Portuguese GP 2020

OCTOBER 25, 2020

Race Notes - Hamilton wins Portugal, takes win record

Lewis Hamilton, Portuguese GP 2020
© Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

By Mark Karp

Lewis Hamilton won the Portuguese Grand Prix today in his Mercedes GP, taking his 92nd career wins, overtaking Michaerl Schumacher for most career victories. Valtteri Bottas was second 25.592 seconds behind and Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda was third, 34.508 seconds behind the winner.

Hamilton has won his 92 wins in 262 starts, winning 35% of his starts, and has won six world championships, and leads the championship by 77 points, looking for his seventh title this season.

Charles Leclerc (1m05.312s) in the Ferrari was fourth, followed by Pierre Gasly (1 lap) in the AlphaTauri-Honda in fifth place, Carlos Sainz in the McLaren-Renault in sixth, Sergio Perez in the Racing Point-Mercedes in seventh, Esteban Ocon in the Renault in eighth, his team mate Daniel Ricciardo in ninth, and Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari in the final points position in tenth.

Before the start the weather was windy and couldy, and tempetures lower than yesterday, with Hamilton on pole with his team mate Bottas alongside on row 1, Verstappen and Leclerc on row 2, Perez and Albon on row 3, the McLaren’s of Sainz and Norris on row 4, and Gasly and Ricciardo rounding out the top ten. Hamilton, Bottas and Leclerc start on medium tyres, Verstappen and the rest of the top ten starting on soft tyres. The fastest projected strategy a one-stopper with medium and hard tyres.

Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacher for most career wins, and could move into the top position today.

At the appointed time the field came around to the grid, the lights went off and the race began with Hamilton takes rhe lead, Verstappen battles Bottas for second. Perez and Verstappen make contact and Perez is out.

It is starting to rain at turn 2 and 3, Bottas gets past Hamilton. Later in the lap Sainz on soft tyres gets past Bottas and takes the lead.

At lap 3 Sainz leads Bottas, Hamilton Norris amd Verstappen.

On lap 5 Verstappen passes Norris for fourth.

On lap 6 Bottas passes Sainz for the lead. Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m21.969s.

On lap 7 Hamilton passes Sainz as well for second place. Verstapppen is challenging Sainz, and passes him on the start-finish straight.

Hamilton trails Bottas by 1.8 seconds.

On lap 8 Bottas sets fast lap at 1m21.642s.

Leclerc passes Norris for fifth. Gasly passes Raikkonen for eighth place.

Stroll is given the black and white flag for track limits. Stroll passes Raikkonen for ninth.

Leclerc passes Sainz for fourth.

At lap 10 Bottas leads Hamilton by 2.0 seconds, followed by Verstappen (6.6s), Leclerc (12.6s). Sainz (14.6s), Norris (17.8s), Gasly (18.8s) in seventh.

Gasly passes Norris for sixth.

On lap 15 Ricciardo pits from ninth and changes to medium tyres and rejoins in 19th.

Hamilton complains about his left front tyre.

Stroll is battling with Norris.

On lap 16 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m21.366s, and trails Bottas by 1.4 seconds, and fast lap again the next lap at 1m21.317s.

Stroll makes a attempt to Norris, spins but continues.

Hamilton closes on Bottas in the lead.

On lap 20 Hamilton passes Bottas in the DRS zone.

Albon pits and changes to medium tyres.

At lap 20 Hamilton leads Bottas by 1.5s, followed by Verstappen (12.8s), Leclerc (15.9s), Gasly (28.0s), Sainz (30.5s), Ocon (37.1s), Vettel (40.7s), Russell (45.7s) and Giovinazzi (48.3s) in tenth place.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m21.134s.

There are reports again of some rain sprinkles.

On lap 23 Perez passes Giovinazzi for tenth.

Verstappen pits from third place for medium tyres and rejoins in sixth. Stroll is handed a 5-second penalty for contact with Norris.

On lap 24 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m21.023s, and again the next lap at 1m20.775s.

Sainz pits from fifth for medium tyres and rejoins in 14th.

On lap 28 Vettel pits for medium tyres and rejoins 15th. Gasly Giovinazzi pit.

Gasly takes medium tyres and rejoins in eighth.

Hamiton sets fast lap at 1m20.537s.

Ricciardo passes Gasly for eighth.

At lap 30 Hamilton leads Bottas by 7.5 seconds, followed by Leclerc (25.6s), Verstappen (46.6s), Ocon (55.0s), Perez (56.1s), Russell (1m05.7s), Ricciardo (1m13.5s), Gasly (1m15.2s) and Raikkonen (1m18.9s) in tenth place.

Stroll is given another 5-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

Sainz passes Raikkonen for tenth place.

On lap 34 Ocon and Perez battle for fifth place, and Perez take the place.

Leclerc pits from third place, for hard tyres and rejoins behind Verstappen in fourth.

On lap 36 Stroll pits for soft tyres and serves his 10-second penalty.

Russell pits for medium tyres and rejoins in 14th.

Bottas reports vibrations in his tyres.

At lap 40 Hamilton leads Bottas by 9.9 seconds, followed by Verstappen (49.5s), Leclerc (1m00.4s), Perez (1m04.4s), Ocon, Ricciardo, Gasly, Sainz and Raikkonen in tenth place.

Hamilton pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins in second.

The next lap Bottas pits for hard tyres as well and rejoins in second again.

McLaren tells Norris he has a slow puncture.

Gasly is battling with Ricciardo for seventh.

On lap 44 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m20.495s.

On lap 45 Gasly passes Ricciardo for seventh place.

On lap 45 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m20.457s.

Perez pits again from fifth place for soft tyres and rejoins in sixth place.

Hamilton goes faster the next lap at 1m20.366s.

Sainz passes Ricciardo for eighth place.

On lap 47 Bottas sets fast lap at 1m19.922s.

Russell passes Kvyat for 14th place.

On lap 49 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m19.921s.

At lap 50 Hamilton leads Bottas by 15.1 seconds, followed by Verstappen (23.7s), Leclerc (39.7s), Ocon (51.6s), yet to pit, Perez (1m10.9s), Gasly (1m14.3s), Sainz (1m16.5s), Ricciardo (1m19.4s) and Raikkonen (1 lap) in tenth place.

Russell gets past Giovinazzi for 13th place.

On lap 54 Stroll retires in the pits.

Ocon finally pits for soft tyres and rejoins eighth.

Vettel passes Raikkonen for tenth place.

Kvyat is handed a five-second penalty for track limits.

On lap 56 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m19.507s.

Hamilton reports to the team that he has a cramp.

On lap 60 Norris passes Russell for 13rth place.

At lap 60 Hamilton leads Bottas by 18.2 seconds, followed by Verstappen (28.ss), Leclerc (51.6s), Perez (1 lap), Gasly, Sainz, Ocon, Ricciardo and Vettel in tenth place.

On lap 60 Hamilton sets another fast lap at 1m19.484s, and again the next lap at 1m18.966s.

Reports of light rain in the pit lane.

On lap 63 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1n18.750s.

Gasly trys to pass Perez, and takes fifth place.

Across the finish Hamilton wins over Bottas and Verstappen.