Season snapshot · 2021
Source: Jolpica F1 API- WDC finish
- P7
- Wins
- 0
- Podiums
- 1
- Points
- 159
- DNFs
- 2
- Constructor
- Scuderia Ferrari
Race-by-race
| Race | Grid | Finish | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | P4 | P6 | 8 |
| Emilia Romagna | P4 | P4 | 12 |
| Portuguese | P8 | P6 | 8 |
| Spanish | P4 | P4 | 12 |
| Monaco | Pit | Driveshaft hub | 0 |
| Azerbaijan | P1 | P4 | 12 |
| French | P7 | P16 | 0 |
| Styrian | P7 | P7 | 6 |
| Austrian | P12 | P8 | 4 |
| British | P4 | P2 | 18 |
| Hungarian | P7 | Collision | 0 |
| Belgian | P9 | P8 | 2 |
| Dutch | P5 | P5 | 10 |
| Italian | P5 | P4 | 12 |
| Russian | P19 | P15 | 0 |
| Turkish | P3 | P4 | 12 |
| United States | P4 | P4 | 12 |
| Mexican | P8 | P5 | 10 |
| São Paulo | P6 | P5 | 10 |
| Qatar | P13 | P8 | 4 |
| Saudi Arabian | P4 | P7 | 6 |
| Abu Dhabi | P7 | P10 | 1 |
Charles Leclerc's 2021 Formula 1 season was characterized by a Ferrari SF21 that showed flashes of single-lap brilliance, particularly in qualifying, but often struggled to maintain that pace over a full race distance, leading to a year of missed opportunities and a solitary podium finish.
Going in
Following a challenging 2020 campaign, Ferrari entered the 2021 season with the SF21, an evolution of its predecessor, aiming for a significant performance recovery. The V6 turbo-hybrid era had seen Mercedes dominate for years, but 2021 brought a fierce championship battle at the very front, with Red Bull emerging as a strong contender. For Leclerc, in his third year with the Scuderia, the objective was to consistently challenge for points and push the team forward, especially with new teammate Carlos Sainz joining. The focus was on improving the power unit and aerodynamic efficiency to climb back up the Constructors' standings, ideally battling McLaren for third overall. For context on Ferrari's trajectory, his 2020 season highlighted the depths from which the team was trying to recover.
How it played out
Leclerc began the season with consistent points finishes, securing a 6th place at the Bahrain Grand Prix and a 4th in Emilia Romagna. The SF21 demonstrated improved competitiveness, particularly on Saturdays. He achieved two pole positions during the season, first at his home race in Monaco and then at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, the Monaco pole translated into a devastating non-start due to a driveshaft hub issue discovered on the formation lap, a stark reminder of the sport's unforgiving nature. The Baku pole yielded a 4th place finish, illustrating the gap between the car's qualifying and race pace. His sole podium of the year came at the British Grand Prix, where he led for a significant portion before ultimately finishing 2nd. Despite these highs, the season was largely defined by consistent finishes in the 4th to 8th range. Leclerc completed the 2021 season in 7th position in the Drivers' Championship, accumulating 159 points, behind his teammate Carlos Sainz, who finished 5th with 164.5 points.