Lewis Hamilton dominates Portuguese Grand Prix to break Michael Schumacher's record of most F1 wins
Lewis Hamilton has been crowned the most victorious driver in Formula One history following his crushing 92nd career win in Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix.
A fortnight after he drew level with Michael Schumacher in Germany, Hamilton now stands alone in the record books after taking the chequered flag at Portimao 25.5 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton is poised to become the sport's most successful driver of all time as early as next month, with a seventh world championship certain to follow this season.
The Englishman's victory here moved him 77 points clear of Bottas with just 130 points to play for. Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished third ahead of the Ferrari driver of Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton said afterwards: "It is going to take some time to fully sink in. I cannot find the words at the moment.
"My dad is here, which is amazing, and my step-mum Linda too and my dog Roscoe so it is a blessed day.
"I could have only ever dreamed of being where I am today. didn't have a magic ball when I came to Mercedes but here I am and as a team we are trying to make the most of it."
The Briton added: "I had cramp in my right calf so I was lifting down the straight because it felt like it was about to pull but I had to get through it."
Hugs from Dad 😍#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/AKsjGur8Tr
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Hamilton was an 11-year-old boy dominating Britain's karting scene the last time a Formula One grand prix was staged in Portugal in 1996. Little did Hamilton know then, that 24 years later he would break F1's all-time win record - a tally many thought would never be bettered following Schumacher's 91st win at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.
For the opening six laps, Hamilton's quest for history appeared in grave danger following a bizarre start to the 12th of 17 rounds under overcast and blustery Algarve skies.
After taking pole on Saturday, Hamilton retained the lead on the downhill gallop to the opening bend, but halfway round the first lap he had fallen to third, passed by Bottas and then McLaren's Carlos Sainz, who started seventh.
A smattering of rain drops and cooler conditions meant Hamilton was off the mark in getting his medium-compound rubber up to speed, and team-mate Bottas, on the same rubber was also struggling.
Indeed, by the end of a frantic first lap - which also saw Verstappen collide with Racing Point's Sergio Perez at the fourth corner - Sainz, starting on the speedier soft tyres, had taken the lead.
The briefest of showers soon abated and normal order started to resume, with Bottas retaking the lead on lap six and Hamilton moving past Sainz to take second on the ensuing lap.
At that stage, Bottas appeared in control, but it was not long before Hamilton's brilliance came to the fore. On laps 17, 18 and 19, Hamilton set a hat-trick of fastest laps and Bottas's two-second lead had evaporated. Then, on the run down to Turn 1 on lap 20, Hamilton cruised round the outside of Bottas to lead the grand prix.
LAP 20/66
Hamilton passes Bottas and retakes the lead! #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/1J3kHNPpTE— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Over the course of nine spellbinding laps, Hamilton opened up a seven-second lead over the Finn and with that, any chance Bottas had of stopping Hamilton from rewriting F1's record books was over.
The Mercedes machine is in a class of one this year and with Hamilton at the wheel, he has no competition. The Englishman pulled in for his solitary change of tyres with 26 laps remaining before lapping the entire field up to Leclerc in fourth. It was a devastating display and one befitting of this great British talent.
Despite his accident with Verstappen on the first lap, Perez turned in a wonderful recovery drive. He finished seventh. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly took fifth ahead of early leader Sainz.
Lance Stroll, who missed the last race with an illness which was later diagnosed as coronavirus, endured a miserable afternoon.
First, he was penalised five seconds for crashing into Lando Norris at the first corner - relegating the young Briton way down the order - before he was handed an additional five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. His Racing Point team later retired him from the race.
03:12 PMWell, that was an enjoyable afternoon
Well, that was an enjoyable afternoon
What a drive from Hamilton. Stay tuned to these very pages for more reaction and analysis from the weekend and over Hamilton's entire, incredible career. Thanks for joining me.
03:06 PMHamilton greeted by his father after his record-breaking win
02:57 PMUpdated constructor standings
02:53 PMUpdated driver standings - top 12
Hamilton greeted by his father after his record-breaking win
02:57 PMUpdated constructor standings
02:53 PMUpdated driver standings - top 12
Updated constructor standings
02:53 PMUpdated driver standings - top 12
Updated driver standings - top 12
How long until Hamilton claims his seventh title? I'll get the calculator out...
23 points from fourth to 11th with five races to go. That's tight.
02:48 PM92 Grand Prix wins
92 Grand Prix wins
It's a lot.
