Drivers without a seat for 2021

There are lots of fresh faces on the grid in 2021 which means a whole host of names find themselves taking a back seat this year. I look at three high profile racers to miss out on a spot in the paddock.

Nico Hulkenberg

It's common knowledge that Nico Hulkenberg has always been tipped as a driver that had the potential to fight for a world championship. It's remarkable, then, that he finds himself without a seat for the second successive season.

Even more surprisingly for a man considered one of the most talented on the grid in 2019 before Renault signed Daniel Ricciardo, the German has never made it onto the podium. He was running P2 and had a real shot at his first ever race win before sliding into the barriers at his home German Grand Prix in Hoffenheim, a mistake which ultimately saw him finished at the French team.

Despite his hardships, though, Hulkenberg stepped in for Racing Point for three weekends last year when Sergio Perez tested positive for coronavirus. Speaking about the decision to come back, the German had this to say.

"What did I have to lose? If I didn’t do it, I’d be burned and my comeback chances for 2021 are even worse. But if you don’t dare, you can’t win anything. There wasn’t much time to think about it anyway. So I said ‘come on, do it, trust yourself and your talent’.

“Also, the Racing Point was known to be a good car last year. At the end of the day, I’m a thoroughbred racer, that’s my passion and my craft. Confidence in my own abilities was the decisive factor in the weighing up. Anyway, I’m the type of guy who likes unorthodox challenges and likes to make the impossible possible. What is important is simply belief and trust in yourself.”

It astonishes me that Nico isn't on the grid this year. Yes, it's good to give young blood a chance and save money to spend on the car by doing so, but Hulkenberg is a brilliant racer who deserves a seat. Speaking to GQ, he said he has his eyes firmly on returning to the line up in 2022.

“There were talks [for this year], but it didn’t fit together. I’ve had a good ten years in Formula 1, and I’m not the type who wants to keep going by the skin of my teeth. Especially not at the back, to be there. So I deliberately said no and I was at a point where this time out was quite welcomed for me personally.

"I want to stay in the Formula 1 orbit and try to find a permanent cockpit for 2022. ”

Romain Grosjean

Romain made all the headlines when he suffered a near-fatal crash in Bahrain at the back end of last year. The Haas F1 team had already announced that the Swiss-French racer was not going to retain his seat and Grosjean subsequently revealed that he would be joining Dale Coyne Racing in the 2021 IndyCar Series.

This, of course, was all agreed before his race car burst into flames in Bahrain and, remarkably, Grosjean was in the cockpit for his new team just 86 days after suffering extreme burns which kept him in is fragile condition long after the incident.

After nine years on the F1 grid, Grosjean is understandably sad not to make a decade, but with ten podiums to his name he can be very proud of what he achieved, especially considering he was never at a team that consistently challenged for the top three spots.

The 34-year-old is still suffering from the burns to his hands but, when speaking with Sky Sports, said he was delighted with his first day back on a racetrack and is excited for a new challenge.

"It felt like home. I didn't have any apprehension or anything, It's obviously a new car and I had to adjust a little bit to my new driving position, but things quickly felt quite smooth.

"I then discovered the joys of not having a power steering wheel. I don't regret all the hours in the gym, but maybe I'll do some more, just in case! It felt very normal. It's a different car, a different position, but apart from that, everything felt great and normal.

"I just need to get used to a new car. It reminds me of when I was jumping from Formula Renault to Formula 3 and GP2. So far, I've been really happy with it."

Alex Albon

The 24-year-old Thai-British driver scored just under half the points of Max Verstappen's 2020 total - qualifying around 0.5 seconds slower on average - and has been replaced by Sergio Perez.

Red Bull chose Perez because they felt he would be a stronger back-up for Verstappen, with 10 years' experience and an extremely impressive season for Racing Point last year.

Christian Horner has, however, made it clear that Albon remains an important part of the team as back up for Pierre Gasly and rookie Yuki Tsunoda at the Alpha Tauri team in addition to the senior Red Bull outfit and remains a candidate for a seat in 2022.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Albon admitted that being dropped was "disappointing", but stated: "It was one of those things. There is no point feeling sorry for yourself. You have to get back into it and do as much as you can to get back.

"It hasn't been all that bleak. There haven't been any violins in the background. It has been more just getting back into it.

"I have been dropped before. It has not been the first time. But what I learned was how much do I want it. I believe I want it more than anyone on the grid. With that comes a lot of determination and I won't stop ever."

Albon will attend all 2021 grand prix with Red Bull and will focus mainly on working in the simulator to assist the development of the 2021 and 2022 cars. He will also compete in a Red Bull-branded Ferrari in the DTM German touring car championship.