Portuguese Grand Prix – Free Practice 2: Bottas leads a very lively session!
As in FP1, Valtteri Bottas outperformed his rivals during this second free practice session in Portimão. A session disrupted by the appearance of the red flag twice.
With 21 degrees in the air and 36 degrees on the ground, the drivers were experiencing this Friday afternoon conditions quite similar to what they should expect on Sunday during the race.
The first half hour of the session is dedicated to the use of prototypes of future 21-inch Pirelli tires for the entire field.
Studious learning, numerous outings
Unusually, many cars are going out immediately to gather as much information as possible on this track. This is causing a huge amount of traffic, which Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel are particularly complaining about.
Several off-track excursions are to be noted, including a major trip through the gravel trap for Romain Grosjean.
Friday afternoon spin, anyone?! ????#PortugueseGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/iOtJOhidt8
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2020
After the Pirelli half-hour, the session resumes and Sebastian Vettel is the first to set a time of 1:19.175 on medium tires.
Valtteri Bottas is the first to put on soft tires and sets a 1:17.940 to take the lead in the standings.
Gasly on fire, the Stroll / Verstappen imbroglio
In the wake, Pierre Gasly continues his complicated start to the weekend. The Honda engine of his AlphaTauri went up in smoke! The Frenchman inadvertently caused the first red flag of the weekend.
???? RED FLAG ????
Fire and smoke pour out of the rear of Pierre Gasly’s car ????
The session is halted ❌#PortugueseGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/iN3iGR8Gy0
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2020
The session is resumed with 30 minutes to go… but only for a few moments! Because at the restart, Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll collide at the first corner as neither wanted to give up during their fast lap. A rather unusual incident in a free practice session!
No sooner had we started and we’ve stopped again! ????
Verstappen and Stroll tangle at Turn 1, Stroll spins into the gravel and we have another ???? Red Flag ????#PortugueseGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/hFI0gKBcfO
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2020
The drivers are once again sent out 7 minutes before the end, for a final flying lap on soft tires.
But it’s Bottas who retains the fastest time ahead of Verstappen and Lando Norris. His teammate Lewis Hamilton is in 8th place.
Results of Free Practice 2 of the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix:
N° | Driver | Team | Times | Gap | Laps |
1 | Bottas | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:17.940 | 32 | |
2 | Verstappen | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | 1:18.535 | +0.595 | 34 |
3 | Norris | McLaren F1 Team | 1:18.743 | +0.803 | 35 |
4 | Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:18.838 | +0.898 | 34 |
5 | Sainz Jr. | McLaren F1 Team | 1:19.113 | +1.173 | 32 |
6 | Vettel | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:19.175 | +1.235 | 34 |
7 | Gasly | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | 1:19.178 | +1.238 | 26 |
8 | Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | 1:19.308 | +1.368 | 27 |
9 | Ocon | Renault DP World F1 Team | 1:19.496 | +1.556 | 32 |
10 | Albon | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | 1:19.643 | +1.703 | 37 |
11 | Russell | Williams Racing | 1:19.821 | +1.881 | 33 |
12 | Perez | BWT Racing Point F1 Team | 1:19.901 | +1.961 | 34 |
13 | Ricciardo | Renault DP World F1 Team | 1:19.987 | +2.047 | 28 |
14 | Latifi | Williams Racing | 1:20.465 | +2.525 | 33 |
15 | Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN | 1:20.490 | +2.550 | 34 |
16 | Magnussen | Haas F1 Team | 1:20.680 | +2.740 | 29 |
17 | Kvyat | Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | 1:20.729 | +2.789 | 33 |
18 | Grosjean | Haas F1 Team | 1:20.867 | +2.927 | 32 |
19 | Stroll | BWT Racing Point F1 Team | 1:20.983 | +3.043 | 26 |
20 | Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN | 1:21.396 | +3.456 | 34 |
