BOT was fastest in FP1, FP2, FP3, Q2… but HAM was quickest when it mattered, taking his 97th pole. [Quali notes]
Provisional grid: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, PER, ALB, SAI, NOR, GAS, RIC, OCO, STR, KVY, RUS, VET, RAI, GIO, GRO, MAG, LAT
The forecast says there’s a 40% chance of rain in the second half of the race – the track was resurfaced about a month ago so it’s still oily, which means rain could cause some big upsets
There’s been minimal running at Portimao so the teams don’t have as much data as usual – will it be a 1-stop or 2-stop race?
VET: “A track we haven’t raced before, so racing into the unknown and that is where our chance will be. It’s a cool track.”
NOR: “Turn 1 is a place where you have to take some risks, try and gain a couple of positions as it is a big opportunity. It’s going to be a bit of a free for all!”
Pit exit lights turn green so cars can now head to the grid
They can’t do a practice start at pit out because it’s been deemed too tight to do that safely
It’s looking overcast – maybe the rain won’t wait until the second half of the race; it’s quite gusty too
On the out lap, HAM locks up, describes it as “super tricky”, and VET runs wide in Turn 14, says “It’s like on ice – difficult to get the tyres to work.”
Pre-race protocols: end racism, nation anthem, fly past; time to jump in the cars
The top 10 will start on the soft tyres they used in Q2, except HAM, BOT and LEC will start on their mediums
Further down the grid, they’re all on mediums except MAG (P19) on hards, and RAI (P16) on softs
HAM leads everyone away on the formation lap
Radio from GAS reporting drops of rain; SAI says the same
01/66: HAM leads into Turn 1
VER ahead of BOT but BOT fights back, pushes VER wide
BOT takes P1
VER rejoins, spins PER around
There’s rain on the camera
SAI takes P3 from VER … and now he’s P2 ahead of HAM
02: BOT, SAI, HAM, NOR, VER
SAI passes BOT to take P1
03: SAI fastest lap 1:25.117
HAM closing up on BOT
04: SAI f/lap 1:23.466
HAM has DRS behind BOT
VER also has DRS behind NOR
05/66: SAI, BOT, HAM, NOR, VER
BOT 1:23.195
VER takes P4
Replay of lap 1 shows VER tap PER when he rejoined the track after BOT pushed him wide
06: SAI reclaims P1 from SAI
07: HAM takes P2 from SAI
VER closing on SAI now
LEC closing on RAI
08: SAI uses DRS to pass SAI for P3
LEC takes P6 from RAI
09: BOT f/lap 1:21.642
LEC lining up NOR… takes P5
10/66: BOT, HAM, VER, SAI, LEC, NOR, RIC, RAI, GAS, STR, ALB, OCO, RUS, GIO, VET, KVY, GRO, LAT, MAG, PER
GAS P8
Black and white flag for STR for repeatedly exceeding track limits
11: GAS takes P7 from RIC
12: BOT has 1.9sec lead over HAM, who in turn is 4.8sec ahead of VER
RAI pits, switches from soft to medium tyres
13: Radio from VER, “left front is dead”
STR takes P8 from RIC
14: Radio for BOT, “wind picking up”
15/66: BOT, HAM, VER, LEC, SAI, GAS, NOR, STR, OCO, ALB
Radio from HAM, “left front doesn’t feel that great”
16: HAM f/lap 1:21.421
STR closes on NOR
17: HAM f/lap 1:21.366
GAS looking for a way round SAI
18: STR almost runs into the rear of NOR, they collide, STR spins and breaks his front wing
NOR reports his wing’s broken too
19: HAM under BOT’s rear wing
NOR and STR pit; the incident is under investigation
20/66: HAM lines up BOT and takes P1 from his teammate
ALB pits; mediums go on; rejoins P18
21: GAS takes P5 from SAI
23: PER takes P10 from GIO
24: VER pits from P3; mediums go on; rejoins P6
STR given 5sec penalty for causing collision with NOR
25/66: HAM, BOT, LEC, GAS, SAI, VER, OCO, VET, RUS, PER, KVY, GIO, GRO, MAG, LAT, RIC, RAI, ALB, NOR, STR
HAM f/lap 1:21.023
27: SAI pits from P5; rejoins P14
28: VET pits from P7; hard tyres go on; rejoins P15
29: GAS, GIO pit
30/66: HAM, BOT, LEC, VER, OCO, PER, RUS, GAS, RIC, RAI, MAG, SAI, ALB, VET, NOR, GIO, GRO, KVY, LAT, STR
HAM f/lap 1:20.537
Black and white flag for GRO for exceeding track limits
31: RIC takes P8 from GAS
STR given 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits, so now he has 10sec penalty in total
32: VET (P14) has been lapped
33: SAI attacking RAI for P10
SAI passes but he was off the track, so has to let RAI reclaim P10
SAI dives inside but RAI cuts back and keeps P10
SAI gets DRS and makes the pass stick
34: Blue flags for SAI & RAI to let HAM lap them
35/66: HAM, BOT, LEC, VER … LEC pits
36: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, PER, OCO, RUS, RIC, GAS, SAI, RAI, ALB, VET, NOR, GIO, GRO, KVY, LAT, MAG, STR
STR pits and serves his 2*5sec penalties
