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The next drivers to step up and challenge

Lewis Hamilton?

Who will end Lewis Hamilton’s title run at the top of Formula 1? Max Verstappen is the most obvious candidate but, given the strength of Mercedes, the Red Bull star may not get the chance until the big rule changes arrive in 2022. By which time others could have emerged…

For our first issue of 2021, Luke Smith runs the rule over – and talks to – arguably the three best F1 drivers who have yet to take to the top step of the podium (see page 18). And who, for various reasons, could be well placed to become true forces over the next couple of campaigns.

George Russell (2014) and Lando Norris (2016) are winners of the (then) McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. Both won multiple titles on their way to F1 and both impressed in their first two years at the sport’s pinnacle. Norris has generally had the more competitive car but, partly thanks to his superb Sakhir Grand Prix performance subbing for Hamilton, Russell could be the first to find himself in race-winning machinery.

Sainz’s path to the top was perhaps more fraught and he has been around for longer, but there can be no doubt that the Spaniard has matured into one of F1’s star performers over the past couple of years, and his move to Ferrari to join Charles Leclerc is fully deserved.

Joining them on the 2021 grid will be Mick Schumacher. Being the son of F1’s other seven-time world champion brings its own pressure but, as he says in our F2 review (p26), he’s already used to dealing with that.

Kevin Turner Chief Editor kevin.turner@autosport.com

NEXT WEEK 14 JANUARY

1991 special We look back to Ayrton

Senna’s epic F1 fight with Nigel Mansell

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COVER IMAGES Motorsport Images/Etherington; McLaren; Ferrari

PIT & PADDOCK 4 Top BTCC team is bought by rival 6 Australian GP set to be postponed 8 Dakar Rally interim report 11 Kiwi stars line up for New Zealand GP 13 Top five BTCC cars 15 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas 16 Win Lewis Hamilton’s gloves 17 Feedback: your letters

INSIGHT 18 The heirs to Hamilton’s F1 throne 26 How Schumacher Jr won the F2 title 30 F3 review: Piastri overcomes drama 34 The reject who became a Porsche ace 38 Extreme E’s female racer rule 44 The first American to conquer Europe

CLUB AUTOSPORT 58 Brian Jones obituary and tributes 60 Maximum series to Time Attack 63 Opinion: Marcus Pye 64 Radical track test

FINISHING STRAIGHT 68 What’s on this week 71 Have-a-go hero: Oliver Turvey 72 From the archive: 1970 German GP 74 In defence of: Luca Badoer

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER 42 Special deals for Autosport

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7 JANUARY 2021 AUTOSPORT.COM 3