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

[atanatizante]

After FP1 both Merc drivers did the most laps - 31&32 - and seems that (at least) top teams had split their job between qualy and race, with BOT and VER working for the former and HAM & PER for the latter ...

BOT used 1 set of hard tyres and did 8+6 laps, then 8+9 laps on the soft tyre, focusing on the qualy pace more, total 31
HAM used 1 set of hard tyres and did 7+12 laps, then 13 laps on the soft tyre, focusing on the race pace, total 32
then,
VER used 1 set of hard tyres and did 7+9 laps, then 4+3 laps on the soft tyre, focusing on the qualy pace more, total 23
PER used 1 set of hard tyres and did 9 laps, then 13 laps on the soft tyre, focusing on the race pace, total 22

[El Scorchio]

So I see there are updates on the Red Bull but apparently there are updates on the Merc and Mclaren as well? Not seeing any pictures on twitter etc on the threads on here as well.

Upgrades only on Verstappen’s car in FP1 according to Sky. Not sure how accurate that is though.

[RZS10]

Perez was out with aero testing equipment, must have been for the new parts, no?

[Herr_Koos]

Perez was out with aero testing equipment, must have been for the new parts, no?

New floor, yes. I doubt they would put the aero rakes on the old spec.

[Herr_Koos]

Mercedes looking very much hooked up on this circuit. Will be interesting to see if Red Bull still have a qualy pace advantage. I don't think there will be anything in it on race pace.

[mkay]

Mercedes looking very much hooked up on this circuit. Will be interesting to see if Red Bull still have a qualy pace advantage. I don't think there will be anything in it on race pace.

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

[Herr_Koos]

Mercedes looking very much hooked up on this circuit. Will be interesting to see if Red Bull still have a qualy pace advantage. I don't think there will be anything in it on race pace.

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

Not so sure about that. Verstappen hasn't managed to match Hamilton's soft tyre pace, and Perez isn't looking comfortable at all.

[pantherxxx]

Mercedes looking very much hooked up on this circuit. Will be interesting to see if Red Bull still have a qualy pace advantage. I don't think there will be anything in it on race pace.

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

Not so sure about that. Verstappen hasn't managed to match Hamilton's soft tyre pace, and Perez isn't looking comfortable at all.

Was Verstappen on soft or medium tyre in his last lap?

[Herr_Koos]

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

Not so sure about that. Verstappen hasn't managed to match Hamilton's soft tyre pace, and Perez isn't looking comfortable at all.

Was Verstappen on soft or medium tyre in his last lap?

Soft, far as I could tell.

[matt_b]

Mercedes fastest in both sessions and the massive improvement from testing continues wow

[mkay]

Mercedes looking very much hooked up on this circuit. Will be interesting to see if Red Bull still have a qualy pace advantage. I don't think there will be anything in it on race pace.

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

Not so sure about that. Verstappen hasn't managed to match Hamilton's soft tyre pace, and Perez isn't looking comfortable at all.

He was 1 tenth off and he achieved that lap on his first attempt. Mercedes won't be able to warm up their tyres ad infinitum in quali. And RB hasn't turned up the wick PU-wise and we know they have an extra bit versus Merc.

[Hoffman900]

Red Bull looking a smidge faster IMO thus far. Mercedes is struggling with tyre temps whilst VER is on the pace from the get go.

Not so sure about that. Verstappen hasn't managed to match Hamilton's soft tyre pace, and Perez isn't looking comfortable at all.

He was 1 tenth off and he achieved that lap on his first attempt. Mercedes won't be able to warm up their tyres ad infinitum in quali. And RB hasn't turned up the wick PU-wise and we know they have an extra bit versus Merc.

It’s hard to say who has what over who. Mercedes likewise hasn’t turned up the wick.

With lack of testing, it’s hard to take away a ton of information from FP1 and FP2 due to teams running different programs / power levels, especially with the tire and PU rules being what they are in terms of allotment / mileage.

I don’t expect Alpine to be in the top 6 tomorrow.

[dans79]

Was Verstappen on soft or medium tyre in his last lap?

Softs!

[mkay]

VER seems to have the upper hand on the mediums. He's the only one lapping consistently sub/low 1:23s.

[dans79]

Merc is doing something different today on the long medium runs. Bottas was 7 to 8 tenths faster per lap. They must be playing with fuel loads or power modes.