2021 Race 3 - Portugal

[F1nKS]

Only have to wait 2 weeks this time, but already looking forward to it. Last year had the standard finish of:

1. Hamilton
2. Bottas
3. Verstappen

Hamilton qualified on pole with 1:16.652

Should be a lot of drama leading up to the race flowing over from the this weeks race.

[F1nKS]

It will be interesting to say as all the data is reviewed to see how narrative starts to unfold on the Bottas/Russell flap.


Bottas revealed that Wolff would be “going to probably speak with [Russell] at some point as well” about the crash.

https://www.racefans.net/2021/04/18/when-i-race-i-have-respect-bottas-rejects-russells-claim-he-caused-crash/

[F1nKS]

It now Race Week! Race 3 coming up!

1. Who of Ricardo, Sainz, Vettel, Perez and Alonso will get comfortable with their car and have a great race?

2. Does the Constructor championship come down to Bottas vs. Perez?

[F1nKS]

Last year times

P1 - Bottas 1:18.41
P2 - Bottas 1:17.940
P3 - Bottas 1:16.654

Q1 - Hamiliton 1:16.828
Q2 - Bottas 1:16.466

Q3
1. Hamiliton 1:16.652
2. Bottas 1:16.754
3. Verstappen 1:16.904
4. Leclerc 1:17.09
5. Perez 1:17.223
6. Albon 1:17.437
7. Sainz 1:17.520
8. Norris 1:17.525

[F1nKS]

Alfa Romeo reserve driver Callum Ilott will replace Giovinazzi’s in the first practice session.

[F1nKS]

Practice 1 Results

1. Bottas 1:19.648
2. Verstappen 1:19.673
3. Perez 1:19.846

Practice 2 Results

1. Hamilton 1:19.837
2. Verstappen 1:19.980
3. Bottas 1:20.181
4. Sainz 1:20.197

[F1nKS]

The projected qualifying pace for the teams

https://www.formula1.com/content/dam/fom-website/Upgrade/PortugalManualUploads/Friday/Race%20Pace%20Lap.png.transform/9col-retina/image.png


They have RB nominally the fasted with Mercedes 0.05s behind. With 8 of 10 teams within 1 second of each other.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.5-things-we-learned-from-friday-practice-for-the-portuguese-grand-prix.46bo4BrsWnOIE69ylaWXYO.html

[F1nKS]

P3 Times

1. Verstappen 1:18.489
2. Hamiiton 1:18.725
3. Bottas 1:18.820
4. Perez 1:18.840
5. Ocon 1:18.860
6. Leclerc 1:19.001
7. Sainz 1:19.050
8. Norris 1:19.272
9. Gasly 1:19.374
10. Raikkonen 1:19.475

[F1nKS]

Upsets in Q1 - Stroll and Riccardo out in Q1. Alpine looking much improved.

[F1nKS]

Q2 - Vettel makes it to Q1!

Alonso and Yuki don't make it out of Q2. Alpha Tauri not looking very fast this weekend. Norris and Ocon looking sporty.

[F1nKS]

Red Bull on their back foot so far. The track conditions don't seem to suit RB.

Mercedes locking out the front row unless RB can pull something out in the last run.

[F1nKS]

Final Qualifying Results

1. Bottas 1:18.348
2. Hamilton 1:18.355
3. Verstappen 1:18.746
4. Perez 1:18.890
5. Sainz 1:19.039
6. Ocon 1:19.042
7. Norris 1:19.116
8. Leclerc 1:19.306
9. Gasly 1:19.475
10. Vettel 1:19.659

[truefan72]

it was an interesting qualy.
A very exciting top 10.
Let's hope for a good race

[F1nKS]

it was an interesting qualy.
A very exciting top 10.
Let's hope for a good race

I agree. 7 out of 10 constructors represented in the top 10.

