Nithyanandam Ramasamy
Formula 1 returns to Portugal for the first time in 24 years as Algarve set to become 73rd circuit to host an F1 race. The Algarve International circuit commonly known as Portimao circuit will make its Formula 1 debut this weekend. The circuit of 4.653km will have 66 lap race with a total distance of 306.826km. The track held F1 pre-season testing in the winter on 2008/09. A few drivers in the grid have raced at the circuit in their junior categories. The list includes Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc. Moreover, Nicholas Latifi and George Russell tested for Mercedes at Algarve in 2017.
History of F1 races in Portugal
Portugal have hosted 16 F1 World Championship races so far with Estoril, Porto and Monsanto hosting 13, 2 and 1 races respectively. Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell are the successful drivers with 3 wins in Portugal. Ayrton Senna has more pole positions at Portugal with 3 to his name. The Portuguese GP has seen debut wins for Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. On top of it, Alain Prost won his 4th and final World Championship at Estoril in 1993. However, Ayrton Senna’s first win, and Nigel Mansell’s black flag incident stands out the most.
Ayrton Senna’s first win
Ayrton Senna made his mark with 3 podiums for Toleman in 1984, with one of them at the inaugural race at Estoril. However, he achieved his first career win in 1985 Portuguese GP with a stunning drive in wet weather conditions. He won the race by dominant fashion with a 1-minute lead over the second-placed Ferrari of Micheal Alboreto. Moreover, he lapped all but second-placed Ferrari.
Nigel Mansell black flag incident
The 1989 Portuguese GP is commonly known for Nigel Mansell’s crash with Ayrton Senna and his disqualification. Nigel Mansell came into the pits too fast, locked his tyres and missed his pit box by a few meters. Instead of asking his team to push the car back to the pit box, he decided to reverse the car. The rules forbid drivers from reversing the car in pits. Hence he was shown the black flag. Nigel Mansell failed to notice the black flag and took out Senna while overtaking, which eventually blown Senna’s title chances.
Algarve Track Layout
The circuit of length 4.653km has 15 turns. It has one DRS Zone with the detection point between T14 and T15, and it can be enabled at the 1km long main straight. The track is full of undulation as the elevations are reminiscent of Spa, and it has the technicality of Barcelona. It will be a busy Friday session as teams and drivers will look to adapt to the track and in search of a correct high downforce set-up.
The first corner has medium to the high-speed fast right-hander and its followed by another right-hander at the turn 2. The hairpin right at turn 3 is the first braking-point in the circuit which leads to the exit of the corner to the crest and a short straight after turn 4. After negotiating left-handers at turn 5 and 6, drivers have to hit their brakes at the downhill in turn 7 and 8. Here comes one of the most complicated passages, where drivers have to negotiate yet another uphill towards the crest before hitting the brakes for downhill. Another uphill follows and a tricky downhill to sweep through tight left at turn 13. Turn 14 possess more grip from the car, and the cars sweep through barcelona’esque’ turn which eventually leads to the main straight.
Talking Points ahead of the race
The new benchmark for Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton equalled Micheal Schumacher’s win record of 91 at Nurburgring. He has a chance of setting his benchmark if he wins this weekend. Hamilton, who has won in 27 different circuits, would be determined to add one to the tally. Moreover, he has scored pole positions at 28 different circuits, which is 5 more than next-best Sebastian Vettel.
Alex Albon in search of a performance
Alex Albon, who suffered his first retirement this season at the Eifel GP (He was classified in the Austrian GP), is under pressure for a good result as he is already 83 points behind his teammate. Alex Albon is yet to out-qualify his teammate nor out-race him in a race where both drivers have finished. The median qualifying position and race finish of Alex Albon are only 6 and 7 compared with Max Verstappen’s 3 and 2. Moreover, Alex Albon is 0.643s behind Max Verstappen when it comes to qualifying pace. 0.6s difference between teammates in one lap pace is humongous considering both drivers race with the same amenities.
It’s hard to judge if Alex Albon has a mentality to guide Red Bull Racing to challenge for the constructors’ championship. With the availability of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, and Red Bull Racing wanting a driver, who can help them outscore their rivals consistently, Alex Albon is up against the time and needs to put solid performances consistently from Algarve before curtains could close for the 2021 Red Bull Racing seat.
Mercedes can be crowned as the World Champions
Mercedes are ahead of Red Bull Racing by 180 points. To be crowned as the World Constructor’s Champion at the end of the Portuguese GP, they need to outscore Red Bull Racing by 220 points, which is highly unlikely but the sport can deliver a not-so-surprising weekend.
Lance Stroll
Lance Stroll has missed the last race due to sickness. He revealed that he was in isolation after been tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of Eifel GP. He also confirms the lastest test has come negative and will return to racing at Algarve. The robustness of FIA and F1 testing has faced its first adversity as Lance Stroll was allowed to enter Eifel GP with a negative result even after showing minor symptoms, where it could have resulted in his colleagues getting affected with the same. We can expect FIA and F1 to come up with strict protocols or explanations to avoid the repeat.
Renault expects Ocon to get a breakthrough performance
Esteban Ocon has out-qualified Daniel Ricciardo in only one race and is already 42 points behind his teammate. With only one top 5 finish to his name, Renault reckons Esteban Ocon could get his breakthrough result soon. Speaking of which, Cyril Abiteboul insisted they are not worried about the performance gap between Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo and has given full support to Esteban Ocon ahead of the Portuguese GP.
As Algarve is preparing to welcome F1 for the first time, we can expect a breakthrough in merry go round in the drivers market with potentially 7 seats are up for the grab. The undulation with the circuit means Formula 1 could throw a major unpredictable race, and the drivers could face a tricky weekend negotiating the crest of the hill at Algarve.
