Official 2020 Portugal Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Piginapoke]

Round 12 and Portugal, and a track new to F1, Portimao. Rather like Austin’s Circuit of The Americas, it’s is a modern venue with elevation change baked into its layout.

I guess Hamilton will win.

Date(s): Friday 23 October 2020 - Sunday 25 October 2020

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1; Channel 4 showing highlights of Race and Qualifying:





Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2264456

Tyre options:



2019 Race Result:

[n/a]

2019 race highlights:

n/a

[Oilchange]

And minus any lockdown antics, I'm going!

[moffspeed]

Oilchange said:

And minus any lockdown antics, I'm going!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, me and everyone. On the positive side I overtook the FOM truck convoy just as it peeled off the motorway at Portimao yesterday.

The summer weather has been as good as usual but next week the weather slips into Autumn mode with showers forecast most days - and into the weekend. This is a cause for celebration for the Portugese as they depend on the reservoirs filling over the next 4 rainy months to sustain the Country through the next summer drought.

If you are making the journey you will still enjoy temps of 21-22 C during the day - but the evenings are getting cooler. So, you might see some wet weather running over the GP weekend. Nothing like Estoril in ‘85 though...

However the greatest threat is inevitably Covid. The good news is that the Algarve has got off relatively lightly but over the last couple of weeks the national picture has been grim. Going back to mid-summer There were less than 200 cases daily, this week we are now seeing over 2,000 cases daily - going some for a country with a total population of under 10 million. 2 days ago the Govt. announced we are going into “Calamity” status - no social/family gatherings of more than 5 people etc.

I don’t want to be a doom merchant and the local hospitality economy desperately needs a boost - but I reckon it’s 50:50 as to whether this will develop into a “behind closed-doors” GP.

[poosemon]

For anyone unfamiliar with the circuit, he's a virtual onboard;

Link Here

[Gary29]

Nice to see some elevation in a F1 race for a change, should be a spectacle. Drivers POV will be very limited over some of those crests.

[iandc]

Really good circuit for viewing the race if allowed in. I go every year to the endurance and classic races and from the top tiers of the "VIP" stand (opposite the pit lane) you can see virtually the whole circuit.
The whole of the circuit is also visible from the hills above Monchique but you would need a bloody good set of binoculars!
As stated, we are all praying for rain here in the Algarve as our borehole dried up months ago! It is a really interesting circuit with lots of elevation changes and some tight bends so here's hoping for an interesting race next weekend.

[Gazzab]

poosemon said:

For anyone unfamiliar with the circuit, he's a virtual onboard;

Link Here

Did you spot the hot air balloon? That’s mine and I’ll be watching the race from it.

[Deesee]

Whats not to like, Monaco downforce package, 3 huge flat out zones (possibly the largest this season on the turn 14 to turn 1), 5/6 big braking points, elevation changes, blind apexes..

Good luck above to those attending make sure you post some pics of that lovely sunshine!

[Daston]

That looks like a great track. Did they build it with future F1 hopes?

[poosemon]

Gazzab said:

Did you spot the hot air balloon? That’s mine and I’ll be watching the race from it.

I have now, and defiantly one of the more unique ways of watching the race

[moffspeed]

If you are coming over don’t forget the Motorsport Village that is currently being set up on the harbour side in Portimao. Static displays, classic cars, simulators etc.

A few early arrivals this morning..

[moffspeed]

..they will also be live streaming the race at the show depending on the degree of lockdown.

Loved this :

[Mark-C]

Hoipefully another weekend mixed up a bit by a new track. Have rather enjoyed this year's F1 so far ...

[Henson]

Just checking in to find out if vaud had started putting the page together 20 minutes ago



(Great work pig, vaud, Dr Z etc - whoever puts it together. The effort is always appreciated.)

[The Moose]

Henson said:

Just checking in to find out if vaud had started putting the page together 20 minutes ago



(Great work pig, vaud, Dr Z etc - whoever puts it together. The effort is always appreciated.)

Agreed.

[tertius]

Looking forward to this one. I drove this circuit on the first BaT Iberia trip and enjoyed it - it’ll be great to see it driven properly.

[Fortitude]

Gazzab said:

Did you spot the hot air balloon? That’s mine and I’ll be watching the race from it.

Thanks for the posting and explanation. I think what you are doing is absolutely FANTASTIC. I burst out laughing when I read your post.

It is great on Pistonheads when you can interact with F1 fans, who take the sport to another level of passion.

Do you take your hot air balloon to other F1 circuits?

[SpudLink]

Fortitude said:

Gazzab said:

Did you spot the hot air balloon? That’s mine and I’ll be watching the race from it.

Thanks for the posting and explanation. I think what you are doing is absolutely FANTASTIC. I burst out laughing when I read your post.

It is great on Pistonheads when you can interact with F1 fans, who take the sport to another level of passion.

Do you take your hot air balloon to other F1 circuits?

You may have found the solution to getting fans to watch races live.

[Mr Cerbera]

poosemon said:

For anyone unfamiliar with the circuit, he's a virtual onboard;

Link Here

Been into F1 since '68 but only just found this Forum - Happy as Larry.
Big "Thanks !" to Adam for this Post

[tertius]

Here's a real video of a lap - bit slower of course, K-series Elise!

https://vimeo.com/20319560