The opening race of the 2021 Formula 1 season is in the books with lewis Hamilton setting the tone and claiming victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The record-equalling, seven-time world champion is on a mission to overtake F1 legend Michael Schumacher as the sole leader in world championships.
Mercedes AMG has secured the services of Hamilton for another season and is hopeful that it can help the Englishman accomplish the incredible feat. According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites, Lewis Hamilton is the highest-paid driver of the 2021 season with a $30M annual salary.
Hamilton Vying For Record-Setting 8th World Championship
Lewis Hamilton entered Formula 1 in 2007 and set the sport on fire with an electrifying runner-up finish in the world championship in what was only his rookie season. Since then Hamilton has won seven world championships in his career. Apart from his first world championship with Mclaren, Hamilton had won the rest of his world titles with Mercedes AMG including four straight from 2017-2020.
Mercedes and Hamilton agreed to extend their partnership for another year in a bid to help the Brit win his record-setting eighth world championship. The announcement of their continued partnership came much later than most Mercedes fans would have liked, but the German car giants were finally able to secure the services of Hamilton who will reportedly earn $30M for the 2021 season.
3 Other Former World Champions Also In 2021 Grid
It is clear that Hamilton will not be handed the record easily this season with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishing only less than a second behind the current champion after claiming pole in qualifying. Three other former world champions are also on the grid for the 2021 season with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso returning as an Alpine-Renault driver after a two-year hiatus.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel publicly fell out with his former team Ferrari last season and has now signed for Aston Martin-Mercedes for the 2021 season with an option to extend beyond. 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen also returns to the grid for his 20th season in F1 remaining with the Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari team.
3 Rookies In 2021 Grid – Yuki Tsunoda First Rookie To Score Points In Debut Since 2016
Yuki Tsunoda is a 20-year-old Japanese driver who is the first driver on the F1 grid born after the turn of the Millenium. The AlphaTauri driver was the standout rookie in the opening race of the season becoming the first Japanese driver to score points in their debut in F1 and the first rookie to do so since 2016 after finishing 9th in Bahrain.
Tsunoda is joined by two other rookies on the grid, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin who both drive for the Haas team. Mazepin spun out in turn 3 of lap 1 in his debut race, making it one to forget for the Russian rookie driver. Mick Schumacher who is famously the son of F1 legend and seven-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher, finished in 16th place.
