confident that his efforts to embed himself with Alpine would pay off.

“You just have your own confidence in trying to deliver what the team expects from you" He added.

The man from Oviedo reflected on the challenges he faced to get back to F1, especially relearning the technicalities of the sport.

"When I decided to come back I was trying to focus into the preparation, not only physically but also technically being with a team for the second part of the season and trying to be up to speed in the F1 language, which is a bit more technical than some other categories."

Alonso’s goal is to be competitive enough to win races, and affirmed he felt young enough to be there.

"I'm trying to make this comeback a good shot and am trying to win races and be as competitive as possible but not with a target or clear time set on things," he said.

"So far I am enjoying it. I know the repeated question is about my age, but I'm a little bit surprised because I am not that old.”

"The world champion who is dominating the sport is 35 or 36 and it is not like I am 20 years older or something like that."

Age is just a number when you've got hair like @alo_oficial 😉😁#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/AugEd3qZHK

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 25, 2021

Ultimately, that new journey in F1 is for the two-times world champion, the occasion to help the Alpine team to transition to the new set of regulations in the best possible way, as he will give them his experience and knowledge accumulated over his rich racing career.

"What I want to do is test myself and try to help the team in this important moment of this transition from Renault to Alpine and the great future this team has for the next coming years and the new set of regulations.”

"I'm here to help the team with experience and the knowledge that I may have accumulated over the years and try to build momentum in the team.”

"I would be happy and consider a success if we grow up together, the team and myself, in the next coming years and become contenders sooner than later."