THE PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX is underway this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have won one race each this season in what is looking to be a thriller.
We’ll be bringing you all of the twists and turn from Portimao right here…
FULL STANDINGS
Here is how the timesheet looks at the end of FP2:
1. HAM – 1:19.837
2. VER – Overcame brake issues early on
3. BOT – Three tenths off team-mate
4. SAI
5. ALO
6. OCO – Both Alpines in top six
7. LEC – Second strong session of the day from Ferrari
8. RIC
9. STR
10. PER – Tough day at the office
11. GAS – Tops the lap count
12. NOR
13. RUS
14. TSU
15. VET
16. RAI – Fewest laps after issue
17. GIO
18. MSC
19. LAT – Took a trip to the gravel
20. MAZ – 1:22.638Credit: AP CHEQUERED FLAG
Lewis Hamilton bounces back from a below-average FP1 to take top spot in afternoon practice.
With plenty of teams running race preparations, most of the hot laps came early in the session.
A 1:19.837 kept Hamilton top with Max Verstappen bisecting the Mercedes in the top three.
ONE MINUTE TO GO
Yuki Tsunoda threatens a commentator’s curse as he skims wide – but keeps it pointing roughly in the right direction.
CLEAN AS A WHISTLE
Certainly one observation that can be taken at this stage (no matter what happens in the next 90 seconds) is the lack of spills in practice session this year.
Whether it’s the shorter sessions, lack of changes in the regulations from last year, or general worries over costs, drivers are keeping it on the road rather nicely. So far.
ALPINE CHALLENGE
A very decent showing from Alpine in this session, Fernando Alonso leading Esteban Ocon in P5 and P6, respectively.
Five minutes to go.
GET THE CALCULATOR OUT
Max Verstappen cruising along on the Medium tyres as Red Bull gather some data for Sunday’s race.
This is the part of the weekend where teams crunch the numbers and work out where it all shakes out.
TYRED OUT
Lewis Hamilton tells Mercedes his Softs are out of grip and drifts out of track limits for good measure.
The Mercs sit alongside Ferrari and AlphaTauri for the most laps this session.
Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen tally the fewest following brake issues earlier on.
FINAL RUNS
Just 15 minutes to go in the final session of the day, who can stop the Mercedes on the Algarve Rollercoaster?
LONG RUNS
Some race stints underway now with both Mercedes and Ferrari cars out on track.
LATIFI OFF
We haven’t seen many spills today and Nicholas Latifi jolts into the gravel at Turn 8.
The Canadian avoids the barriers and carries on.
HALFWAY
Here is the top ten after 30 minutes of FP2:
- HAM
- BOT
- SAI
- ALO
- OCO
- VER
- LEC
- STR
- PER
- RIC
Credit: Getty BLISTERING
Welcome to the Portuguese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton.
A 1:19.837 sends the championship leader top on the Softs with two quickest sectors before a bit of a drop-off at the end of the lap.
That’s a four-tenth gap to Max Verstappen, who ran on the Mediums.
Perhaps that is all the ‘quicker’ tyre will give us this weekend? Something to keep an eye on.
NEW LEADER
A little bit quiet on the timesheets but Max Verstappen, making up for lost time, takes top spot by a tenth of a second.
Valtteri Bottas, every bit a man on a mission, goes a tenth quicker again but that was on the Soft tyre.
MAX BACK OUT
Thar brake problem for Max Verstappen is being put down to a software issue on a sensor and the Dutchman is back out on track.
WIND IT UP
A 30km/h tailwind into the hairpin Turn 5, at the end of a long, downhill straight, is giving the drivers something extra to think about.
A reminder that rain is not expected this weekend with low-20 degree celsius sunshine the forecast for the Algarve.
Credit: Getty
POWER SERG
Some good news for Sergio Perez as he goes fastest but again Valtteri Bottas quickly jumps back to the top.
And we finally get a glimpse of Lewis Hamilton coming into the weekend as he goes 0.08 seconds of his team-mate to go third.
EARLY PACE
Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas all take a turn at the top of the timesheet after their early efforts.
The Red Bull is back in the pits complaining of a brake issue.
TRAFFIC JAM
Just the 20 cars out on track right now.
And Lewis Hamilton tries to dive around Lance Stroll on the pit straight but has to pull back as they jockey for position.
Pretty much every car on the Medium tyres.
LIGHTS OUT
Not before time, we are underway at Portimao.
One hour of FP2 coming up!
FAMILIAR FEEL
If a delay to fix a drain at Portimao is bringing about a sense of deja vu, it may be because this happened last year.
Qualifying was delayed by half an hour in October due to a broken drain (pictured) – but we’re only set for a ten-minute delay this time.
Credit: Getty DRAIN ON ME
Here is the offending drain cover…
FP2 action should begin at 3.10pm.
SOCIAL BOYCOTT
As we prepare for the delayed session, Max Verstappen has announced his support for the social media boycott.
F1 will not partake in the shutdown but Lewis Hamilton is among the many joining its start at 3pm.
TEN MINUTE DELAY
Hold your horses…
Race stewards have confirmed a pause to proceedings while drain covers are repaired.
NOT LONG TO GO
Just 15 minutes until we can settle in for second practice in Portimao…
LLOT OF THE POPS
Callum Ilott made his first F1 appearance in the first practice session after signing as a reserve driver with Alfa Romeo.
Safe to say the Brit, finishing P17, did a rather decent job.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
