What do we know about Portimao? Although it was finished relatively recently, in 2008, it’s very much in the old school: lots of changes of elevation and 15 very different corners totalling a lap length of 4.6 kilometres (although many other configurations are possible too, as is the way with most modern tracks). And of course, this is the circuit that will – unexpectedly – host round 12 of the Formula 1 World Championship from October 23-25, with the F1 calendar having been extensively reworked as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Portimao should put on quite a show; thanks also to a wide track that should help overtaking. But the main reason to celebrate is the fact that Formula 1 is once more returning to Portugal: a country with an untrammelled passion for motorsport, where F1 has been absent since 1996. On that occasion, Jacques Villeneuve won the 16th Portuguese Grand Prix for Williams. And that’s still the last one that’s been held to date.