Low-grip Algarve surface unlikely to improve much this weekend – Ricciardo

20 comments on “Low-grip Algarve surface unlikely to improve much this weekend – Ricciardo”

1. 

   Chaitanya
   24th October 2020, 3:41

   That low grip nature will cause some headaches when motogp arrives at Portimao in few weeks time. Few years back when Silverstone had resurfaced its track in favour of F1, track lost all of its grip and it turned into a safety nightmare for the MotoGP race(quite a few riders ended up in hospital even before the race) which ended up being cancelled and the organisers had to resurface the track once again. This cycle of circuit owners favouring F1 over MotoGP has been a big point of contention among Motogp riders with places like Red Bull Ring being downright dangerous which might end with death of riders.
   1. 

      Coventry Climax
      24th October 2020, 4:27

      The basketball-teams in Ulan-Batar however, will be more than happy with the new surface.
      Huh? Yeah, huh! I mean, aren’t you watching the wrong sports or visiting the wrong site?
      All drivers agree it’s a magnificent circuit, whole of portugal is as proud as can be, yet you need to complain on behalf of another sports?
      1. 

         Chaitanya
         24th October 2020, 4:50

         Promoters of Portimao circuit are promoting it as a track for motorcycle racing(WSBK races were hosted at this circuit in past) and that’s why like at other dual use circuits(COTA, Silverstone, Barcelona, Red Bull Ring) there are no astroturf anywhere on outside the kerbs and it retains gravel traps instead of concrete runoffs. Problem is the not the layout of the circuit rather the surface which is used for racing. Motorcycle racing and slippery tarmac are a bad mix, hopefully this weekend of F1 will help alleviate some grip issues.
         1. 

            Coventry Climax
            24th October 2020, 5:35

            I’m perfectly aware of november 22nd – and that it’s about a month away. But let’s complain when there’s something to complain about instead of in advance, shall we?
            I’m quite sure the Portimão people have thought about things before making the decision.
            1. 

               ColdFly (@)
               24th October 2020, 7:39

               let’s complain when there’s something to complain about

               This is the Internet though.

               Also I’m pleasantly surprised that a positive comment about the tyres has made it to the round-up.

               Bright sunny day here, and I wish all a happy day.
         2. 

            anon
            24th October 2020, 8:38

            Chaitanya, the problem at Silverstone was not so much the surface itself, but improper construction techniques that resulted in major drainage problems.

            The 2018 MotoGP race was cancelled because, when it began raining, the circuit would flood very quickly, which was the same reason why the circuit also had to cancel a series of GT and Formula 3 events around the same time. It wasn’t so much that the surface itself was slippery, but because the surface had been laid incorrectly and therefore the drainage systems failed to work as intended.

            As an aside, in the case of Silverstone it was not a case of “the circuit owners favouring Formula 1 over MotoGP” – it was in fact the polar opposite. The reason why Silverstone was resurfaced for the first time in 2018 was because the MotoGP series had asked Silverstone to smooth the circuit out as a precondition for signing a contract to hold MotoGP races.

            If you read what FIM – the motocycling equivalent of the FIA – said, they mentioned that, when the circuit was initially resurfaced in 2018, they asked Crutchlow to undertake a test in March and their initial inspections and feedback from that test was quite positive. However, those construction faults meant the circuit surface degraded quickly – it was never intended to perform in that manner.

            As for Portimao, the resurfacing works were never intended to be specifically to favour Formula 1 over MotoGP either. Paulo Pinheiro, the manager of the circuit, has confirmed that they were already planning to resurface the circuit anyway, as the current surface, which was laid in 2008, has not been touched since then and was reaching the end of its life (they work in 12-14 year cycles for resurfacing the track).

            In other words, this isn’t a case of the circuit owners resurfacing to favour Formula 1 over MotoGP – the circuit was always going to resurface the track anyway around this time, and it is more of a coincidence that the first Formula 1 race happens to coincide with those pre-planned works.
   2. 

      wsrgo (@wsrgo)
      24th October 2020, 4:29

      Who’s bright idea was it to race at the Red Bull Ring anyway? The first two sectors are basically long straights plunging into slow corners, like Monza. There’s a reason MotoGP doesn’t race at Monza.
      1. 