9⃣2⃣ race wins!@LewisHamilton rewrites the #F1 history books #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/rPBSACeX3G
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
02:47 PMIt's nice that here are 25,000 or so fans there today to mark this moment
It's nice that here are 25,000 or so fans there today to mark this moment
Hamilton thanks his team after the race. He was flawless today after he took the lead. He had to fight but he had it all in his pocket, really. Bottas absolutely hammered. Verstappen in that no-man's land, Leclerc superb for fourth. Vettel gets a point! Ocon finishes ahead of Ricciardo, that was needed. Gasly fifth.
02:46 PMChequered flag
Chequered flag
Classification:
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- GAS
- SAI
- PER
- OCO
- RIC
- VET
- RAI
- ALB
- NOR
- RUS
- GIO
- MAG
- GRO
- LAT
- KVY
OUT: STR
02:45 PMLEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER'S RECORD HAS BEEN BEATEN. 92 WINS FOR LEWIS HAMILTON! UNBELIEVABLE.
This has been a fantastic drive from him, a drive worthy of the very best of his career. Some great drives throughout the field, no doubt. But it's Lewis Hamilton's day...
02:44 PMFINAL LAP
FINAL LAP
Yes, he does... Sainz breezes past and goes through before turn one. he's sixth now...Hamilton gets a bit sideways in the middle of his final lap but he's now 25 seconds ahead! 25 SECONDS! And he didn't even take the lead until lap 20!
02:43 PMLap 65 of 66 - Can Sainz get Perez?
Lap 65 of 66 - Can Sainz get Perez?
I think he can...
02:42 PMLap 64 of 66 - Gasly takes Perez!
Lap 64 of 66 - Gasly takes Perez!
Gasly tries it around the outside in turn one this time, Gasly up into fifth now! Great move. Bold. The soft tyres haven't worked for Perez here. I think he's a sitting duck here. Great race, though.
02:41 PMLap 63 of 66 - Gasly closing right up on Perez
Lap 63 of 66 - Gasly closing right up on Perez
Feints one way and the other and Perez keeps his spot with some aggressive defending... I wouldn't be surprised to hear some complaints from Gasly there. Sainz closing up on the back of this battle.
"These guys!" Gasly proclaims on the radio. That was nearly a huge crash. But it wasn't...
02:39 PMLap 62 of 66 - Sainz closing up on Gasly
Lap 62 of 66 - Sainz closing up on Gasly
And Gasly closing up on Perez. Close to DRS range for both. This could be the battle to watch. Well, it will be... with only a few laps to go.
02:37 PMLap 61 of 66 - Top 10 and intervals
- HAM
- BOT +19.7
- VER +10.2
- LEC +24.6
- PER +32.9
- GAS +1.5
- SAI +1.3
- OCO +2.7
- RIC +1.2
- VET +1.8
02:36 PMLap 60 of 66 - Hamilton's lead now 18.3s
Lap 61 of 66 - Top 10 and intervals
- HAM
- BOT +19.7
- VER +10.2
- LEC +24.6
- PER +32.9
- GAS +1.5
- SAI +1.3
- OCO +2.7
- RIC +1.2
- VET +1.8
02:36 PMLap 60 of 66 - Hamilton's lead now 18.3s
Lap 60 of 66 - Hamilton's lead now 18.3s
And having cramp has not affected him as he sets the fastest lap. Or maybe it's made him go faster? Who knows. This is a stunning drive from Hamilton, absolutely stunning. Not much more that you can say for that. A worthy way to break Michael Schumacher's record... if it happens.
02:35 PMLap 59 of 66 - Norris slipping back now
Lap 59 of 66 - Norris slipping back now
Russell has moved ahead of him for 13th. But Norris is fighting back... and steams past coming out of the hairpin. Perez is having an absolute stormer today, I was right after all.
02:33 PMLap 58 of 66 - Sainz closing on Gasly
Lap 58 of 66 - Sainz closing on Gasly
And Ocon closing on Sainz. Hamilton has cramp, he says. Presumably in his legs.
02:32 PMLap 57 of 66 - Looking like a decent battle for the middle points positions
Lap 57 of 66 - Looking like a decent battle for the middle points positions
Vettel now into the points, chasing both Renaults.
02:31 PMLap 56 of 66 - Hamilton leading by 16.3s
Lap 56 of 66 - Hamilton leading by 16.3s
Yeah, it's been one of those afternoons. We haven't seen him for the last half hour on TV. In another class altogether.