37: HAM has ~8sec lead over BOT, who in turn has ~40sec gap to VER
38: BOT warned that he’ll get a black and white flag if he exceeds track limits again
Everyone except HAM and BOT has pitted
HAM has lapped RIC (P7)
40/66: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, PER, OCO, RIC, GAS, SAI, RAI, ALB, VET, NOR, GIO, RUS, GRO, KVY, MAG, LAT, STR
Radio for HAM, “box, box”
41: HAM pits; hard tyres go on; rejoins P2
Radio for BOT telling him HAM is on hard tyre; “maybe we go soft”
42: BOT pits; hard tyres go on; rejoins in the middle of the GIO/RUS battle
GRO given 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits
BOT slithering around on the new tyres
43: Radio for NOR, “100% pace; we have a slow puncture”; “I am at 100% pace”
45/66: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, PER, OCO, RIC, GAS, SAI, RAI
HAM f/lap 1:20.495
Radio for ALB, “might be some light drops in a few minutes”
GAS inside RIC to steal P7
46: HAM f/lap 1:20.467
KVY under investigation for ignoring blue flags
PER pits, 2nd stop
47: HAM f/lap 1:20.366
48: BOT f/lap 1:19.922
50/66: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, OCO, PER, GAS, SAI, RIC, RAI, VET, ALB, GIO, RUS, KVY, GRO, NOR, MAG, LAT, STR
RUS tucked up behind GIO’s rear wing, loses downforce but catches it
Race control: no further action for KVY
52: ALB has pitted, now on softs and behind teammate VER although they’re a lap apart
53: Big lock up for VET, flat spots his front right tyre
Sky commentators talking about OCO not having pitted but official FIA timing app shows he’s stopped twice
Black and white flag for LAT for exceeding track limits
54: OCO pits from P5, soft tyres go on, rejoins P8
FIA now says OCO has stopped once
STR pits, retires the Racing Point
55/66: HAM 15sec ahead of BOT; BOT 10sec ahead of VER
KVY given 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits
56: Black and white flag for NOR for exceeding track limits
Radio from RUS saying the wind has picked up
57: HAM f/lap 1:19.502
Radio from VER asking for confirmation that it’s gusty
58: RAI closing on VET, who in turn is closing on RIC
Radio from HAM, “I’ve got a cramp”
59: HAM laps PER (P5)
NOR attacking RUS, takes P13
60/66: HAM, BOT, VER, LEC, PER, GAS, SAI, OCO, RIC, VET, RAI, ALB, NOR, RUS, GIO, GRO, MAG, LAT, KVY; out: STR
62: HAM f/lap 1:18.966
Radio for SAI, “light rain in pit lane”
63: VER asks “what’s the fastest lap?”
64: HAM f/lap 1:18.750
GAS attacking PER but PER keeps P5
65/66: GAS attacking again; makes it stick this time
SAI now catching PER
66 = final lap: SAI closing on PER; SAI has DRS and easily takes P6
Incident involving PER and GAS will be investigated after the race
HAM takes the chequered flag – his 92nd victory, beating Michael Schumacher’s record
Interviews:
HAM: “Today was tough, it was all about temperature today and it was something I was able to do with the set up I created. I could only have ever dreamed about where I would be today. I’m proud to make the most of it every single day.”
BOT: “The opening lap was pretty good, I was pleased to get the lead. After that I had no pace today, I don’t understand why. No pace. I tried to defend but there was nothing really to do.”
VER: “It was very low grip, I tried to stay out of trouble. It was raining a little bit and just tried to keep the car on track and did my own race. Overall I think we finished where we deserved.”
Toto Wolff: “It’s his absolute passion, energy, everything that he puts into the sport. The talent, ability, he just stands out.”
Provisional result: HAM*, BOT, VER, LEC, GAS, SAI, PER, OCO, RIC, VET; RAI, ALB, NOR, RUS, GIO, MAG, GRO, LAT, KVY
DNF: STR
*HAM fastest lap
“One of the true stars of the Portuguese Grand Prix, Sergio Perez has moved closer to a 10-place grid penalty following a “potentially dangerous” manoeuvre during the Portimao event.”
“On lap 64 of the 66 lap race, Gasly chased Perez down the pit straight, and according to the stewards, “moved in defence at the exact same time that Gasly who was overtaking to the right having slipstreamed him down the straight”.”
“In the hearing, both drivers agreed that while on the limit, this manoeuvre was fundamentally okay and constituted racing at the limit. The stewards however, believed that this was too close to that limit and that Perez had not sufficiently accounted for the speed differential. In selecting a penalty, the stewards took into account the views of the drivers involved and ordered a Reprimand (Driving.).”
https://www.pitpass.com/68395/Perez-edges-closer-to-grid-penalty