Formula 1 - Season 2020

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F1 should consider return of independent engine manufacturers – Seidl
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl says the sport should consider whether it needs to attract independent engine manufacturers such as Cosworth back to the sport following the departure of Honda.

Mick Schumacher unsure when he’ll get another F1 practice chance
Mick Schumacher says he doesn’t know when he might get the opportunity to drive an F1 car in practice again after poor weather conditions forced the cancellation of his planned run today.

Wolff suspects Red Bull won’t “need to rely on current power unit suppliers” after 2021
Mercedes has ruled out providing power units to Red Bull following their split from Honda, while Ferrari have indicated they are open to it.

Second practice also cancelled at Nurburgring due to weather conditions
Both of today’s practice sessions at the Nurburgring have been cancelled as a result of the weather conditions in the area.

Hamilton and Bottas need to ‘live like hermits’ to avoid Covid – Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says constant testing and extreme distancing protocols for his two drivers are “really critical” for their championship hopes, following two Covid-19 cases among their staff.

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F1 reports three positive Covid-19 cases during last week
Formula 1 has confirmed three people tested positive for Covid-19 during the past week.

Honda explains why it committed to IndyCar after announcing F1 exit
Honda F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto has explained why the company extended its commitment to IndyCar racing, despite the move seemingly being at odds with its reasons for leaving Formula 1.

FIA approves rules banning Racing Point-style “reverse engineering” in 2021
The FIA has formally approved new rules which will are intended to prevent teams “reverse engineering” rivals’ designs from next year.

F1 drivers briefed on alternative medical evacuation plan after cancelled sessions
Formula 1 has put new medical evacuation procedures in place to avoid a repeat of Friday’s cancelled practice sessions at the Nurburgring.

Honda exit won’t affect Tsunoda’s F1 debut chances
Yuki Tsunoda’s chances of gaining a promotion to Formula 1 will not be affected by Honda’s decision to leave the sport, according to senior figures at the Japanese manufacturer and Red Bull.

Unwell Stroll sits out final practice at Nurburgring
Lance Stroll is not taking part in today’s final practice session at the Nurburgring. His Racing Point team have said he is unwell.

Bottas quickest as unwell Stroll misses practice
Valtteri Bottas led team mate Lewis Hamilton in the single hour of practice at the Nurburgring ahead of today’s qualifying session.

Eifel GP
Practice Session 3
Pos Driver             Car                   Time      Gap
 1  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:26.225   -
 2  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:26.361  0.136
 3  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:26.681  0.456
 4  Max Verstappen     Red Bull-Honda        1:26.896  0.671
 5  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:27.038  0.813
 6  Lando Norris       McLaren-Renault       1:27.167  0.942
 7  Sergio Perez       Racing Point-Mercedes 1:27.245  1.020
 8  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:27.392  1.167
 9  Alexander Albon    Red Bull-Honda        1:27.449  1.224
10  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri-Honda      1:27.528  1.303
11  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:27.634  1.409
12  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri-Honda      1:27.795  1.570
13  Carlos Sainz Jnr   McLaren-Renault       1:27.924  1.699
14  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo-Ferrari    1:27.956  1.731
15  Romain Grosjean    Haas-Ferrari          1:28.115  1.890
16  Kevin Magnussen    Haas-Ferrari          1:28.293  2.068
17  George Russell     Williams-Mercedes     1:28.343  2.118
18  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari    1:28.370  2.145
19  Nicholas Latifi    Williams-Mercedes     1:28.941  2.716
20  Lance Stroll       Racing Point-Mercedes  -         -

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Official:
Hulkenberg to replace Stroll for Eifel Grand Prix
Nico Hulkenberg has been recalled to make his third appearance in an F1 round this year for Racing Point.

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Bottas sees off Hamilton and Verstappen for Nurburgring pole
The Mercedes drivers saw off a strong challenge from Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Eifel Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position ahead of team mate Lewis Hamilton with his last lap of the session.

