On-track incidents–and the red flags that resulted–mean that a 3rd practice session, plus qualifying, are on tap for Saturday.
PORTIMAO, Portugal—October 23rd—Valtteri Bottas might have been a newcomer on this track–just as is the rest of the grid. Still, in preparation for Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix, the Finn dominated both of Friday’s practice sessions at the Autodromo Internacional Do Algarve. His best time of 1:17:94 put him ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Friday saw numerous spins by Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen, and Charles Leclerc in the opening session, but the most notable event of the day came on turn one. There, Verstappen and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll collided just minutes before the end of the second session. The Dutchman moved alongside the Canadian driver only to have Stroll turn across him at the apex, striking the Red Bull driver. Stroll, who was just cleared to drive after suffering from COVID-19, claimed that he didn’t know Verstappen was there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WkNbpupYkY
While the incident was under investigation by the stewards, the rest of the grid sat out a red flag period, which kept drivers from their appointed task until eight minutes from the end of this session. It didn’t help when another red flag occurred moments earlier when Pierre Gasly’s Alpha Tauri caught on fire. Even though the Frenchman escaped injury, both incidents kept drivers from getting used to the new circuit, which had not been used for a Grand Prix event in some time.
The session was also the opportunity for teams and drivers to test the new Pirelli tires, which will be the realm’s coin in the 2021 season. But at issue is whether drivers had enough time to draw any conclusions.
Beyond Bottas, Verstappen, and Norris, other notable drivers on the day were Charles Leclerc, who took an impressive fourth, and Carlos Sainz Jr. (fifth) in his McLaren. Sebastian Vettel gave his Ferrari sixth, which meant that both Ferrari’s placed in the top ten. Gasly took seventh despite retiring his car.
But perhaps the biggest news of the day was Lewis Hamilton, who could not get used to the new circuit and finished eighth.
Saturday offers more time for the drivers to get used to this circuit, not only in qualifying but with a 3rd practice session. Teams will need the extra time to prepare fully for Sunday’s race.
