Agent47 Posted October 25, 2020 Posted October 25, 2020 Mercedes boss Wolff on the unknown elements for F1's first race at Portimao "It's interesting that it's warmer than all the predictions said," Toto tells Sky F1 with half an hour until lights out. "But nobody really knows, it's like flying blind [on strategy]. The soft tyre doesn't seem to go long. Is it a one-stop with a hard [second stint]? But then the hard has a long heating up process until they are in the window. "We are juggling some balls and they are all up in the air." Will Max Verstappen's soft tyres for the start make a difference against the medium-shod Mercs on the run to Turn One? "He knows how to do it there, he came out undamaged! joked Wolff in reference to Max's clash with Lance Stroll into T1 on Friday. "The start-finish straight is not really long so it all depends how you are getting off the line. With the soft tyre maybe you are having a little bit of an advantage." "It could be a historic day, and the statistical omens look very good for Lewis Hamilton. "Not just because he's on pole, where he has been for 37% of his 262 race starts and where his first win came from back in Canada in 2007, but also because he's got an excellent record at circuits we go to for the first time in Formula 1. "He won the first race in Austin in 2012, Sochi in 2014, the return to Paul Ricard in 2018 and Mugello this year." 13:32 PIT-LANE OPEN AT PORTIMAO The wind is picking up as the cars exit the pits for the first time today on their way to the grid. There is a small threat of rain today, although not until later in the 66-lap race. 13:30 Russell continues to shine amid 2021 speculation Williams' acting team boss somewhat inadvertently added fuel to the fire surrounding speculation about George Russell's future at the team on Friday, amid rumours that Sergio Perez could end up at Grove at the Englishman's expense. But whatever happens there, it would certainly be a big shame if Russell ended up not on the grid next year given his ever-impressive form in the Williams this season. He made Q2 for the seventh time in 12 races yesterday, and even outqualified Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari too. Those maiden F1 points remain elusive, but could today be the day if we have a Mugello-like afternoon of racing on F1's maiden GP at Portimao? 1
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