02:29 PMLap 55 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- PER
- GAS
- SAI
- OCO
- RIC
- VET
- RAI
- ALB
- RUS
- GIO
- NOR
- KVY
- GRO
- MAG
- LAT
Lap 55 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- PER
- GAS
- SAI
- OCO
- RIC
- VET
- RAI
- ALB
- RUS
- GIO
- NOR
- KVY
- GRO
- MAG
- LAT
OUT: STR
02:29 PMLap 54 of 66 - Ocon finally pits
Lap 54 of 66 - Ocon finally pits
Where will he come out? Just ahead of his team-mate in eighth and on fresh soft tyres. Time oenalty for Daniil Kvyat, presumably for track limits.
LAP 55/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Unbelievably, this is Ocon's first pit stop! 😮
The Frenchman is back out on track in P8 👏#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/r51CFJPtOq
02:28 PMLap 53 of 66 - Stroll, down in last, pulls into the garage and retires
Lap 53 of 66 - Stroll, down in last, pulls into the garage and retires
Rotten afternoon from him, really. Look at his team-mate, in sixth, and who was punted off on the opening lap...
02:26 PMLap 52 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- OCO
- PER
- GAS
- SAI
- RIC
- RAI
02:25 PMLap 51 of 66 - 15 laps to go
Lap 52 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- OCO
- PER
- GAS
- SAI
- RIC
- RAI
02:25 PMLap 51 of 66 - 15 laps to go
Lap 51 of 66 - 15 laps to go
Which means Bottas needs to find a second a lap on Hamilton to even catch his team-mate. Not one of Bottas's finest days. Albon is about to get lapped by his team-mate. Not great from him either. Vettel down in 11th and will it be another pointless afternoon?
02:23 PMLap 50 of 66 - Verstappen no longer closing up on Bottas
Lap 50 of 66 - Verstappen no longer closing up on Bottas
And Leclerc 15s behind him. Think this top four is locked in. Where would Ocon come out when he stops? Eigth or ninth I think. Sixth is possible for him today, I think.
02:21 PMLap 49 of 66 - Albon not having a great day, it has to be said
Lap 49 of 66 - Albon not having a great day, it has to be said
But a 1.8s pit stop from the Red Bull mechanics just then. Hamilton puts in another fastest lap. Russell closing up on Giovinazzi in 13th. Hamilton leads by 14.5s.
02:20 PMLap 48 of 66 - Bottas finds some pace
Lap 48 of 66 - Bottas finds some pace
But far too little and far too late. Ocon still hasn't stopped. If Perez ends this race in fifth after being punted down the field at the start then, well... how can this man not have a drive for next year?
02:18 PMLap 47 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT +14.5
- VER +21.7
- LEC +35.4
- OCO +46
- PER +67
- GAS +68
- RIC +69
- SAI +70
- RAI +72
Lap 47 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT +14.5
- VER +21.7
- LEC +35.4
- OCO +46
- PER +67
- GAS +68
- RIC +69
- SAI +70
- RAI +72
Albon 11th, Vettel 12th. Russell 14th.
02:17 PMLap 46 of 66 - Perez pits...
Lap 46 of 66 - Perez pits...
Leclerc not finding the pace to challenge Verstappen, but the Red Bull is closing on Bottas and fairly quickly. Just 7.2s at the moment, having taking 0.7s out on the last lap.
02:16 PMLap 45 of 66 - Hamilton asks about rain, again
Lap 45 of 66 - Hamilton asks about rain, again
Nothing significant, he's told. Gasly gets Ricciardo for seventh, Ocon ahead next. Hamilton flying, setting another fastest lap. He's going to have a pit stop on Bottas by the end of this race.
02:14 PMLap 44 of 66 - Verstappen goes quickest in S2
Lap 44 of 66 - Verstappen goes quickest in S2
Hamilton quickest in S2. He leads by 13.2s now... that's huge. Bottas has just not been in the same race since he lost the lead.
02:13 PMLap 43 of 66 - Bottas struggling to get his tyres working
Lap 43 of 66 - Bottas struggling to get his tyres working
And Hamilton extends his lead to 11.3s. Norris told he has a slow puncture.
02:12 PMLap 42 of 66 - Bottas nearly loses his front wing leaving the pits
Lap 42 of 66 - Bottas nearly loses his front wing leaving the pits
That pit exit can be treacherous... and Giovinazzi and Russell go right across his front wing as they speed into turn one. Would have to see a replay to see how close it was but it looked it on initial viewing.
LAP 41/42 of 66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Hamilton comes into the pits and is followed by his team mate (📸) the following lap - both drivers are now on the hard compound tyre.
