There is still a long way to go in the 2021 F1 season, but after six races there are already some drivers that need to change gears following a disappointing start. While the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have all impressed for various reasons, other names have so far failed to deliver. Here's a look at which drivers have to take their performance to the next level if they want to keep hold of their seat in F1.
Valtteri Bottas (6th, 47 points)
It hasn't been an ideal start to the season for Valtteri Bottas, as after six races he finds himself sixth in the Drivers' Championship. While he has had some bad luck here and there, he's been regularly outperformed by teammate Hamilton. When the Finn struggled to get into the top 10 with his Mercedes at Imola and Azerbaijan, Hamilton was at the front of the field during qualifying and the race. The roles were briefly reversed in Monaco, which you could simply call a bad day for the Briton, but with Bottas you start to wonder what is going on. While you could say that Mercedes have taken a step back compared to previous seasons, you would still expect Bottas to compete for podium finishes, or at least come close. Either way, the Finn has work to do because it seems there are cracks forming in his relationship with Mercedes, with George Russell waiting in the wings.
Yuki Tsunoda (14th, 8 points)
Yuki Tsunoda is in his rookie F1 season, but he hasn't had a whole lot of time to get used to the AT02. Nevertheless, the Japanese driver has made several costly mistakes. After being praised following his debut in Bahrain, Tsunoda followed that up with four poor outings and a series of unnecessary blunders. Meanwhile teammate Pierre Gasly has impressed for AlphaTauri, prompting Helmut Marko to send some criticism Tsunoda's way. Red Bull had the youngster move to Italy following his crash during the Monaco GP weekend so that team boss Franz Tost could keep a closer eye on him. The decision seemed to yield positive results in Azerbaijan, however if Tsunoda doesn't want to be sent packing by Marko at the end of the season, he'll have to maintain that form and score points regularly. Names like Juri Vips and Liam Lawson are no doubt eager to make the jump from Formula 2 and take his seat at AlphaTauri next season, while Sergio Perez and Alexander Albon also want to stay in the Red Bull family.
Nicholas Latifi (20th, 0 points)
Nicholas Latifi joined Williams after a lengthy stay in Formula 2. The Canadian brought with him money in the form of sponsors, however his performances on track have failed to impress. While he doesn't under-perform to the point that you question his F1 credentials, he rarely delivers eye-catching performances either. With the Williams family that signed him now gone and the team's management having been completely overhauled, there are no guarantees for Latifi. Teammate George Russell's pace underlies the difference between the two drivers, but the Briton could play a big role in the Canadian's future. Should Russell make the move to Mercedes, that could ensure Latifi stays with the team. However if the Briton remains, CEO Jost Capito may look to partner him with a stronger driver.
Drivers that aren't at risk, but have to step up
Daniel Ricciardo (10th, 26 points) Good. That's one way of describing Daniel Ricciardo's season so far when looking at his results. However, when you compare it to the performances of teammate Lando Norris, then you quickly realise things could be much better. The Australian is driving a McLaren car for the first time this season, and it's clear he needs some time to settle in with the Woking outfit. Norris has come close to pole on a few occasions this season, with his performance at Imola (which would have been good enough for third on the grid) taken away after exceeding track limits. The Briton was also close to the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes in Monaco. While Carlos Sainz, Sebastian Vettel and Perez (who all switched teams like Ricciardo) have all gathered steam after five races, Ricciardo has been left behind for the time being. He has shown his worth as a driver in the past, so there isn't reason to worry. The Australian also has a contract with McLaren that runs through the 2023 season, meaning his seat isn't under threat. Nikita Mazepin (19th, 0 points) At this time, Nikita Mazepin's season has pretty much gone as expected. He's mostly been in the way of faster drivers and his disappoints Haas car is regularly pointed in the wrong direction. Teammate Mick Schumacher seems to have settled in and gotten more out of the Haas VF21, even though the car has proven to be difficult to drive. But with father Dmitry Mazepin a generous Haas backer, few drivers have a stronger grip on their seat than Nikita. However, if he is to lead the team up the ranks and into the midfield, more is needed. Otherwise, Schumacher will really show the difference between the two drivers once Haas become more competitive.
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