[airshifter]

This could be an interesting race. Bottas 2.0 (3.7?) looked more stable than both Hamilton and Max, and it showed in the times. Both Lewis and Max seemed more impacted by the winds, but that could change quickly as well. It seems Max had more pace in hand, but without a good start it could be hard for either of them to get past Bottas if he makes a clean start and stays in clean air. That would leave the two WDC leaders fighting behind him, and give him the possible escape before Merc can direct team orders.


They are still IMHO making a mockery of track limits regs. So this time they name which corners have which limits, and strictly enforce those corners only. While on just about every other corner, people are exceeding track limits.


That Mclaren radio call was quite the classic as well. If a team is instructing a driver on a hot lap to be "done no favors" I would think the FIA would at least issue a solid warning that they are encouraging unsafe racing conditions. I'm glad the driver was wise enough to do such a thing, and actually surprised that such an instruction was given over a team radio on an open channel.

[truefan72]

Okay. I’m impressed with Stroll . 31 laps on softs? Very good stuff

[truefan72]

Bottas. Smh has no pace to fight max. Very shambolic. I guarantee you Russell would have kept the pressure on max.

[truefan72]

Lol toto getting involved now to urge bottas on. To his credit he is responding. He probably knows his seat is under fire if he he produces another pedestrian drive

[truefan72]

Mazepin doing Mazepin things. Nearly took out the leading car. What a moron and embarrassment for haas

[truefan72]

Perez with another amazing drive. Incredible tire management

[truefan72]

Sweet move by alonso. Those Alpine cars are looking good now. Conversely...Ricciardo still going through some growing pains with mclaren. Doesn’t help that he gets passed by the seat he gave up

[truefan72]

Alonso is gonna take sainz
Gasly is gonna pass ricciardo

[Tazio]

:angel:Fred's on a charge :sailor:

[truefan72]

Crap! Whats going on with Bottas?
Ugh sensor issue. He was making good progress on max before that. Damn

[truefan72]

Alpine looking good in terms of p 7&8
That livery is looking sweet and sleek too.

[truefan72]

Gasly is not gonna get Danny. But Danny is going to get sainz tho. Aston Martin is nowhere

[truefan72]

Mercedes should stop messing around. Take the p3 and move on. Why risk a pitstop for the fastest lap. 🤷🏻*♂️

[truefan72]

Wow. Gasly gets sanz. Tbf shaite strategy by ferrari

[truefan72]

Hmm looks like track limits for verstappen on that last lap. I think bottas keeps the fastest lap

[F1nKS]

Winners

1. Hamilton - Mercedes > Red Bull
2. Norris
3. Alpine

Losers
1. Sainz - Started 5th and finished outside of the points
2. Aston Martin - they have no clue it looks how to fix their car


It Is What It Is
1. Red Bull - did what was expected, but it clear that Mercedes has better pace - splitting Mercedes is still a losing position if Perez can't compete with Bottas.
2. Ricardo - got embarrassed in Qualifying, but has a nice climb into the points
3. Bottas - He does what Mercedes needs, but even with pole he still couldn't challenge Hamilton.

[F1nKS]

Perez with another amazing drive. Incredible tire management

I actually don't think it was tire management, but Red Bull realizing that Perez was just to slow and couldn't race Bottas and just kept him out there as long as possible just in case if there was "yellow flag".

[Tazio]

I must say; this is really a lovely course!

[journeyman racer]

Crap! Whats going on with Bottas?
Ugh sensor issue. He was making good progress on max before that. Damn

Imagine the meltdown you would've had if Hamilton had the terrible pitstop Bottas had???

[The Black Knight]

I must say; this is really a lovely course!

Yeah it's awesome!

Great to have had 3 races and, apart from Hamilton's screw up in Imola, they were all pretty tight between Lewis and Max. Top drive by all of them but that's 3 races gone where RBR imo, should have won them all but yet only one so far. All the top three made little mistakes yesterday, which cost them positions but only one managed to recover from them. Hamilton had to work for that and deserved the victory. Nice to see Bottas in the mix a little for once but I can't see how he has any excuse about the car being undrivable behind another car when his teammate is well able to follow and overtake within a second of the car in front.