They remain P1 and P2, although the Finn seems to now be struggling for grip. #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/i2cV8cjsKM
02:10 PMLap 41 of 66 - Hamilton comes into the pits
Lap 41 of 66 - Hamilton comes into the pits
And comes out second on the hard tyres. Bottas thinking of going onto the soft tyres. Not sure it'll work but staying on the same tyres is really unlikely to work, either. Grosjean picks up a five second penalty for track limits. Bottas does go onto the hards in the end.
02:08 PMLap 40 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- PER
- OCO
- RIC
- GAS
- SAI
- RAI
- ALB
- VER
- NOR
- GIO
- RUS
- GRO
- KVY
- MAG
- LAT
- STR
02:07 PMLap 39 of 66 - Bottas laps Albon
Lap 40 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- PER
- OCO
- RIC
- GAS
- SAI
- RAI
- ALB
- VER
- NOR
- GIO
- RUS
- GRO
- KVY
- MAG
- LAT
- STR
02:07 PMLap 39 of 66 - Bottas laps Albon
Lap 39 of 66 - Bottas laps Albon
Leclerc 10.5s away from Verstappen and a podium with much fresher tyres. Wonder if he could challenge towards the end of the race? It's possible, Verstappen making no great shakes at the moment.
02:06 PMLap 38 of 66 - Bottas on the verge of black and white flag now
Lap 38 of 66 - Bottas on the verge of black and white flag now
As he complains about vibrations in the tyres. Hamilton's lead is back up to 8.7s.
02:04 PMLap 37 of 66 - Bottas claws back a bit of time
Lap 37 of 66 - Bottas claws back a bit of time
Just under a second. Think Hamilton is in traffic, though? Possibly. Russell finally pits, only Ocon and the Mercedes yet to stop now.
02:03 PMLap 36 of 66 - Stroll pits for a change of tyres and his 10s penalty
Lap 36 of 66 - Stroll pits for a change of tyres and his 10s penalty
I do wonder if Russell and Williams could pull out a maverick strategy and nab some points here? Think it might take a safety car for that, as it stands. No retirements yet.
02:02 PMLap 35 of 66 - Hamilton's lead has stabilised
Lap 35 of 66 - Hamilton's lead has stabilised
To just under nine seconds. Brilliant driving from him, though.
02:01 PMLap 34 of 66 - Ocon and Perez duelling for P5
Lap 34 of 66 - Ocon and Perez duelling for P5
Great to see. Good, clean fighting from the two men who had such a trouble relationship at Force India together. Good, clean, fair and hard racing there for the whole first sector. Leclerc finally pits.
01:59 PMLap 33 of 66 - Bottas says he has a "cool the car" warning on his dash
Lap 33 of 66 - Bottas says he has a "cool the car" warning on his dash
Hmmm. We don't hear the answer from his team.
01:58 PMLap 32 of 66 - Is this race done?
Lap 32 of 66 - Is this race done?
Hard to see how Bottas gets it back from here but it could come down to how they both use the hard compound tyre, whenever they do stop. Leclerc doing a sterling job in third, though yet to stop. he should still come out in fourth, though and might be able to challenge Verstappen for third...
How are we not even at half-race distance?
01:57 PMLap 31 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT
- LEC
- VER
- OCO
- PER
- RUS
- RIC
- GAS
- RAI
01:56 PMLap 30 of 66 - Hamilton sets another fastest lap
Lap 31 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT
- LEC
- VER
- OCO
- PER
- RUS
- RIC
- GAS
- RAI
01:56 PMLap 30 of 66 - Hamilton sets another fastest lap
Lap 30 of 66 - Hamilton sets another fastest lap
Grosjean's time to get a black and white flag. Gasly tries to defend from Ricciardo but can do nothing about it. Ricciardo, who stopped early on, moves up into P8. Russell in P7 now.
Yes, it's due to a few pit stops but seeing #GR63 running in P7 is just 👍👍👍#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 | #WeAreWilliams 💙 pic.twitter.com/e69oFc0B4L
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) October 25, 2020
Lance Stroll gets another five seconds for abusing track limits. So that's 10 seconds in total...
01:54 PMLap 29 of 66 - If you want to know the difference between Bottas and Hamilton
Lap 29 of 66 - If you want to know the difference between Bottas and Hamilton
This Grand Prix is the perfect example. Barely a hair's width to separate them in qualifying, Hamilton pulling out pole at the death. Bottas gets in the lead and keeps it for a few laps before Hamilton launches an attack, takes the lead and builds a massive lead in absolutely no time as Bottas has absolutely no answer.