         Chaitanya
         24th October 2020, 4:40

         It was the owners of Red Bull Ring who approached FIM to host MotoGP and made claims of it being safe for motorcycle racing. Sure this years race showed how dangerous that circuit is especially the Hump of turn 1 and barriers on inside of turn 3.
2. 

   Coventry Climax
   24th October 2020, 4:34

   Slippery surface and Pirelli brought the hardest compounds. Somehow, that doesn’t sound like the right choice – again.
3. 

   Jay
   24th October 2020, 5:22

   And then these very drivers and their fans rave about how such challenging grip conditions sort out the greats from the good drivers.
   Typical F1.
4. 

   Matthijs (@matthijs)
   24th October 2020, 6:48

   @keithcollantine: “I don’t think there’s much chance Magnussen will end up taking Albon’s place at Red Bull. It’s obviously not even worth speculating that he might take over the other Red Bull seat. Though if he did, it would be payback for what happened to his dad at the same team in 1998…“

   Imagine the amount of payback it would be if Magnussen would take over Verstappen’s place at Red Bull. Now that would be poetic justice… :)
5. 

   Jere (@jerejj)
   24th October 2020, 7:22

   People should stop complaining about the choice of Vitaly Petrov as the driver steward for this event already. He’s there for his role and the track action, not for political reasons, so people should leave that matter aside entirely.
   1. 

      XMG (@)
      24th October 2020, 7:40

      @jerejj nobody sensible is questioning Petrov’s credentials or ability to do the job.

      The issue is F1 appointing someone who has publicly made statements that clearly undermine their own diversity and inclusion strategy, macking a mockery of the whole thing.
      1. 

         ColdFly (@)
         24th October 2020, 10:10

         @sparkyamg, which quote from Petrov undermine the diversity and inclusion strategy of FIA/FOM? (Sincere question)
         I read the (translated) interview a few days ago, and whilst I disagree with him or at least find his words/example ill chosen, I did not read anything ‘undermining’ into it.
         But maybe I’m gullible.
         1. 

            XMG (@)
            24th October 2020, 14:25

            @coldfly It’s his comment about ‘urging everyone to become gay’ – used as a comparison to Hamilton pushing the anti-racism agenda – that implies that he believes that the latter is similarly ridiculous. In my eyes I’d view that as undermining the #WeRaceAsOne initiative.

            In any case, the FIA have defended their choice and Petrov’s ability to do the job, but haven’t gone as far as to pass comment on what was said.
            1. 

               ColdFly (@)
               24th October 2020, 17:55

               I read that (translated) interview quite differently, @sparkyamg.
               (Based on a specific question) Petrov was critical of Hamilton wearing the ‘arrest the police officers’ t-shirt and that Hamilton was “calling everyone to kneel”.
               He then compared that (2nd bit) to a gay driver to “urge everyone to become gay”.

               As I said above, it is not a smart comparison. But I cannot see (in this interview) where he attacks people being gay or using the rainbow flag.
               He is just very critical of Hamilton urging other drivers to do as he does (the kneeling).
   2. 

      ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
      24th October 2020, 9:57

      Now is the perfect time to complain about such things.
      It is not fun to watch the FIA shoot itself in the foot repeatedly.
   3. 

      Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
      24th October 2020, 10:07

      You should shut up that’s for sure . A man who sneers at the rainbow and asks does it mean we all have to be gay has no place anywhere. They need to be outed and F1 is a great high profile place to silence views that bully intimidate and exclude just because they are not white and straight. It’s medieval and people like you need to get onside or get lost. Both preferably.
   4. 

      Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
      24th October 2020, 12:52

      Not to mention that Petrov said nothing wrong. In fact Petrov said alot of right things, does not mean that f1’s and Ham’s initiatives come from a bad place either.
6. 

   Mark Zastrow (@markzastrow)
   24th October 2020, 21:14

   Loving the 24 Hours of Spa approach to track limits. As long as it’s deemed safe, let them use all the pavement.

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