Eifel GP
Qualifying Session
Pos Driver             Car                   Time 
 1  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:25.269
 2  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:25.525
 3  Max Verstappen     Red Bull-Honda        1:25.562
 4  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:26.035
 5  Alexander Albon    Red Bull-Honda        1:26.047
 6  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:26.223
 7  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:26.242
 8  Lando Norris       McLaren-Renault       1:26.458
 9  Sergio Perez       Racing Point-Mercedes 1:26.704
10  Carlos Sainz Jnr   McLaren-Renault       1:26.709
11  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:26.738
12  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri-Honda      1:26.776
13  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri-Honda      1:26.848
14  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari    1:26.936
15  Kevin Magnussen    Haas-Ferrari          1:27.125
16  Romain Grosjean    Haas-Ferrari          1:27.552
17  George Russell     Williams-Mercedes     1:27.564
18  Nicholas Latifi    Williams-Mercedes     1:27.812
19  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo-Ferrari    1:27.817
20  Nico Hulkenberg    Racing Point-Mercedes 1:28.021

Hamilton wanted to start the race on medium tyres
Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to start the Eifel Grand Prix on the medium tyres, but was overruled by his Mercedes team.

Bottas: “Spot-on” pole position lap was “just what I needed”
Valtteri Bottas says he got his final lap in qualifying “spot-on” as he stormed to pole position for the Eifel Grand Prix.

Red Bull ‘definitely made a good step’ says Verstappen after strongest qualifying pace yet
Max Verstappen says Red Bull have made a clear improvement with their car after the team lapped closer to Mercedes than they have all year at the Nurburgring.

Hulkenberg says last-minute call-up was “even crazier than the last one”
Nico Hulkenberg says his last-minute call-up to drive for Racing Point this weekend was “even wilder and crazier” than his return to the team at Silverstone.

Shortened Eifel GP weekend shows F1 has “too much practice”
Formula 1 drivers say they have too much time to practice during race weekends, after poor weather around the Nurburgring forced the cancellation of two sessions yesterday.

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Leclerc surprised to qualify fourth in cold conditions
Charles Leclerc admits he is surprised to have performed so well in cold conditions after securing fourth on the grid for the Eifel Grand Prix.

Vettel pinpoints sector one weakness after lapping half a second off Leclerc
Sebastian Vettel says the first sector at the Nurburgring was his key weakness after lapping half a second slower than his team mate in qualifying.

Norris had more confidence with older-spec McLaren parts
Lando Norris said he felt more confident in his McLaren after reverting to a pre-Russian Grand Prix specification for this weekend’s race.

Stroll decided he wouldn’t drive in practice 30 minutes before session
Racing Point’s last-minute rush to replace Lance Stroll for this weekend was triggered by the driver half an hour before the final practice session began.

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Leclerc and Hamilton’s practice starts show “variability” in stewards’ decisions – Wolff
The stewards’ decision to penalise Lewis Hamilton for a practice start violation at the last race having cleared Charles Leclerc over a similar incident previously shows Formula 1 “still has some variability” in how incidents are handed, says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

No name change for Mercedes F1 team despite AMG focus
There will be no change of name for the Mercedes Formula 1 team despite the carmaker announcing a new initiative to promote its AMG sub-brand through the multiple championship-winning outfit.

Why F1 shouldn’t go down the independent engine manufacturer route
After Honda announced the 2021 F1 season will be its last in the sport, paddock focus switched to the question of potential replacement engine supplier(s) for both Red Bull teams.

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Hamilton equals Schumacher’s 91 wins record with Nurburgring triumph
Lewis Hamilton scored the 91st victory of his Formula 1 career at the Nurburgring, equalling the all-time record for most wins in F1, set by Michael Schumacher.

Eifel GP
Race Results
Pos Driver             Team                  Time         Gap
 1  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:35:49.641s  -
 2  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:35:54.111s  4.470s
 3  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:36:04.254s 14.613s
 4  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:36:05.711s 16.070s
 5  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1:36:11.546s 21.905s
 6  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:36:12.417s 22.766s
 7  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:36:20.455s 30.814s
 8  Nico Hulkenberg    Racing Point/Mercedes 1:36:22.237s 32.596s
 9  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1:36:28.722s 39.081s
10  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:36:29.676s 40.035s
11  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:36:30.451s 40.810s
12  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:36:31.117s 41.476s
13  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1:36:39.226s 49.585s
14  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     1:36:44.090s 54.449s
15  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:36:45.229s 55.588s
 -  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       Power Unit
 -  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        Overheating
 -  Esteban Ocon       Renault               Hydraulics
 -  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              Power Unit
 -  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     Collision

Here is the World Standings after Eifel GP:

World Championships Standings
Driver Standings
Pos Driver             Total
 1  Lewis Hamilton      230
 2  Valtteri Bottas     161
 3  Max Verstappen      147
 4  Daniel Ricciardo     78
 5  Sergio Perez         68
 6  Lando Norris         65
 7  Alexander Albon      64
 8  Charles Leclerc      63
 9  Lance Stroll         57
10  Pierre Gasly         53
11  Carlos Sainz Jnr     51
12  Esteban Ocon         36
13  Sebastian Vettel     17
14  Daniil Kvyat         14
15  Nico Hulkenberg      10
16  Antonio Giovinazzi    3
17  Kimi Raikkonen        2
17  Romain Grosjean       2
19  Kevin Magnussen       1
20  Nicholas Latifi       0
20  George Russell        0
Constructor Standings
Pos Team          Total
 1  Mercedes       391
 2  Red Bull       211
 3  McLaren        116
 4  Renault        114
 5  Racing Point   104
 6  Ferrari         80
 7  AlphaTauri      67
 8  Alfa Romeo       5
 9  Haas             3
10  Williams         0

Wolff: Hamilton’s dominance isn’t only because he drives a Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton’s achievement in equalling Michael Schumacher’s winning record should be respected, and not dismissed because of the quality of the equipment he’s had, says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Ricciardo will hold Abiteboul to tattoo bet after breakthrough podium
Daniel Ricciardo says his first podium for two-and-a-half years”feels like his first career podium all over again”.

Hamilton thought he’d never get “anywhere near” Schumacher’s win record
Lewis Hamilton says he never imagined he would get close to matching Michael Schumacher’s record of wins after taking his 91st career victory at the Eifel Grand Prix.

Albon given two penalty points for collision with Kvyat
Alexander Albon has had two penalty points added to his licence for his collision with Daniil Kvyat during the Eifel Grand Prix.

Raikkonen handed two penalty points for “avoidable” collision with Russell
Kimi Raikkonen has been given two penalty points on his licence for his collision with George Russell during the Eifel Grand Prix.

Bottas expected to resume Hamilton fight before retirement
Valtteri Bottas was hopeful of resuming his fight for the lead with Lewis Hamilton before a power unit problem which put him out of the Eifel Grand Prix.

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Russell: Raikkonen cost us chance to score points
George Russell believes he could have scored the first points of his career in the Eifel Grand Prix had he not been hit by Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton pays tribute to “an icon and a legend” after equalling Schumacher’s wins record
Lewis Hamilton says he has a new appreciation for Michael Schumacher’s achievements in Formula 1 having equalled his record of 91 victories.

Vettel admits he ‘took too much risk’ after early spin
Sebastian Vettel admits he took “probably too much risk” after his early spin during the Eifel Grand Prix, which he said left him “stuck” for the rest of the race.

Alonso could test 2020 and 2018 Renault next week
Fernando Alonso is expected to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car next week for the first time since announcing his 2021 comeback.

Norris expects grid penalties after Eifel GP power unit problem
McLaren’s Lando Norris fears he is doomed to take grid penalties for power unit changes later in the season following his retirement from the Eifel Grand Prix.

Mercedes hope Bottas can avoid grid penalty after power unit fault
Valtteri Bottas may face a grid penalty at the next race in Portugal following his retirement from the Eifel Grand Prix.

Renault vindicated by podium finish after “very painful” 2019
Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul says the team’s first podium finish since its return to Formula 1 in 2016 was a “statement” to its critics.

Albon had a “pretty sensible weekend” and his penalty was “harsh” – Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended Alexander Albon following his driver’s difficult race at the Nurburgring.

FIA rejects Verstappen’s claim Safety Car was used ‘to make race more exciting’
FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi rejected claims the Safety Car was used at the end of the Eifel Grand Prix to compress the field and create a more exciting race.

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Brawn wants car manufacturer input into F1’s next engine formula
Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn says he hopes manufacturers are encouraged to return to the sport by new power unit rules which will arrive “no later than 2026”.

Hamilton: ‘Older drivers have a bee in their bonnet about me – maybe one day they ‘ll get over it’
Lewis Hamilton says he won’t speak about the next generation of drivers the same way he feels past Formula 1 stars have criticised him.

Vettel: I always thought Schumacher’s wins record would never be beaten
Sebastian Vettel says he never thought Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 F1 wins would be beaten, but accepts it is inevitable after Lewis Hamilton equalled it last weekend.