01:53 PMLap 28 of 66 - A few spots out in the pit lane
Lap 28 of 66 - A few spots out in the pit lane
But, again, nothing significant. Bottas just cannot hold onto the back of Hamilton here. He's nearly seven seconds behind. That has just gone and gone.
01:51 PMLap 27 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT +4.8
- LEC +21.1
- GAS +38.0
- VER +45
- OCO +49
- VET +50
- PER +54
- RUS +58
- GIO +61
01:49 PMLap 26 of 66 - Hamilton extending, extending, extending his lead
Lap 27 of 66 - Top 10
- HAM
- BOT +4.8
- LEC +21.1
- GAS +38.0
- VER +45
- OCO +49
- VET +50
- PER +54
- RUS +58
- GIO +61
01:49 PMLap 26 of 66 - Hamilton extending, extending, extending his lead
Lap 26 of 66 - Hamilton extending, extending, extending his lead
With another fastest lap...
Russell still in the points, just about. Gasly now in fourth and doing very well. 25 laps on these soft compound tyres.
01:48 PMLap 25 of 66 - Hamilton says his tyres are good now...
Lap 25 of 66 - Hamilton says his tyres are good now...
He sets another fastest lap of the race and puts another couple of tenths between him and Bottas.
01:47 PMLap 24 of 66 - Time penalty for Stroll for causing a collision
Lap 24 of 66 - Time penalty for Stroll for causing a collision
For the Norris incident. He takes five seconds for that. Verstappen comes out behind Sainz and in sixth, just ahead of Ocon.
LAP 18/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Stroll's tries to overtake Norris around the outside of Turn 1 and there's contact! 😮
The Canadian spins off, both drivers have wing damage and they've returned to the pits for repairs#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/F0ANqmgaeW
01:46 PMLap 23 of 66 - Perez takes 10th on the pit straight
Lap 23 of 66 - Perez takes 10th on the pit straight
George Russell running in the points now, just ahead of him by a couple of seconds. Verstappen about to dive into the pits...
01:45 PMLap 22 of 66 - Perez fighting back here
Lap 22 of 66 - Perez fighting back here
He's up into P11 now, just a spot outside the points and closing up on Giovinazzi. Hamilton is now three seconds ahead of Bottas and I'd suggest he was indeed keeping his powder dry earlier on. Verstappen now 14.7s behind Hamilton.
01:43 PMLap 21 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- GAS
- SAI
- OCO
- VET
- RUS
- GIO
- KVY
- PER
- GRO
- MAG
- LAT
- RIC
- RAI
- ALB
- NOR
- STR
Lap 21 of 66 - Running order
- HAM
- BOT
- VER
- LEC
- GAS
- SAI
- OCO
- VET
- RUS
- GIO
- KVY
- PER
- GRO
- MAG
- LAT
- RIC
- RAI
- ALB
- NOR
- STR
Perez in 12th and everyone from 16th down has stopped. Bit more rain out there? Sainz thinks so.
01:41 PMLap 20 of 66 - Hamilton takes the lead!
Lap 20 of 66 - Hamilton takes the lead!
As easy as you like. DRS is way, way too powerful here as Bottas moves over to the right hand-side of the track to defend but it doesn't work and Hamilton goes around the outside with ease. That felt inevitable from the moment Hamilton started whinging about his tyres a few laps back.
LAP 20/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Hamilton passes Bottas and retakes the lead! #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/1J3kHNPpTE
01:40 PMLap 19 of 66 - Bottas about to lose the lead
Lap 19 of 66 - Bottas about to lose the lead
Hamilton is within DRS range and then shortly within 0.4s and now right up onto the back of his team-mate. Can't see this lasting long. Not that I'm wishing it but if they took each other out it'd make an interesting race. Or would it?
01:39 PMLap 18 of 66 - Stroll and Norris collide!
Lap 18 of 66 - Stroll and Norris collide!
Was that at turn one? Yep. His front wing has a few elements hanging off. He'll have to pit. Think that was Stroll's fault as he tried to go around the outside of turn one and couldn't make it. Norris also has damage and says he has to box. Stroll went off the track to try that move...
01:38 PMLap 17 of 66 - Gasly and Sainz getting close
Lap 17 of 66 - Gasly and Sainz getting close
And Verstappen's front right is looking very angry indeed. Hamilton sets the third fastest lap in succession, closing the gap to 1.3s.
01:36 PMLap 16 of 66 - Ricciardo stops
Lap 16 of 66 - Ricciardo stops
And he's out down in 19th. And Hamilton sets another fastest lap, taking another 0.3s out of the lead.
