Bottas doubles lead in EL2 at Portimão, clash between Verstappen and Stroll

The Mercedes Finn dominated a session marked by 2 red flags, including one raised following a strange collision between the Red Bull driver and the Racing Point revenant.

Published on 23/10/2020 à 17:43

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Bottas doubles lead in EL2 at Portimão, clash between Verstappen and Stroll

Gentlemen, the Portuguese Grand Prix only takes place on Sunday, no need to quibble over the slightest bit of asphalt from the free practice sessions on Friday!

But that’s what we do Max Verstappen et Lance stroll during a Free Practice 2 session already interrupted by a first red flag, triggered by the start of a fire on theAlpha Tauri de Pierre Gasly.

Nestled in the aspiration of the Racing Point driver, who is making his return to competition this weekend after his withdrawal from the Nürburgring, the driver Red Bull came almost level with the Canadian on the start/finish straight line.

Thinking that Stroll was going to slow down, the Dutchman negotiated the first corner accordingly. Except that the Montrealer had started a second flying lap in a row and therefore took his usual trajectory. At these speeds, the collision was inevitable and Verstappen, on the inside, sent Stroll careening into the gravel, clipping him at the right rear.

« Holy shit! the Dutchman belched on the radio. Is he blind or something? ". An investigation has been opened by the Portimão sports commissioners, which could have major consequences for the rest of the weekend.

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 incident led to a red flag for around twenty minutes and further limited the running already reduced by the interruption caused by Gasly's concern. And the obligation for the entire field to test prototype tires provided specifically by Pirelli for 2021 during the first 30 minutes of driving.

At the end of this hasty session, it’s again Valtteri Bottas who takes the best time. The pilot Mercedes signed a very clean lap on soft tires to clock a time of 1'17''940 and push back Verstappen's Red Bull by more than half a second on mediums.

Lando Norris, on softs, joins the top three at the very end of the session at the wheel of his McLaren. The Briton is 0”803 behind the leading Mercedes.

Ferrari confirms the renewed form seen during the last race weekends with the 4th fastest time Charles Leclerc in mediums. Sebastian Vettel, also wearing the compound with yellow stripes, completes the Scuderia’s great opening day with 6th place. Between the two SF1000s slips the future pilot of Maranello, Carlos Sainz aboard a McLaren with red tires.

Despite his shortened session, Pierre Gasly hoists his AlphaTauri into 7th position, ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). The leader of the Drivers classification is having a discreet session during which he will not have had the opportunity to sign a competitive lap.

Victim of an oil leak this morning, Esteban Ocon rebounded to 9th place in the afternoon at Renault, wheras'Alexander albon completes the Top 10, just ahead of an astonishing George Russell (Williams).

After his podium at the Nürburgring, Daniel Ricciardo, hampered by traffic, had to settle for 13th place, while Romain Grosjean (Haas) finished 18th, one place ahead of Stroll, unwitting host of a session which did not lack twists and turns.