Hulkenberg’s Silverstone feedback prompted Racing Point suspension upgrades
The suspension upgrade Racing Point recently introduced to their car was prompted by feedback from substitute driver Nico Hulkenberg during his two appearances for the team earlier this year.

Alonso making F1 testing return with Renault today
Fernando Alonso will continue preparations for his return to Formula 1 racing next year by testing a Renault at the Circuit de Catalunya today.

Alonso is ‘like a big shark – he sees the blood and wants to attack’ – Abiteboul
Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul says Fernando Alonso has been buoyed by the team’s recent progress and is “very hungry” for success when he returns to race for them next year.

“It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as being the greatest” – Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton says it is hard to grasp the special place he now occupies in the sport’s history having equalled Michael Schumacher as being the most successful driver in terms of wins.

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Renault’s performance a “nice surprise” in return test – Alonso
Fernando Alonso has completed a filming day in the 2020 Renault car, in preparation for his Formula 1 return with the team next season. The two-times world champion for Renault said it “felt nice” to be able to drive an F1 car again, after two years in retirement.

Two Renault team members test positive for Covid-19 ahead of Alonso filming day
Two members of Renault’s Formula 1 team have tested positive for Covid-19 while in Spain, RaceFans understands.

Hamilton and Schumacher surprisingly similar in the car, quite different out of it – Shovlin
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin described how Lewis Hamilton compares to the driver he replaced at the team seven years ago – Michael Schumacher – now the pair share the record for most wins in F1 history.

Red Bull will address current car problems in RB16B – Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is encouraged by the progress the team has made in improving the performance of its car in recent races.

2021 F1 calendar will be “closer to normal” – Carey
The 2021 F1 calendar may not look exactly like this year’s schedule was supposed to, but will be closer to it, says the sport’s CEO Chase Carey.

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Mercedes relied on DAS “more than ever” at cold Nurburgring
Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles says the team relied on its unique Dual Axis Steering system “more than ever” during the Eifel Grand Prix to optimise its tyre performance in the cold conditions.

Hamilton doesn’t want a return to his “way too fast-paced life” when pandemic ends
Lewis Hamilton said the limitations the pandemic has forced upon his lifestyle made him realise he needs to take things more slowly in future.

Leclerc sees ‘quite a few positives’ in Ferrari’s Nurburgring weekend
Charles Leclerc says he was encouraged by Ferrari’s performance in the Eifel Grand Prix, despite falling from fourth on the grid to finish seventh.

Bottas “needs a miracle” to overturn Hamilton’s 69-point lead
Valtteri Bottas says there’s “no chance” he will give up in the championship fight, but admits he “needs a miracle” after posting his second point-less result of the year at the Nurburgring.

Red Bull want F1 engine freeze to keep racing Honda design
Red Bull wants Formula 1 to freeze its power unit rules after next season in order to continue using its Honda power units after the manufacturer leaves.

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Renault “not scared of anywhere” in remaining races
Renault’s sporting director Alan Permane says the team are no longer worried about their potential performance at any upcoming circuits after success at the Nurburgring last weekend.

Vietnam Grand Prix promoter confirms race will not happen in 2020
The first Vietnam Grand Prix, which was originally scheduled to take place in April this year, has finally been cancelled, seven month after it was postponed. It is the final outstanding race from the original 2020 F1 calendar to be called off as a result of the pandemic.

Racing Point can keep third in championship if “bad luck” ends – Green
Racing Point believe they can take a best-ever finish of third in the championship if they have a trouble-free run to the end of the year.

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Eight positive Covid-19 tests in F1 last week following Renault cases
Eight cases of Covid-19 were identified among Formula 1 drivers, teams and personnel over the week to yesterday, according to the championship and the FIA.

Leclerc: F1’s new aero handicap rules can help “struggling” Ferrari
Charles Leclerc is pleased Ferrari stand to benefit from F1’s new aero handicap rules which are due to come into force next year.

Ocon improving but needs to address “small mistakes” – Abiteboul
Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul is pleased with Esteban Ocon’s progress in his return to Formula 1, despite him lagging well behind team mate Daniel Ricciardo.

McLaren drivers pleased Spa is restoring gravel traps
McLaren drivers Carlos Sainz Jnr and Lando Norris have praised plans to restore gravel traps at Spa-Francorchamps.

“It’s not a taxi park”: Drivers say penalty points should only be given for dangerous incidents
Formula 1 drivers have urged race director Michael Masi to ensure penalty points are only issued in response to potentially dangerous driving incidents.

Australian GP promoter insists it will hold first F1 race of 2021
The promoter of the Australian Grand Prix has rejected claims it will not hold the opening round on the 2021 F1 calendar.

Here is the Timing Schedule for this weekend's Portuguese GP:

Portuguese GP
Friday
Practice Session 1   14:00 To 15:30
Practice Session 2   18:00 To 19:30

Saturday
Practice Session 3   15:00 To 16:00
Qualifying Session   18:00 To 19:00

Sunday
Race                 18:10 To 20:10

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A “tickle” or a “big step”? Teams divided over impact of 2021 downforce changes
Formula 1 teams have sharply differing views over the impact aerodynamic changes for next season will have on their cars.

F1 drivers keen for less practice after two-day Eifel Grand Prix weekend
Formula 1 drivers believe cutting practice could lead to better races by increasing the potential for unpredictability.

Stroll tested positive for Covid-19 after Eifel Grand Prix
Lance Stroll has revealed he tested positive for Covid-19 following the Eifel Grand Prix weekend.

Algarve track to have single DRS zone for first F1 race
A single DRS zone will be used at the Autodromo do Algarve, which is holding its first ever Formula 1 race this weekend.

Ferrari will complete recent updates with new diffuser for Portuguese Grand Prix
Ferrari will continue the recent upgrades to its SF1000 with the introduction of a new diffuser at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

Lawrence Stroll also tested positive for Covid-19
Lance Stroll’s father Lawrence, the owner of Racing Point and Aston Martin, also tested positive for Covid-19 at around the same time as his son.

Sunny and warm conditions expected for F1’s first Algarve race
Formula 1’s return to the Nurburgring produced the coldest race conditions of the year so far by some distance. But drivers who complained about the chill there can look forward to a much sunnier stay at Autodromo do Algarve.

Red Bull need a driver who will push Verstappen in 2021 – Marko
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko says the team must have two drivers who can maximise their point scores in the constructors’ championship next year.

Grosjean confirms this is his last season with Haas
Romain Grosjean has confirmed he will not stay with Haas beyond the end of the 2020 F1 season.

All change at Haas for 2021 as Magnussen confirms he will also leave
Kevin Magnussen has joined team mate Romain Grosjean in confirming he will not drive for Haas next year.

Bottas to avoid grid penalty after Nurburgring power unit failure
Valtteri Bottas will avoid a grid penalty at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix following the power unit failure he suffered during the last race.

Hulkenberg on standby in Portugal in case Stroll can’t race
Nico Hulkenberg is available to return for Racing Point as a substitute at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

“I’ll be on the grid next year with Williams”: Russell dismisses speculation over his future
George Russell has dismissed speculation over his future at Williams, saying he expects to remain with the team next year.

“Money and talent” are Haas’s preferences for new drivers – Steiner
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says the team are considering a shorter list of drivers after confirming Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will not remain with them next year.

Stroll: I didn’t get tested because I didn’t think I had Covid
Lance Stroll defended his decision not to have a Covid-19 test immediately after pulling out of the Eifel Grand Prix weekend.

Grosjean: “Financial reasons” behind Haas decision to replace both drivers
Romain Grosjean says he thought Haas would replace one of its drivers due to financial reasons, but did not expect he and team mate Kevin Magnussen would lose their drives.

Alonso’s filming day gave Renault useful feedback – Ocon
Fernando Alonso’s brief run in Renault’s 2020 Formula 1 car last weekend gave the team some useful information, according to Esteban Ocon.

F1 stewards aren’t giving me an easy time, says Leclerc
Charles Leclerc says he doesn’t think Formula 1’s stewards are treating him more leniently than other drivers.

Hamilton criticises choice of Petrov as steward after BLM and gay driver quotes
Lewis Hamilton has criticised the choice of Vitaly Petrov as one of the stewards for this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix following comments the former F1 racer made last month.

Hamilton unsure if he wants another three years at Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton says he hasn’t decided how much longer he intends to commit to Mercedes for, and may not sign a new deal for a few more months.

The design lessons F1 is hoping to learn at Algarve’s ‘three-dimensional’ track
The Autodromo do Algarve, which is playing host to this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix, is the second of the two venues Formula 1 is visiting in its disrupted 2020 season which have never previously held rounds of the world championship.

Mercedes say ‘quali mode’ ban has brought Red Bull closer to them
Mercedes are wary of the growing threat from rivals Red Bull, who cut the gap between the two teams to a new low in the last round at the Nurburgring.

McLaren plan more updates this year due to lack of ‘chassis tokens’ for 2021
McLaren intend to bring as many updates as possible for its MCL35 this year because its coming switch to Mercedes power units will limit how much it can change its car for 2021.

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Mercedes pair lead Verstappen in first practice at Algarve
Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton topped the times in F1’s first practice session at the Autodromo do Algarve.

Portuguese GP
Practice Session 1
Pos Driver             Team                  Time      Gap
 1  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:18.410s  -
 2  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:18.749s 0.339s
 3  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:19.191s 0.781s
 4  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:19.309s 0.899s
 5  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        1:19.365s 0.955s
 6  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1:19.441s 1.031s
 7  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:19.907s 1.497s
 8  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:19.954s 1.544s
 9  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:20.058s 1.648s
10  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:20.124s 1.714s
11  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:20.200s 1.790s
12  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       1:20.207s 1.797s
13  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:20.278s 1.868s
14  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1:20.846s 2.436s
15  Lance Stroll       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:20.954s 2.544s
16  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:21.009s 2.599s
17  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1:21.169s 2.759s
18  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     1:21.374s 2.964s
19  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:21.673s 3.263s
20  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     1:22.054s 3.644s

Vettel “trying to get myself back together to perform at the level I can”
Sebastian Vettel says he hopes to finish his Ferrari career “with dignity” as he heads into his final six races with the team.

Williams not confirming driver plans for 2021 amid Russell rumours
Williams acting team principal Simon Roberts has refused to confirm George Russell and Nicholas Latifi will continue to drive for them in 2021.

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Bottas fastest as second practice is red-flagged twice
Valtteri Bottas once again topped the session times in second practice, in a session heavily disrupted by red flags.

Portuguese GP
Practice Session 2
Pos Driver             Car                   Time       Gap
 1  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:17.940s   -
 2  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:18.535s  0.595s
 3  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       1:18.743s  0.803s
 4  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:18.838s  0.898s
 5  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1:19.113s  1.173s
 6  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:19.175s  1.235s
 7  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:19.178s  1.238s
 8  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:19.308s  1.368s
 9  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:19.496s  1.556s
10  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        1:19.643s  1.703s
11  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     1:19.721s  1.881s
12  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:19.901s  1.961s
13  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:19.987s  2.047s
14  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     1:20.465s  2.525s
15  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:20.490s  2.550s
16  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1:20.680s  2.740s
17  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:20.729s  2.789s
18  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1:20.867s  2.927s
19  Lance Stroll       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:20.983s  3.043s
20  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:21.396s  3.456s

Verstappen fumes at Stroll as stewards investigate collision in practice
The stewards are investigating a collision between Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll at turn one which cased the second practice session to be red-flagged.

Brown criticises Racing Point’s “lack of transparency” over Stroll’s Covid-19 test
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has criticised Racing Point’s handling of Lance Stroll’s absence from the Eifel Grand Prix due to illness, saying he should have been tested for Covid-19 right away.

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Hamilton impressed by “massively challenging” Algarve circuit
Lewis Hamilton was impressed by the Autodromo do Algarve after Formula 1’s first day of practice at the Portuguese track.

Verstappen and Stroll cleared over practice crash caused by “misunderstanding”
Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll have been cleared over the collision between the pair in second practice session.

Ferrari engine customers wary of Red Bull’s call for power unit freeze
Ferrari’s engine customers have reacted warily to a call from Red Bull to freeze power unit development at the end of the 2021 F1 season.

Algarve shows F1 needs to ‘pick the right tracks’ – Vettel
Formula 1 drivers praised the Autodromo do Algarve circuit, which is hosting the series for the first time this weekend, following the first two practice sessions on Friday.

Stroll didn’t notice Verstappen because he was looking at his dash
Lance Stroll has explained how his collision with Max Verstappen during the second practice session came about.

