Hamilton Seeks Record 92nd Win On F1's Return To Portugal
Faizan Hashmi Published October 22, 2020 | 08:20 AM
Portimao, Portugal, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Oct, 2020 ) :Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes seek to continue their record-making progress as Formula One escapes in search of some autumnal sunshine at this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit.
Two weeks after shivering at the Nurburgring where the six-time champion drew level with Michael Schumacher on 91 wins, the travelling circus hopes also to avoid any contact with the growing second wave of Covid-19 across Europe.
The local organisers of the race, which marks Portugal's return to the Calendar for the first time in 24 years since Jacques Villeneuve's stirring victory at Estoril in 1996 and Portimao's debut as an F1 race circuit, said there will be 27,500 spectators at the track each day under strictly-controlled conditions.
Little more than a week after Racing Point's Canadian driver Lance Stroll was revealed to have tested positive for coronavirus after falling ill and missing the Eifel Grand Prix, there is understandable concern at so many attending.
The lure of seeing Hamilton win a record 92nd race and Mercedes take an unprecedented seventh constructors' championship is a major attraction, though the team's triumph and celebrations are likely to be delayed by at least a week to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
Hamilton has a simple goal to claim his record win, but Mercedes need to outscore Red Bull by 40 points, a feat that would require a near perfect showing and a flop from Max Verstappen.
If Hamilton triumphs, he would be the second driver to claim the record for winning most Grand Prix races in Portugal - four-time champion Frenchman Alain Prost having surpassed three-time champion Jackie Stewart's total of 27 wins at Estoril in 1987.
A Mercedes team success would also need Valtteri Bottas to be at his best and enjoy better fortune than he had in Germany where a power unit failure dimmed his title hopes.
Team boss Toto Wolff, who this week rejected suggestions that he is planning his own F1 outfit, said Mercedes had identified a "failed electrical component" as the problem.
Few of the current field of F1 drivers have raced at the undulating Portimao track apart from some in junior formula events, but Hamilton has normally impressed with his ability to learn and shine on new circuits.
- Stroll return - Stroll's likely return has been supported by his Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer as he, along with all team members, has tested negative ahead of this weekend's contest.
"All members of the team at the Eifel Grand Prix returned to the UK via a private charter flight and all tested negative upon arrival and again in a pre-event test for the Portuguese Grand Prix," said Szafnauer.
Stroll became the second Racing Point driver to have contracted Covid-19 this year, Sergio Perez having missed both Silverstone races in July.
In a statement about the attendance, the Portuguese government said the circuit had a capacity for 90,000 and fans would be seated with "safe spacing" in sectors of about 800.
One team hoping a return to Portugal brings a change in fortunes is likely to be Williams who won four of the last five races held at Estoril, including 1996 when Villeneuve led team-mate and world champion Damon Hill home in a famous one-two.
Williams, under new American ownership following the Williams family's decision to sell, are without a point this season.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
1 day ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
3 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
3 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
3 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
10 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
10 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
13 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago