In October 2020, engine manufacturer Honda announced it will end its full-works participation in Formula One at the end of the 2021 season. Verstappen is contracted to continue racing for the team with experienced Mexican Sergio Pérez becoming his team mate as Albon takes the reserve driver role. Verstappen took pole position at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen was later outqualified by Sergio Pérez at the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but went on to win the race and be just one point behind Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship standings. At the Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing took the lead of the Constructors' Championship for the first time since the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix as a result of another Verstappen win and a poor result for Mercedes. Verstappen also took the lead in the championship for the first time in his career after the race. In the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Verstappen led the majority of the race and looked set to win before a late race tyre blowout which led to a red flag. Verstappen’s teammate Pérez won the race after a mistake from Hamilton at the restart. Verstappen then took pole and won the next three races while Pérez took one more podium in France to grow Red Bull’s championship lead. Then at Silverstone Red Bull were beaten in Friday Qualifying but Verstappen won the first ever F1 sprint on Saturday to claim a 4th consecutive pole position. During the race, however, Hamilton and Verstappen collided at Copse corner resulting in an enormous 51G crash. Verstappen was taken to hospital for precautionary checks but was deemed uninjured. In Hungary both Red Bulls suffered severe damage in a first lap accident triggered by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas. Pérez was out of the race, Verstappen managed to salvage a 9th place finish. In Spa Verstappen took pole and won a rain shortened race in which half points were awarded. This was the shortest race in F1 history.