Russell’s future at Williams is not up to Mercedes – Wolff
Mercedes junior driver George Russell’s future at Williams is for the team to decide, says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Red Bull will take the right decision for Gasly’s future, says Sainz
Carlos Sainz Jnr says he is sure Helmut Marko and Christian Horner will make the best choices for Pierre Gasly’s career, as the Red Bull team bosses prepare to make their driver choices for next season.

Track limits rules changed again after 125 violations on first day
Formula 1 has revised how track limits will be policed at the Autodromo do Algarve after over 100 violations were recorded on the first day of running at the Portuguese track.

Verstappen’s ‘colourful’ language an ’emotional’ reaction – Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said his driver Max Verstappen’s profane criticisms of Lance Stroll during yesterday’s practice session was an ’emotional’ reaction.

No room for Magnussen at McLaren’s IndyCar team – Brown
A reunion between Kevin Magnussen and his former team McLaren in IndyCar racing is not on the cards, according to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

Albon has two races to show he deserves 2021 Red Bull drive
Red Bull is prepared to look beyond its talent pool to bring in a replacement for Alexander Albon for the 2021 F1 season if he doesn’t raise his game in the next two races, says team principal Christian Horner.

Bottas completes practice sweep as Verstappen closes on Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas completed a clean sweep of all three practice sessions at the Autodromo do Algarve, narrowly leading a Mercedes one-two in final practice.

Portuguese GP
Practice Session 3
Pos Driver             Team                  Time       Gap
 1  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:16.654s   -
 2  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:16.680s  0.026s
 3  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:16.812s  0.158s
 4  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:16.930s  0.276s
 5  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        1:17.117s  0.463s
 6  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:17.229s  0.575s
 7  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1:17.238s  0.584s
 8  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:17.297s  0.643s
 9  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       1:17.478s  0.824s
10  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:17.666s  1.012s
11  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:17.685s  1.031s
12  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:17.720s  1.066s
13  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:17.922s  1.268s
14  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1:17.935s  1.281s
15  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     1:18.032s  1.378s
16  Lance Stroll       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:18.100s  1.446s
17  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:18.201s  1.547s
18  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1:18.287s  1.633s
19  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     1:18.397s  1.743s
20  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1:18.454s  1.800s

Start of qualifying delayed due to kerb repairs at Algarve
The qualifying session for the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix has been delayed by half an hour due to track repairs.

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Hamilton takes pole position off Bottas with final run at Algarve
Lewis Hamilton mastered a tricky track surface at Autodromo do Algarve to beat his team mate to pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Portuguese GP
Qualifying Session
Pos Driver             Car                   Time       Gap
 1  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:16.652s   -
 2  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:16.754s  0.102s
 3  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:16.904s  0.252s
 4  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:17.090s  0.438s
 5  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:17.223s  0.571s
 6  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        1:17.437s  0.785s
 7  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1:17.520s  0.868s
 8  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       1:17.525s  0.873s
 9  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:17.803s  1.151s
10  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault                -          -
11  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1:17.614s  0.962s
12  Lance Stroll       Racing Point/Mercedes 1:17.626s  0.974s
13  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      1:17.728s  1.076s
14  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     1:17.788s  1.136s
15  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1:17.919s  1.267s
16  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:18.101s  1.549s
17  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1:18.323s  1.671s
18  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1:18.364s  1.712s
19  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1:18.508s  1.856s
20  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     1:18.777s  2.125s

Verstappen disappointed by poor grip in qualifying after setting best time in Q1
Max Verstappen said he was disappointed with the lack of grip on the Algarve circuit after being unable to improve on his Q1 lap time throughout qualifying.

Losing pole to Hamilton after strong practice is “very annoying” for Bottas
Valtteri Bottas admitted he was annoyed to lose pole position to his team mate following his strong performance in practice.

Losing pole to Hamilton after strong practice is “very annoying” for Bottas
Valtteri Bottas admitted he was annoyed to lose pole position to his team mate following his strong performance in practice.

Renault don’t want to supply engines to Red Bull – Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says “the only option that works” for the team is to take over Honda’s engine supply after the manufacturer’s planned departure at the end of the 2021 F1 season.

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Grosjean reveals Haas have had overheating suspension problem all year
Romain Grosjean says Haas’s performances have been affected all year long by a suspension overheating problem which they are unable to solve.

Albon: I have “no set goals” to satisfy to keep Red Bull seat
Alexander Albon says he has no set goals from Red Bull to meet in order to secure his seat with the team for the 2021 F1 season.

