Sebastian Vettel vs Lewis Hamilton

Lore & Background

The RB16 was planned to make its competitive debut at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, but this was delayed when the race was cancelled and the next three events in Bahrain, Vietnam and China were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The RB16 made its debut at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, while the RB16B made its debut at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. The pandemic prompted the delay of technical regulations that had been planned for introduction in 2021. Under an agreement between teams and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, 2020-specification cars—including the RB16—saw their lifespan extended to compete in 2021, with Red Bull producing an updated chassis called the RB16B, which used Honda's upgraded RA621H power unit.

In Their Own Story

The rain was lashing down at Spa-Francorchamps, turning the famous Eau Rouge into a slick mirror. Sebastian Vettel gripped his steering wheel, eyes fixed on the silver blur of Lewis Hamilton ahead. The gap was tiny, mere tenths of a second separating two worlds. As they approached the Raidillon, Vettel felt the car dance beneath him, a testament to his raw feel for the machine. Hamilton, however, seemed untouchable, his line perfect despite the chaos. For one fleeting moment, as they side-by-side into Blanchimont, the world held its breath. It wasn't just about who crossed the line first; it was a collision of eras, two legends refusing to yield an inch on the asphalt.

Reader's Guide

The RB16 featured a narrower nose with two additional inlets at its front, a redesigned barge-board area, smaller side-pod inlets, a large 'cape' element below the nose, raised parts of the rear suspension, a rear wing with two supporting pillars, and a redesigned front multi-link suspension. For 2021, Red Bull used its development tokens to change the shape of the gearbox casing, allowing it to rearrange the rear suspension and significantly increase rear downforce. The RA621H was Honda's biggest change since 2017, featuring a more compact camshaft layout placed lower, a different valve angle, shorter cylinder bore spacing, a smaller engine with a lower centre of gravity, modifications to the turbine and compressor, and new plating on the cylinder block.

Did You Know?

• The RB16B became the first non-Mercedes car to win any championship since 2013.
• Honda became the first Japanese and Asian engine supplier world champions of the turbo-hybrid era.
• At the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, the livery of the RB16B and drivers' overalls were red and white, inspired by the livery with which Honda won their first Formula One race, the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix.