When F1 champion performed THIS start in beloved circuit set to return

A few days ago, Luís Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal, confirmed his intention to bring the Portimão circuit back to Formula 1 from 2027, following its brief appearance on the calendar in 2020 after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

''We have secured the organization of the MotoGP, the royal class of motorsports worldwide, for 2025 and 2026, and I can tell you that we have everything ready to officially make the return of Formula 1 to the Algarve in 2027,'' he said about it at a festival.

The Portuguese Grand Prix, in addition to the 2020 edition won by Lewis Hamilton, was also held the following year, again with the seven-time world champion taking victory, before disappearing from the calendar to host only MotoGP events.

In addition to the double win by the former Mercedes driver, the Portimão race is also remembered by fans for Kimi Raikkönen’s remarkable start in 2020.

Starting from sixteenth on the grid, the former world champion—and the last to win a title with the Maranello team—made a lightning-fast getaway, overtaking several cars within just a few corners.

By the end of the first lap, the Finnish driver had overtaken even more cars, starting the second lap already in sixth place, completing a total of ten overtakes.

The rest of the race was relatively uneventful for him, and the former Alfa Romeo driver finished in eleventh place, just outside the points.

Check the video here.