Portugal: pre-qualifying 2020

 

In surprising news, Haas is to drop both its drivers for financial reasons. Coincidentally, this may also lead to a driver lineup that crashes less frequently.

Also, there are rumours Perez might be off to Williams next year. If I were Red Bull and had an Albon/Perez choice, not sure I’d be sticking. There remain, of course, open Haas seats, though I’m not sure what Perez’s financial situation is.

In first practice Bottas was quickest yet again, a third of a second ahead of his team mate. Verstappen was next but four-tenths off Hamilton, with Leclerc, Albon, and Sainz following closely. Perez, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, and Gasly rounded out the top 10.

Second practice also had Bottas top, six-tenths ahead of Verstappen, with Norris two-tenths further back. Leclerc, Sainz, and Vettel were next, raising the possibility of a Ferrari-McLaren tussle for best of the rest. Gasly, Hamilton, Ocon, and Albon followed.

Bottas was also fastest in third practice, a whole two-hundredths ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen was only a tenth and a half off the ultimate pace but I still can’t see much beyond a Hamilton pole, with the outside chance of Bottas getting it. Gasly was only a tenth off the Dutchman, followed by Albon, Leclerc, Sainz, Perez, Norris, and Ocon.

No qualifying tip once again, which has been usual this year due to the way things are, alas.

Morris Dancer

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