01:35 PMLap 15 of 66 - Hamilton not pleased with his tyres
Lap 15 of 66 - Hamilton not pleased with his tyres
But what else is new? Oh and just like that he sets the fastest lap of the race and takes a few tenths out of Bottas.
01:33 PMLap 14 of 66 - Think this will be a fascinating battle for the lead
Lap 14 of 66 - Think this will be a fascinating battle for the lead
I imagine Hamilton will be keeping his powder as dry as he can. He's currently 2.4s behind the race leader.
01:32 PMLap 13 of 66 - Raikkonen pits
Lap 13 of 66 - Raikkonen pits
Leclerc mugs former race leader Sainz for fourth as Verstappen is losing a second a lap on the leaders. Not good news. Verstappen says his left front is done and I don't think it'll be long before he comes in. Red Bull are going to have to try something a bit different today, perhaps. Or maybe just settle for third...
01:30 PMLap 12 of 66 - Top 10
- BOT
- HAM +1.9
- VER +.69
- SAI +12.7
- LEC +12.8
- NOR +16.8
- GAS +17.7
- RIC +20.1
- STR +21.0
- RAI +23.0
01:29 PMLap 11 of 66 - "This front left is not going to last very long," Verstappen says
Lap 12 of 66 - Top 10
- BOT
- HAM +1.9
- VER +.69
- SAI +12.7
- LEC +12.8
- NOR +16.8
- GAS +17.7
- RIC +20.1
- STR +21.0
- RAI +23.0
01:29 PMLap 11 of 66 - "This front left is not going to last very long," Verstappen says
Lap 11 of 66 - "This front left is not going to last very long," Verstappen says
Early pit stop? I think he'll wait a few more laps, he'd currently come out... well, well in the middle of the pack as it stands.
01:27 PMLap 10 of 66 - Bottas leads Hamilton by 1.9s
Lap 10 of 66 - Bottas leads Hamilton by 1.9s
Verstappen a further 3.2s behind Hamilton and a few tenths slower than both Mercedes. Stroll gets a black and white flag for track limits abuse. Could be a penalty if he continues to stray.
01:26 PMLap 9 of 66 - Leclerc past Norris
Lap 9 of 66 - Leclerc past Norris
And Ricciardo past Raikkonen. McLaren falling back a bit now. Leclerc got through very easily on the straight, not something we're used to seeing but DRS seems mighty powerful today.
01:25 PMLap 8 of 66 - Running order
- BOT
- HAM
- VER
- SAI
- NOR
- LEC
- RAI
- RIC
- GAS
- STR
- ALB
- OCO
- RUS
- GIO
- VET
- GRO
- KVY
- LAT
- MAG
- PER
Lap 8 of 66 - Running order
- BOT
- HAM
- VER
- SAI
- NOR
- LEC
- RAI
- RIC
- GAS
- STR
- ALB
- OCO
- RUS
- GIO
- VET
- GRO
- KVY
- LAT
- MAG
- PER
My prediction about Perez having a stormer not looking likely.
01:24 PMLap 7 of 66 - Sainz slipping back
Lap 7 of 66 - Sainz slipping back
But his race isn't with the top the championship, in fairness. Hamilton now 1.8s behind Bottas at the end of the lap.
01:23 PMLap 6 of 66 - Bottas takes the lead
Lap 6 of 66 - Bottas takes the lead
Storms past Sainz quite easily there. It was coming... Verstappen is flying, though, his last lap was two seconds quicker than Sainz. This could be a three-way fight. Hamilton closing up quickly on Sainz now and Verstappen not far off, either. Hamilton gets through very easily and Verstappen won't be long behind the Spaniard, either.
LAP 6/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Bottas pounces at Turn 1, passes Sainz, and takes the lead! #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Xpe6fjRTnF
01:21 PMLap 5 of 66 - Verstappen nabs Norris on the straights
Lap 5 of 66 - Verstappen nabs Norris on the straights
DRS assisted. The incident with Verstappen and Perez is being looked at by the stewards, by the way.
01:20 PMLap 4 of 66 - Sainz leads Bottas by a second
Lap 4 of 66 - Sainz leads Bottas by a second
I think the Mercedes are turning their medium tyres on now. Bottas closing in but there's not a great deal in it at the moment. Will be interesting this next few laps...
