AUTOhebdo predictions: who will win pole in Portimão?

After a choppy Friday where the teams were unable to carry out their usual program due to a slippery track and several session interruptions, Free Practice 3 allowed the entire field to fine-tune their settings as they approached. qualifications. 

Despite a condensed schedule, the teams tried to carry out longer stints in preparation for the race on Sunday in the second half of the session. But before we look ahead to the Grand Prix, let’s first take a look at the drivers who will live up the fight for pole position this afternoon. 

• Mercedes for the safety, Bottas for the calculated risk

After dominating the 3 free sessions of the Lusitanian weekend, Valtteri Bottas enters the qualifying session with a small advantage over his teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, we will remember that this season the six-time world champion was often able to reverse the trend at the last moment when his weekend was off to a bad start. 

The gap between the two men has also fallen to 26 thousandths this Saturday morning, a sign that pole position will probably be decided by a handkerchief or by a throw of the dice. In these conditions, the higher rating of a Bottas makes the Finnish option more attractive. 

• The offensive choice is called Verstappen

Certainly, Mercedes is undefeated in the flying lap exercise this year but banking on a pole for the fiery Dutchman does not lack panache or arguments. To begin with, Verstappen offers, unsurprisingly, more attractive odds than the Hamilton-Bottas duo. 

Then the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull has tended to decline in qualifying for several meetings. For what ? First of all because the most aggressive engine modes were banned after the Belgian Grand Prix, but this was one of Mercedes' many strong points. The German manufacturer has also recognized this even if its managers are often inclined to be cautious, including when the Black Arrows dominate head and shoulders. 

Then, the Red Bull RB16 recently received various aerodynamic developments where Mercedes has clearly stopped developing its W11 and turned completely towards 2021.

Finally, the spectacular Portimão route allows the best talents to stand out and make a difference. As sharp behind the wheel as he is on the microphone, Verstappen is not the clumsiest when it comes to handling the hoop. 

Last point, the Red Bull driver was only 0 seconds behind the benchmark set by Bottas in FP158 this Saturday morning. However, the Flying Dutchman was running on medium tires when he signed his best mark whereas the Finn was running on soft tires, supposed to provide an additional 3 tenths per lap. Of course, each team only reveals its cards at the very end of Q6 and Mercedes tends to keep some under wraps. 

In the end, the head says Mercedes, the heart says Verstappen and Red Bull. It's up to you to see what you want to listen to. 

Find all the betting combinations F1 possible on the Parions Sport website: www.enligne.parionssport.fdj.fr/paris-formule-1