I agree with Rosberg that Max is beginning to learn how good Hamilton is. Max is a fantastic driver but have yet to see proof he's a true great. RBR have a habit of overhyping their drivers and, like Vettel, they are found out eventually.

Great season so far. Roll on Spain.

[F1nKS]

Yeah it's awesome!

Great to have had 3 races and, apart from Hamilton's screw up in Imola, they were all pretty tight between Lewis and Max. Top drive by all of them but that's 3 races gone where RBR imo, should have won them all but yet only one so far. All the top three made little mistakes yesterday, which cost them positions but only one managed to recover from them. Hamilton had to work for that and deserved the victory. Nice to see Bottas in the mix a little for once but I can't see how he has any excuse about the car being undrivable behind another car when his teammate is well able to follow and overtake within a second of the car in front.

I agree with Rosberg that Max is beginning to learn how good Hamilton is. Max is a fantastic driver but have yet to see proof he's a true great. RBR have a habit of overhyping their drivers and, like Vettel, they are found out eventually.

Great season so far. Roll on Spain.

Max makes little mistakes here and there and gets the "red haze" sometimes. Against most drivers he can get away with it, but not against Hamilton.

I am hoping Portugal was track that favored Mercedes and Spain will shift things back more to Red Bull - but I'm really afraid that Mercedes has figured things out and capture back their pace.

[airshifter]

I must say; this is really a lovely course!

Was it just me, or did the coverage this year show off the elevation changes much better? In either case, I do like the course.


Interesting race all around really. I wasn't expecting that flinch from Lewis on the restart, so Max did what he could there. At least Max made him work for it to pass, but the Bottas pass almost seemed too easy. Lewis had a great run off the corner even before DRS, and it was a done deal.


Overall at the front of the pack all three had a good race IMHO. It seemed the Mercs were more stable once they got heat in the tires, so I think Max worked hard to secure 2nd. Bottas might have had a shot at him if not for the sensor error, so he at least stepped up his game in race pace. Without another safety car Perez had his race screwed early on, but leaving him out hoping for a safety car was the only real choice at that point, though it no doubt cost him time in the end.

That fast lap point sure came into the picture this race. It might have made more sense from Merc to wait another lap so Max could get a shot at it, but in the end it worked out since Max robbed himself.

Overall it seemed that the straight line speed and a little more stability in certain areas helped Merc. At least they all have to fight at this point, and nobody is running away with it easily.



Some great racing through the midfield as well. With 6 manufacturers represented in the top 10, it's quite a change away from the pointy end of things!



Kimi, Kimi, Kimi.... the vodka is for after the race!

[truefan72]

Imagine the meltdown you would've had if Hamilton had the terrible pitstop Bottas had???

huh?
you trolling again?

[truefan72]

Was it just me, or did the coverage this year show off the elevation changes much better? In either case, I do like the course.
I was thinking the same thing.
I was also wondering how this track has not been on the calendar on a regular basis before.
It probably comes down to Money and Bernie trying to extract a king's ransom from some of these fantastic venues.
It took a pandemic and a smattering of desperation to get, Imola, Portugal and Turkey back on the calendar.

[Fortitude]

Winners

1. Hamilton - Mercedes > Red Bull
2. Norris
3. Alpine

Losers
1. Sainz - Started 5th and finished outside of the points
2. Aston Martin - they have no clue it looks how to fix their car


It Is What It Is
1. Red Bull - did what was expected, but it clear that Mercedes has better pace - splitting Mercedes is still a losing position if Perez can't compete with Bottas.
2. Ricardo - got embarrassed in Qualifying, but has a nice climb into the points
3. Bottas - He does what Mercedes needs, but even with pole he still couldn't challenge Hamilton.

...and of course Sebastian Vettel must be wondering whether the Aston Martin venture will pay off for him... YET by the end of the season it MAY turn around... :shock: :burnout: :bigcry: