Is Mercedes lucky to have the longest break between the first two races since 2007?

Long break for F1

In 2021 Formula 1 has managed to set a calendar of 23 races. A record. You would say that the calendar should be overcrowded, but at the beginning of the season, that is certainly not the case. After the opening race, the teams and drivers have three weeks to get ready for the next race.

So whereas last year there were three races in a row without a stop and Mercedes could make the most of their lead, this year they are lucky in a different way. In Bahrain, Red Bull Racing was the fastest team by a small margin, but Mercedes now have three weeks to close that gap.

It's been a while since we've had such a long period from the first race to the second race. In 2020, as mentioned, we had three races in a row, and between 2013 and 2019 there were always only two weeks between the first two races. In 2008, 2009 and 2012 there was only one week between the first and second race, with 2012 having as much as a three-week gap between the second and third race.

The unique struggle between McLaren and Ferrari

For the last time there was a gap of three weeks between the first two races, we have to go back to 2007. After the Australian Grand Prix on March 18, the drivers had to wait three weeks for the Malaysian Grand Prix on April 8. The ranking didn't change a lot between those races though.

That year it was Ferrari and McLaren who were the strongest. In Australia and in Malaysia it was a Ferrari driver who started from pole, but the results were different. Whereas in Australia the race was won by Kimi Raikkonen, with McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso behind him, Alonso won the race in Malaysia ahead of his teammate and Raikkonen then on P3.

So the momentum didn't completely shift over the three weeks, as it would be between these three drivers for the entire season. It also depends on what kind of track you drive on. Australia was for years a unique track compared to the rest of the season, while Bahrain as a track has more similarities with other tracks.

Is Mercedes lucky?

So Mercedes is lucky that in the first year that it doesn't have the lead at the start of the season, it does have a little more time to close the gap. However, Red Bull will not be sitting still at that same time either and will be doing everything it can to make even better use of its strong package at Imola.

In 2021 Mercedes does have one disadvantage though: not everything can be changed. This year's engine may not be touched again and the chassis may not be changed either. Only with new appendages for the bodywork can Mercedes improve the aerodynamics, and since all teams will focus on this area, the margins will be minimal.