Portimao (Portugal) (AFP)

Finland's Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) dominated the first day of testing for the Portuguese F1 Grand Prix with the fastest time in each of the two sessions on Friday at the Algarve circuit.

His teammate Lewis Hamilton, who will become in the event of victory on Sunday the absolute record holder for the number of Grand Prix victories with 92 successes (against 91 for Michael Schumacher), could not do better than the 8th time in the afternoon after getting the 2nd in the morning.

The afternoon session was marked by two interruptions: the first to evacuate the Alpha Tauri of French Pierre Gasly from the track which had caught fire and the second following a collision between Max Verstappen (Red Bull ) and Lance Stroll (Racing Point).

The two drivers collided as the Dutchman tried to overtake the Canadian at the end of the straight line of the 1.4 kilometer long circuit.

If Verstappen immediately unleashed a series of insults against his rival through his on-board radio, the two were summoned by the commissioners at the end of the meeting to explain themselves and receive a possible sanction. .

All the drivers and teams were discovering the Portuguese circuit registered for the first time on the calendar of the F1 world championship this year to make up for other races canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The track all in unevenness received praise from the pilots even if some noted the number of blind turns.

- New tires -

The two sessions on Friday were held in beautiful and dry weather which should be maintained for qualifying on Saturday.

Sunday's race, however, could see the onset of wind and downpours.

the second session served partly as a test bed for the tires that the Italian manufacturer Pirelli, which equips the entire field, would like to use next year.

The aim is to reduce the wear on the gums which has proved to be a decisive element in several races this season.

If he won the race on Sunday, Hamilton, in addition to the all-time record for F1 victories, would also come close to a 7th world title, which is as much as the German legend.

The Briton is currently 69 points ahead of Bottas with six rounds to go before the end of the season.

Mercedes, which has been crushing the world championship since the appearance of hybrid engines in 2014, can also obtain a 7th consecutive constructors' title at Portimao in the event of a poor performance by its closest rival, Red Bull.

As usual at the end of the season, rumors about driver transfers fueled conversations in the paddock.

After the announcement Thursday that the American team Haas would not renew its two drivers, the French Romain Grosjean and the Danish Kevin Magnussen, the case of George Russell (Williams) served as a common thread for this Friday.

The British team was recently bought by an investment fund.

The young Briton and the Canadian Nicholas Latifi have in principle one contract each for 2021, but the new team boss, Simon Roberts, refused on Friday to confirm that these contracts would be honored.

© 2020 AFP