Portuguese GP qualifying delayed after drain cover issue
The start of Formula 1 qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix has been delayed to allow track repairs to be completed at Portimao.

Final practice was red-flagged with one minute remaining on the clock after a drain cover came up at the exit of Turn 14 when Sebastian Vettel ran wide in his Ferrari.
Vettel reported to his team that the cover had come up, with the session being suspended soon after.
Race control confirmed 20 minutes before the scheduled start of qualifying in Portugal that the session would be delayed by 30 minutes until 2:30pm local time to allow track repairs to be conducted.
FIA race director Michael Masi was spotted on site at the corner along with a number of track workers and vehicles completing work on the loose drain cover to ensure it did not come up again.
Masi was joined at the corner by F1 sporting director Steve Nielsen and Eduardo Freitas, who is the race director in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
A complete check of the other drain covers around the circuit was also conducted during the delay to ensure no repeat of the issue at other corners.
The Autodromo Internacional Algarve underwent a complete resurfacing ahead of this year's race following its addition to the revised 2020 F1 calendar.
A number of drivers reported throughout practice they were struggling with the low grip conditions of the resurfaced track, with Carlos Sainz saying early in FP1 on Friday that it was "like Tokyo Drift".
"It's not a nice surface to drive," said Renault's Daniel Ricciardo after practice. "I guess it's just quite hard to feel it and making adjustments is tricky. We'll figure it out, but I think every driver is probably going to be complaining all weekend that the grip is low."
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen said he had noted a significant change in the grip levels of the track since a private test in a GT car earlier this year.
"When I was here in January, I thought it was a really great circuit, but they have laid new asphalt here and now there is very little grip," Verstappen said.
"We are just sliding and having these weird moments where the cars breaks away. If you just go into a corner slightly faster, suddenly there's just zero grip.
"So I have to say at the moment I don't like it very much."
Related video

Previous article
Ricciardo: Reliability will decide F1's fight for third
Next article
Portuguese GP qualifying as it happened

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | Portuguese GP |
Author | Luke Smith |
Portuguese GP qualifying delayed after drain cover issue
Trending
The Silver Arrows Story: Mercedes W09
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
Why Haas is willing to sacrifice its 2021 F1 season
Every Formula 1 team is facing the same difficult decision this season: how do you split precious aero development time between the current car and the all-new 2022 project?
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years