Mercedes won the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix from pole position, while the Losail circuit’s kerbs hindered plenty of teams in the inaugural race. Here’s everything you need to know about each team’s history at the Qatar Grand Prix!
RED BULL
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 1 | 2021 RESULT: VERSTAPPEN 2nd, PEREZ 4th
Sergio Perez was a surprise Q2 elimination for Red Bull at the Qatar Grand Prix in 2021, qualifying only 11th. Max Verstappen qualified on the front row but incurred a grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement in Q3, meaning he started only seventh.
Despite their low starting positions, the two drivers soon found their way through the field. Verstappen was running in second place by Lap 5 – the position in which he’d remain for the rest of the race – while Perez challenged Fernando Alonso for a podium finish. Perez’s challenge was ultimately futile and he finished fourth.
FERRARI
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: SAINZ 7th, LECLERC 8th
Ferrari picked up only a handful of points at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix in 2021. After qualifying seventh, Carlos Sainz moved up to fifth on the final grid but lost the positions he’d made up over the course of the race and finished where he originally qualified, in seventh place.
Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. Starting 13th, he gained five positions over the course of the race and finished eighth – ensuring Ferrari scored points with both cars.
MERCEDES
WINS: 1, POLES: 1, PODIUMS: 1 | 2021 RESULT: HAMILTON 1st, BOTTAS DNF
Despite power unit issues in Free Practice 1, Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. He went on to have a peerless Sunday evening, leading every lap on his way to victory. Watch the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix highlights.
While it was plain sailing for Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas had a weekend to forget. He qualified third but incurred a five place penalty for a yellow flag infringement in Q3. Starting eighth, he ran in third place until Lap 33, being the last driver to make a stop for fresh tyres. The Finn pushed his tyres too far and picked up a puncture, ultimately retiring from the race.
ALPINE
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 1 | 2021 RESULT: ALONSO 3rd, OCON 5th
It was a strong weekend for Alpine at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. Both Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon finished in the top five, with Fernando Alonso securing a podium finish for the team.
Both drivers reached Q3, with Alonso qualifying fifth but starting third thanks to grid penalties for drivers ahead of him. Alonso made a good start and ran in second place until being overtaken by Max Verstappen. The Spaniard remained in podium contention throughout the race and held on to third place despite a somewhat risky tyre strategy – and the charging Red Bull of Sergio Perez pressuring from behind.
Ocon also enjoyed a strong race, moving up four positions over the course of the Grand Prix from ninth on the grid to fifth at the finish.
McLAREN
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: NORRIS 9th, RICCIARDO 12th
While Lando Norris progressed to Q3 at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix – qualifying in sixth place – Daniel Ricciardo was eliminated in Q2 and could qualify no further up the grid than 14th.
Norris moved up to fourth on the final grid and held on to fourth until the closing stages, when he made a final pit stop and emerged ninth. Those were the only points McLaren would score, with Ricciardo progressing by only two positions over the course of the race and finishing 12th.
ALFA ROMEO
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: RAIKKONEN 14th, GIOVINAZZI 15th
Both Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi were eliminated in the first stage of qualifying at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix and both drivers had anonymous drives in the race. Raikkonen finished 14th, with Giovinazzi following him across the line in 15th.
ASTON MARTIN
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: STROLL 6th, VETTEL 1Oth
Brake issues for Lance Stroll prevented him from completing much running during opening practice at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. While he went on to qualify 12th, team-mate Sebastian Vettel reached Q3 for the first time in eight races, lining up tenth on the grid.
Both drivers were able to score in the race. Lance Stroll completed a fine drive to sixth place, while Sebastian Vettel finished where he started, in tenth place.
HAAS
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: SCHUMACHER 16th, MAZEPIN 18th
Haas’ preparations for the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix were hindered by a number of car issues for Nikita Mazepin. Damage sustained by running over kerbs saw the Russian driver pick up chassis damage in Free Practice 1 and he was subsequently unable to partake in Free Practice 2. Mazepin made it out of his garage in final practice, but further engine issues prevented him from travelling any further than the end of the pit lane.
As had become the norm in 2021, both Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin qualified on the back row at the Qatar Grand Prix. Neither made much progress in the race. Schumacher finished a lap down in 16th place, while Mazepin finished 18th – last of the classified runners and two laps down on the leaders.
ALPHATAURI
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: GASLY 11th, TSUNODA 13th
AlphaTauri showed good pace throughout the practice sessions at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix and the pace translated well in qualifying. Yuki Tsunoda qualified eighth, while Pierre Gasly impressed with fourth place despite picking up a puncture at the end of Q3 from running over the kerbs.
Sadly, the team did not have good race pace. Pierre Gasly secured his first front row start thanks to penalties for other drivers but plummeted down the order over the course of the race, eventually finishing outside of the points in 11th. Yuki Tsunoda could finish no higher than 13th.
WILLIAMS
WINS: 0, POLES: 0, PODIUMS: 0 | 2021 RESULT: RUSSELL 17th, LATIFI DNF
While Nicholas Latifi was eliminated in Q1 at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, George Russell progressed to Q2 and qualified 15th. The pair ran no higher than 13th during the race and their evenings took a drastic turn for the worse as both drivers picked up punctures late on in the race. Latifi retired as a result of damage from his puncture, while Russell finished only 17th.