Perez reprimanded for impeding Gasly
Sergio Perez has been given a formal reprimand for impeding Pierre Gasly during qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Vitaly Petrov steps down as steward following death of father
The father of former Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov has died in Russia.

Hamilton insists he doesn’t ‘sandbag’ during practice
Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t hide his true pace during practice, after again taking pole position despite trailing his team mate earlier in the weekend.

Drain collapse which delayed F1 qualifying was “something we haven’t seen before”
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi says the drain collapse which delayed the start of qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix was due to a failure which hadn’t previously been seen.

Drivers concerned Algarve’s “mega-tight” pit exit could cause problems in race
Formula 1 drivers have raised concerns about the pit lane exit at Autodromo do Algarve with race director Michael Masi.

Mercedes support Red Bull’s call for F1 engine freeze
Mercedes have backed Red Bull’s call for a freeze on engine development after the 2021 F1 season.

Limited running means “we don’t know if it’s a one or two-stop race”
Formula 1 teams are heading into today’s Portuguese Grand Prix with much less information than usual about what strategies to use because of their limited running on the unfamiliar and recently resurfaced Algarve circuit.

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Hamilton masters tricky Algarve conditions to break Schumacher’s victories record
Lewis Hamilton made Formula 1 history by scoring the 92nd victory of his career in a lively Portuguese Grand Prix.

Portuguese GP
Race Results
Pos Driver             Car                   Time         Gap
 1  Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes              1:29:56.828s  -
 2  Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes              1:30:22.420s   25.592s
 3  Max Verstappen     Red Bull/Honda        1:30:31.336s   34.508s
 4  Charles Leclerc    Ferrari               1:31:02.140s 1:05.312s
 5  Pierre Gasly       AlphaTauri/Honda      1 Lap
 6  Carlos Sainz Jr.   McLaren/Renault       1 Lap
 7  Sergio Perez       Racing Point/Mercedes 1 Lap
 8  Esteban Ocon       Renault               1 Lap
 9  Daniel Ricciardo   Renault               1 Lap
10  Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari               1 Lap
11  Kimi Raikkonen     Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1 Lap
12  Alexander Albon    Red Bull/Honda        1 Lap
13  Lando Norris       McLaren/Renault       1 Lap
14  George Russell     Williams/Mercedes     1 Lap
15  Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari    1 Lap
16  Romain Grosjean    Haas/Ferrari          1 Lap
17  Kevin Magnussen    Haas/Ferrari          1 Lap
18  Nicholas Latifi    Williams/Mercedes     2 Laps
19  Daniil Kvyat       AlphaTauri/Honda      2 Laps
 -  Lance Stroll       Racing Point/Mercedes Accident damage

Here is the Championships Standings after the Portuguese GP:

World Championships Standings
Drivers Standings
Pos Driver              Total
 1  Lewis Hamilton       256
 2  Valtteri Bottas      179
 3  Max Verstappen       162
 4  Daniel Ricciardo      80
 5  Charles Leclerc       75
 6  Sergio Perez          74
 7  Lando Norris          65
 8  Alexander Albon       64
 9  Pierre Gasly          63
10  Carlos Sainz Jnr      59
11  Lance Stroll          57
12  Esteban Ocon          40
13  Sebastian Vettel      18
14  Daniil Kvyat          14
15  Nico Hulkenberg       10
16  Antonio Giovinazzi     3
17  Kimi Raikkonen         2
17  Romain Grosjean        2
19  Kevin Magnussen        1
20  Nicholas Latifi        0
20  George Russell         0
Constructors Standings
Pos Team         Total
 1  Mercedes      435
 2  Red Bull      226
 3  McLaren       124
 4  Renault       120
 5  Racing Point  110
 6  Ferrari        93
 7  AlphaTauri     77
 8  Alfa Romeo      5
 9  Haas            3
10  Williams        0

Stroll handed three penalty points for Norris clash and violating track limits
Lance Stroll has been given a total of three penalty points for the incidents he was involved in during the Portuguese Grand Prix, including his collision with Lando Norris.

Hamilton says he “could only have dreamed” of becoming F1’s most successful driver
Lewis Hamilton says he could only have dreamed of becoming Formula 1’s most successful driver by grand prix wins after setting a new record at the Portuguese Grand Prix.