The 2021 Monaco Grand Prix was defined by tyre strategy, specifically the effectiveness of the 'overcut' versus the 'undercut'. While most drivers used a standard Soft-to-Hard one-stop strategy, staying out longer on worn Soft tyres allowed drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Pérez to gain significant track position over those struggling to heat up fresh Hard tyres. Mercedes faced strategic failures, including an early stop for Lewis Hamilton and a pit stop disaster for Valtteri Bottas.
The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix was a unique event where torrential rain prevented any green-flag racing. This analysis explores the thermodynamic challenges faced by the teams as they struggled to maintain the Pirelli Full Wet tyre within its operating window behind the Safety Car, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the race.
The inaugural 2021 Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit developed into one of the most structurally demanding tyre races of the season. Teams were forced to balance the high-speed lateral loads of Losail's sweeping curves against the temptation of a smooth asphalt surface that promised minimal thermal degradation. This strategic tug-of-war produced two contrasting approaches: a safe, high-pace two-stop strategy and a risky, high-wire one-stop that yielded both historic rewards and sudden, dramatic tyre failures.