01:19 PMPerez and Verstappen collide on lap one
LAP 1/66
Verstappen and Perez touch and the Mexican slides off into the barriers. He's got going again and has made it back to the pits 😮#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/whEfoGinkR
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
01:18 PMLap 3 of 66 - Top 10
- SAI
- BOT
- HAM
- NOR
- VER
- RAI
- RIC
- LEC
- GAS
- STR
Perez and Verstappen collide on lap one
LAP 1/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
Verstappen and Perez touch and the Mexican slides off into the barriers. He's got going again and has made it back to the pits 😮#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/whEfoGinkR
01:18 PMLap 3 of 66 - Top 10
- SAI
- BOT
- HAM
- NOR
- VER
- RAI
- RIC
- LEC
- GAS
- STR
Lap 3 of 66 - Top 10
- SAI
- BOT
- HAM
- NOR
- VER
- RAI
- RIC
- LEC
- GAS
- STR
Hamilton coming back at Bottas now, Sainz on the soft tyres is pulling away but not rapidly. He leads by 1.5s at the end of the lap. The rain seems to have eased up now but it is still pretty slippy ot there. Sergio Perez has managed to continue, by the way, but is down in last.
01:17 PMLap 2 of 66 - This is crazy
Lap 2 of 66 - This is crazy
There's no grip, the rain is getting heavier, Raikkonen is up into the top six, Norris up into fourth now and closing up onto the back of Hamilton...
LAP 2/66
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2020
And it's started to rain!#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/8qddUTFsP2
Now Carlos Sainz takes the lead! He's through at the start of the lap, Bottas has no grip... what's going on with these Mercedes cars? Has Sainz just been able to turn the tyres on? This is fantastic racing!
01:15 PMTHE 2020 PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX IS GO!
THE 2020 PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX IS GO!
Bottas sets up aggressively, pointing towards Hamilton...
They're away and it's a fine, fine start from Hamilton but it's a poor start from Bottas, who drops behind Verstappen going into turn one... but the Finn fights back into second and pushes Verstappen wide... Verstappen tags Perez, sends him spinning and into the barriers...
So many lock ups, Verstappen is dropping back and back and back, Bottas retakes the lead as Hamilton struggles!
Sainz now up into second past Hamilton... the rain is getting heavier and there's no grip at all out there... it's like an ice rink.
01:13 PMFormation lap is go, by the way
Formation lap is go, by the way
Hamilton says the grip doesn't feel great. The cars form up on the grid...
01:12 PMA few spits and spots out there
A few spits and spots out there
But nothing significant. The track is slippy enough as it is and without too much running from support series this weekend it could become a little greasy quite quickly.
01:09 PMStarting tyre types
Starting tyre types
In the top 10 only Hamilton, Bottas and Leclerc are on mediums, the rest on softs. Outside the top 10 only Raikkonen (16th, softs) and Magnussen (19th, hards) are not on fresh mediums.
01:06 PMStrategy chat from Pirelli
Strategy chat from Pirelli
I expect some divergence today.
#Fit4F1 Strategy predictions for tomorrow’s race. 🔮🏁
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 24, 2020
#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/iV0DBaX04o
01:00 PM10 minutes until lights out
10 minutes until lights out
Predictions? Albon needs, desperately, a good race. Bottas just needs another win, to be truthful. Can an improved Red Bull challenge Mercedes here? I think Perez is going to have a stormer.
12:52 PMGasly having a brilliant season so far
Gasly having a brilliant season so far
Yesterday no exception, either. What can he do today? Top 8? Or better?
Ready to go #FullGAS from P9 @PierreGASLY ⛽️ #AlphaTauri #F1 #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/xgtiEewjE4
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) October 25, 2020
12:46 PMStarting grid for the race
Starting grid for the race
About 25 minutes until we get underway.
Your grid for Sunday's race looks like this 👀#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/WbJTNjLUZn
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2020
12:44 PM"It's super tricky out there," Hamilton says
"It's super tricky out there," Hamilton says
He locks up on his lap to the grid. Think the first lap will be mighty interesting on cold tyres, gusts of wind and these huge elevation changes and blind corners.
12:38 PMVerstappen has a moment, running off on the way to the grid
Verstappen has a moment, running off on the way to the grid
He says it's pretty slippery and difficult to get the tyres to work. I wonder if that will count against those starting on the mediums? That's both Mercedes and Leclerc in the top 10, by the way.
12:35 PMHow's the weather looking?
Overcast. Chilly. Windy. Lewis Hamilton on the brink of history. #PortugueseGP #92 pic.twitter.com/xgEH1dP8fO
— Philip Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) October 25, 2020
12:33 PMHow are the teams tracking in qualifying?
How's the weather looking?
Overcast. Chilly. Windy. Lewis Hamilton on the brink of history. #PortugueseGP #92 pic.twitter.com/xgEH1dP8fO
— Philip Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) October 25, 2020
12:33 PMHow are the teams tracking in qualifying?
