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DPA
Portimao (Portugal)
Lewis Hamilton seeks sole possession of the Formula One race win record on Sunday in the first-ever grand prix held on the Portuguese track of Portimao.
And if a flat tyre on one of his private cars, posted on social media on Tuesday, is all he needs to worry about, then the six-time world champion stands a great chance to earn a 92nd career victory which would put him ahead of German great Michael Schumacher.
Like the Nuerburgring two weeks ago and Mugello last month, plus next week’s race in Imola, the 4.684-kilometres Algarve International Circuit was a late addition to the calendar owing to the coronavirus pandemic, and the Mercedes driver Hamilton should like his chances.
“He’s done pretty well at the circuits that were not on the original calendar so far this year - winning at both Mugello and the Nuerburgring - so will he make it a hat-trick at Portimao?” the F1 website in reference to Hamilton.
The race in front of an allowed maximum of 27,500 fans is not the first Portugal GP though as races were held in Estoril, Porto, Lisbon and Cascais between 1951 and 1996. Hamilton commands the championship 69 points ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, and if they manage a one-two finish imperious Mercedes could even wrap up the constructors’ title with five races to spare, depending on how second-placed Red Bull fare.
There is however a big uncertainty all season for Hamilton and his team in the form of the coronavirus.
Hamilton knows what is at stake and that nothing is achieved yet, neither a 92nd victory nor a seventh world title which would equal another Schumacher record.
“So many different things in this crazy pandemic can still happen so I’ve got to focus on staying healthy and continue to try to deliver weekends like [the last] one,” said the Briton who has won seven of the 11 season races contested so far.
Mercedes staff members have been infected, and Racing Point driver Lance Stroll revealed a positive test after his departure from the Nuerburgring where he didn’t race.
Stroll is the second driver to contract the virus, following team-mate Sergio Perez - and a look at football, where the likes of Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have tested positive - shows that superstars are not immune.
Mercedes motor sport chief Toto Wolff highlighted the difficulties the life in bubbles and amid a strict health protocol brings with it, especially for the drivers.
“Obviously the drivers are the most restricted of the whole group, of the whole team,” Wolff said.
“Certainly it’s not a great situation for them because you almost need to live like a hermit and that’s what they are doing. They are at home, they are not going out for dinners. They are not meeting any other people.”
Portimao (Portugal)
Lewis Hamilton seeks sole possession of the Formula One race win record on Sunday in the first-ever grand prix held on the Portuguese track of Portimao.
And if a flat tyre on one of his private cars, posted on social media on Tuesday, is all he needs to worry about, then the six-time world champion stands a great chance to earn a 92nd career victory which would put him ahead of German great Michael Schumacher.
Like the Nuerburgring two weeks ago and Mugello last month, plus next week’s race in Imola, the 4.684-kilometres Algarve International Circuit was a late addition to the calendar owing to the coronavirus pandemic, and the Mercedes driver Hamilton should like his chances.
“He’s done pretty well at the circuits that were not on the original calendar so far this year - winning at both Mugello and the Nuerburgring - so will he make it a hat-trick at Portimao?” the F1 website in reference to Hamilton.
The race in front of an allowed maximum of 27,500 fans is not the first Portugal GP though as races were held in Estoril, Porto, Lisbon and Cascais between 1951 and 1996. Hamilton commands the championship 69 points ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, and if they manage a one-two finish imperious Mercedes could even wrap up the constructors’ title with five races to spare, depending on how second-placed Red Bull fare.
There is however a big uncertainty all season for Hamilton and his team in the form of the coronavirus.
Hamilton knows what is at stake and that nothing is achieved yet, neither a 92nd victory nor a seventh world title which would equal another Schumacher record.
“So many different things in this crazy pandemic can still happen so I’ve got to focus on staying healthy and continue to try to deliver weekends like [the last] one,” said the Briton who has won seven of the 11 season races contested so far.
Mercedes staff members have been infected, and Racing Point driver Lance Stroll revealed a positive test after his departure from the Nuerburgring where he didn’t race.
Stroll is the second driver to contract the virus, following team-mate Sergio Perez - and a look at football, where the likes of Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have tested positive - shows that superstars are not immune.
Mercedes motor sport chief Toto Wolff highlighted the difficulties the life in bubbles and amid a strict health protocol brings with it, especially for the drivers.
“Obviously the drivers are the most restricted of the whole group, of the whole team,” Wolff said.
“Certainly it’s not a great situation for them because you almost need to live like a hermit and that’s what they are doing. They are at home, they are not going out for dinners. They are not meeting any other people.”
