[Official] Portuguese Grand Prix 2021: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 3 of 23

[crmalcolm]

FCY now - the Alfas coming together.

[bjohnsonsmith]

FCY, as Kimi breaks his front wing and goes off into the gravel.

[crmalcolm]

It seems that Lewis was caught out by Bottas' choice of when to go - and Max benefits on the restart.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Green flag and Verstappen takes second spot from Hamilton. Norris up to 4th.

[crmalcolm]

Pre-show, there was mention of how Lewis wanted to feel the experience of being 'the hunted'. It didn't last long, but he is back up into 2nd.

[crmalcolm]

Hamilton dropped Verstappen quickly after getting back up to 2nd. Already in DRS range of Bottas, and looking good at the moment.

Norris also running well, and Tsunoda is once again flouting track limits.

[tux]

Kimis accident was weird. He just drove into Giovinazzi. Wonder if he was trying to change a setting on the steering wheel or something.

Great move by Hamilton on Bottas around the outside of turn 1.

[crmalcolm]

Lewis now in the lead - will he disappear off down the road?

It gives him preference on pit stops now.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hamilton takes the lead.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Lewis now in the lead - will he disappear off down the road?

It gives him preference on pit stops now.

Smart of Ham to make the move right before he reports his tires have gone. Say what you will but he has the race craft.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hamilton's doing remarkably well, for someone whose tyres have gone.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Lewis, in what was a rather tedious race.

[ascarracinguk]

I actually quite enjoyed that one....

...if anything it shows how close the cars are now.

In qualifying I think the red bull has it by a couple of tenths, in the race the Merc is ahead by a couple of tenths.

The drivers are making the difference at the moment....the least mistakes win the race

[Taxi645]

Well done Lewis! Yes Mercedes was fastest, but you still have to convert it.


Was really annoyed with the Perez strategy. Got completely sacrificed in order to give Hamilton a nice tow. I had hoped he still had soft tires for a late dash from the 45th lap or so, but apparently he had no softs left. Very good job from Perez, that's what they got him for.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by tux

Kimis accident was weird. He just drove into Giovinazzi. Wonder if he was trying to change a setting on the steering wheel or something.

Exactly that:

Raikkonen distracted by switch change on steering wheel when he hit Alfa Romeo team mate Giovinazzi

Kimi Raikkonen has taken the blame for his race-ending clash with Antonio Giovinazzi early in the Portuguese Grand Prix, the Finn saying he made a misjudgement while making a change on his steering wheel.

[Taxi645]

Anyone else feel that the fastest tyre strategy would have been medium-soft?

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Lewis now in the lead - will he disappear off down the road?

It gives him preference on pit stops now.

It did, but Mercedes sensibly decided to give Bottas preference to try and protect his position.

[steve_r]

Mercedes should have pitted Bottas a lap later, which would have meant that Red Bull would not have had the option to let Verstappen have a go at fastest lap.

[Lancsbreaker]

Since Max had his fastest lap deleted its academic. I wondered about whether Softs would have been the better choice for the last stint, but Perez would seem to have proved that wasn't the case.....he wasn't making any inroads into Bottas.


Have to say Hamilton driving round the outside of Bottas just emphasises the relative abilities........

[Aysedasi]

Disappointingly dull race really (from the highlights). Normal service has been resumed.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Bottas needs to win this race, quite badly in my opinion. If he fluffs the start and then falls down the order, the demons are going to be visiting him.....

The start was good...

I was hoping for a Bottas win and maybe just maybe we had a three way for the title. I shall console myself for a two way battle with some top draw talent.

[S griffin]

Decent race IMO. Shame Bottas couldn't hold on, but he gave it a good go. Lewis wins again, but Max second, there is still a long way to go. Just a shame the dreaded track limits came up again. Merc were lucky there. By pitting Bottas, they also gave Max the opportunity to pit and go for FL

Good drive from Checo, after an indifferent start to the season. Once again proved he's second to none in looking after tyres and looked comfortable leading. Shows he's the right choice

Bizarre accident between the Alfas, shame for Kimi there. Good recovery from Ricciardo after his disastrous qualifying. Shame Williams couldn't keep the pace they had in qualifying, but good drive by Mick Schumacher to get ahead of Latifi at the end

[GT6]

Not one of those races that will be remembered but a few good moments

[Taxi645]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I wondered about whether Softs would have been the better choice for the last stint, but Perez would seem to have proved that wasn't the case.....he wasn't making any inroads into Bottas.

Yeah, such a strange track tyre wise. The midfield switched to hards and could barely better Alonso's pace on 30 lap old medium. Perez his lack of pace after his pitstop was quite strange.

[steve nielsen]

so Lewis actualy asked for blue flags when he was behind Checo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdBp1AKnOSo