How are the teams tracking in qualifying?
Below is a progress chart from race six to now. It's taken by measuring each team's fastest lap over each race weekend and calculating that as a percentage of the overall quickest lap. So the larger improvement in percentage terms, the better.
- MERCEDES: +/- 0.00%
- FERRARI: +0.21%
- RED BULL: +0.36%
- MCLAREN: +0.30%
- RENAULT: +0.62%
- ALPHATAURI: -0.17%
- RACING POINT: -0.19%
- ALFA ROMEO: -0.76%
- HAAS: +0.21%
- WILLIAMS: +0.58%
Renault and Williams the big movers, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren also improving decently. AlphaTauri, Racing Point and Alfa Romeo all slipping back to varying degrees.
12:20 PMCurrent driver standings: Top 10
12:11 PMHamilton's pole lap
Current driver standings: Top 10
12:11 PMHamilton's pole lap
Hamilton's pole lap
Love this circuit.
pic.twitter.com/zChCe3LqIt
— Pure Pit Wall (@PurePitWall) October 25, 2020
What a lap this was from @LewisHamilton 🔥
A 9️⃣7️⃣th pole position for the Brit 🇬🇧
Can he convert his start into another win for the @MercedesAMGF1 Team today?#UnfairAdvantage 🇵🇹 #PortugueseGP #F1
12:06 PMFinal times after qualifying
- Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 16.652secs
- Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:16.754
- Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:16.904
- Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:17.090
- Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:17.223
- Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:17.437
- Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:17.520
- Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:17.525
- Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:17.803
- Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:17.481
- Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:17.614
- Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:17.626
- Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:17.728
- George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:17.788
- Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:17.919
- Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:18.201
- Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:18.323
- Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:18.364
- Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:18.508
- Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:18.777
11:48 AMGood morning F1 fans
Final times after qualifying
- Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 16.652secs
- Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:16.754
- Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:16.904
- Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:17.090
- Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:17.223
- Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:17.437
- Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:17.520
- Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:17.525
- Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:17.803
- Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:17.481
- Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:17.614
- Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:17.626
- Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:17.728
- George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:17.788
- Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:17.919
- Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:18.201
- Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:18.323
- Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:18.364
- Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:18.508
- Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:18.777
11:48 AMGood morning F1 fans
Good morning F1 fans
And welcome to our coverage for the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix from the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, just outside of Portimao. It's the second entirely-new-to-F1 track in this strange and unusual season and, like Mugello, it's not a bad one to watch the current crop of cars on. How good it will be to watch them race on it remains to be seen, though I am sceptical that we will see much — if any — overtaking that comes without the aid of the dreaded Drag Reduction System.
After a fairly stop/start and almost chaotic few practice sessions with many spins and offs from a variety of drivers, qualifying itself turned out to be fairly entertaining. Lewis Hamilton pulled out a fine lap at the very death — his second on a set of medium tyres — to deny Valtteri Bottas pole position, once again. Max Verstappen, again, was third for Red Bull.
Here's what Hamilton had to say after his 97th career pole position:
Yes, we’ve got a great car but you’ve got to drive the nuts off it to pull out a lap and Valtteri has been so quick this weekend. As you’ve seen, he’s topped every session. So I’ve just been digging and digging and digging to find that extra time. At the end there I chose to do three laps, to give me a chance to have a stab at beating his time. I think he decided to do one, so I was like ‘OK, this could provide me an opportunity’ and it worked. That last lap it got better and better as I went through it.
Bottas, meanwhile, must have felt fairly downbeat after being quicker than Hamilton, or so he thought, for much of the weekend. Both Mercedes drivers, interestingly, decided to opt for the medium tyres on their second run in Q3, although Hamilton had enough time for two quick laps. Bottas only had enough time for one.
Previously in the qualifying the medium actually felt a tiny bit quicker than the soft and that was the reason and then it was choosing if we do two timed laps with a cool-down in between or just one timed lap. With one timed lap you can have less fuel in the car but you might struggle with the tyre warm-up. I went with that. It was my decision to go for one timed because it worked in Q2 but apparently it seems like doing two timed laps for Lewis was better.
A few other decent performances down the grid, too. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, an entire 11 spots quicker than Sebastian Vettel. Sergio Perez, who does not yet have a drive for 2021, was fifth for Racing Point, well ahead of his team-mate too. George Russell once more pulled out a superb lap to put his Williams into Q2. He will start 14th.
The race begins at 1.10pm GMT, and I'll be here for all the build-up, latest updates and reaction from the race.