Formula 1 Returns To The Algarve

The worlds biggest motorsport competition has arrived in Portugal, for the third race of this year. Trucks and engine teams’ mobile homes already fill the parking lot of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and paddock, ready for the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prémio de Portugal, taking place this weekend.

The first two races of the 2021 season were marked by intensified competition between Max Red Bull driver Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Both with 1 victory won in the season so far, it seems that next Sunday we will see a very intense race.

In his last race in Portugal, Hamilton became the driver with the most victories in F1 history, the year he won his 7th world title, becoming then the driver with the most victories ever (92), surpassing the record that belonged to the German Michael Schumacher . This weekend could be marked by another Lewis Hamilton record, who could become the first F1 driver to reach 100 pole positions.

With the competition between the remaining riders on the grid tighter than ever, the weekend promises to be marked by an unforgettable race, on Sunday starting at 3 pm.

Traffic restrictions at the main accesses to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA), in Portimão, will be in place and monitored by the GNR between 6pm Thursday,  and the end of Sunday 2nd May, “with the passage of only residents and people accredited to the event being authorised.”

“Due to the situation of the pandemic [Covid-19], the passage of vehicles and all persons that do not present valid justification will be prohibited”, explains the GNR spokesperson.

GNR will set up ‘control points’ on the routes next to the junction of the A22 (Via Infante de Sagres) to Mexilhoeira Grande and on the junctions to the race track from the areas of Montes de Cima, Casas Velhas, Moinho da Rocha, Folga and Pereira.

According to the command of the GNR do Algarve, the plan deployed for the event, the third round of the Formula 1 World Championship, “is similar to what was implemented” two weeks ago at the time of the MotoGP race on the Algarve circuit.

“There are about a hundred military personnel who will be on the ground daily integrated into the security plan”, he pointed out.

Security in the immediate vicinity and within the AIA will be ensured by the various guards, namely the traffic divisions, criminal, territorial, man/dog patrols, and police on horseback.

The 18th edition of the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1 will take place, between Friday and Sunday, at the AIA, in Portimão, for the second consecutive year, after being held at the city circuit of Boavista, in 1958, in Monsanto, in the following year, and in Estoril, between 1984 and 1996.

The Algarve circuit will host the third race of the World Championship, after the races in Bahrain, won by Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), and in Italy, which ended with the victory of the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

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Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/