2021 Portuguese Grand Prix - Portimão, Apr 30 - May 02

[mafeotul]

Redbull will go M-S I think. The soft is the only compound they actually looked fast on, so a hard will be really bad for them.

That’s what I thought, but dirty air will kill their race since they have been worse than Merc on tyres. Maybe they split the strategy, go M-S with Max, and M-H with Perez.

[F1Krof]

The way I see it is that Max will be second by the first corner. Where we'll have Bot-Ver-Ham-Perez.

By the 3rd or 4th lap Max will be overtaking Bottas and dissapear into the distant. By the time Merc realize that Hamilton is loosing too much time after Bottas, the race will be over. Probably the result will be like:
1. Ver
2. Ham
3. Checo
4. Bottas
Or
1. Ver
2. Bottas
3. Ham
4. Checo

A pissed Max is a formidable Max.

[mafeotul]

The way I see it is that Max will be second by the first corner. Where we'll have Bot-Ver-Ham-Perez.

By the 3rd or 4th lap Max will be overtaking Bottas and dissapear into the distant. By the time Merc realize that Hamilton is loosing too much time after Bottas, the race will be over. Probably the result will be like:
1. Ver
2. Ham
3. Checo
4. Bottas
Or
1. Ver
2. Bottas
3. Ham
4. Checo

A pissed Max is a formidable Max.

With the risk of this coming to bite me hard in the behind, i don't see the Bulls winning today.

[erudite450]

A pissed Max? Well, Ham has the bit between his teeth after Imola so we'll see. Hamilton is a more consistent starter than everyone in the top ten besides Sainz.

[djones]

I'd say the previous history would show a pissed Max is a Max that makes mistakes.

[F1Krof]

I'd say the previous history would show a pissed Max is a Max that makes mistakes.

Nah, last race he missed pole, got pissed and won the race.
I remember Mexico 2018 (or 17) where Daniel just snuck in the pole, Max got really pissed and went on to dominate the race.
Yesterday he should've gotten the pole had he not make that mistake on turn 4 which then got his laptime deleted. After the qualy ended, you could see how pissed Max looked.

My guess is based on that he'll start on clean-side of the grid. And with RedBull having the advantage of switching it's tyres on faster than Mercs, I believe he'll jump Hamilton by turn 1 and then hunt Bottas and overtake him within 2-3 laps. This is what I believe will happen.

[Jolle]

Nice all these predictions of who is better.. but, my guess is a technical DNF for Verstappen. They have been a few races without...

[djones]

Nice all these predictions of who is better ... but, my guess is a technical DNF for Verstappen. They have been a few races without...

I actually agree with you (as in, a Rebdull will DNF). To the point, I put a cheeky 5 euro on both Redbulls NOT being in the points.

[SiLo]

I think there is a lot riding on the start between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes. But I can't see past Lewis beating Bottas even if he stays 2nd behind him with his superior tyre management.

[e30ernest]

You guys are acting like Lewis has never lost to Bottas on merit. I mean, Bottas is not the best, but when he's in his "zone", he can be competitive enough to steal some wins here and there.

That said, yeah I think it'll either be Max or Lewis again for this race.

[Big Tea]

I think there is a lot riding on the start between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes. But I can't see past Lewis beating Bottas even if he stays 2nd behind him with his superior tyre management.

Merc have the 'agreement' on tyre changes, Hamilton seems to use it to his advantage and catches Bottas out often

[aral]

It seems as if this thread has turned into a fanboy thread (a usual) so a number of posts have been removed. It might be an idea to discuss the race and qualifying sensibly and without so much hatred.

[Scorpaguy]

90% chance of a Ham win, 9% for Max...same as always (although the cool weather and flowing track points to Merc). More interested to see if the decline continues for Fred, Ric, and Vet. Looking forward to the Maz hijinks. Wondering if Norris is actually for real. Hoping that Rus and Bot tangle again...that was the best week of drama I have seen in awhile.

[atanatizante]

For me, it`s clear that Merc overheats the soft and that`s why they were taking slowly the first sector in order not to overcook the third one. And this is down to how they were setup the car for the race ...

Personally, I think it's the opposite, they can't get heat in them fast enough, hence why they were doing a push lap before a hot lap. We pretty much saw the same trend in imola during the race.

Maybe your right, but how could you explain why they could heat the medium tyres after just one out lap knowing these tyres has a higher operation window than the soft ones? Possibly a special out lap preparation/running out lap hence 2 laps required to do so? One lap to not heat the outer tyre surface and then a second out lap for the core tyre?

[dans79]

For me, it`s clear that Merc overheats the soft and that`s why they were taking slowly the first sector in order not to overcook the third one. And this is down to how they were setup the car for the race ...

Personally, I think it's the opposite, they can't get heat in them fast enough, hence why they were doing a push lap before a hot lap. We pretty much saw the same trend in imola during the race.

Maybe your right, but how could you explain why they could heat the medium tyres after just one out lap knowing these tyres has a higher operation window than the soft ones? Possibly a special out lap preparation/running out lap hence 2 laps required to do so? One lap to not heat the outer tyre surface and then a second out lap for the core tyre?

I'm unsure what you're asking me, are you asking why I think Red Bull can do it in one lap and Mercedes in two?