The first ones on the track today are probably the two slowest ones as both Haas' get out there - Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.

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Seb, Bucks: Got to say that Alpine car is the best looking on the grid! Love that livery. Nice to see them up in the places this weekend!

Seb, we had a series of votes over the first race weekend of the season to decide the best looking car of the season - and the winner was...the Williams (pictured below - I thought Aston Martin would've had it in the bag).

We'll be running more votes over other F1-related issues at times this season, but not this week.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go with the start of today's action. Third practice. One hour.

Karl, Plymouth: Looking forward to seeing how Perez shapes up, both this weekend and through the first half of the season. On paper one has to see him as a contender surely.

Please remember to stick your names on texts, thanks.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

What did Friday practice tell us about the shape of the weekend to come? As always, the picture painted is an impressionistic one but it portrays what looks set to be a very close fight at the front of the field. Lewis Hamilton topped a practice session for the first time this year, but the patterns of their performance vary.

Mercedes are quicker in the slow corners, Red Bull in the faster ones. On the straights, there is nothing to choose between them. But conditions were tricky, a gusting wind and slippery track making life extremely uncomfortable for the drivers, and neither Hamilton nor Max Verstappen were especially happy with their day. It’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top - and the season continues to bubble nicely.

What is the weather looking like in Portimao today for third practice and qualifying?

Here's BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson with the latest...

"Air temp at Portimao is 17C and the track 28C. Dry conditions will prevail throughout the weekend. The NNW wind today will tend to pick-up this afternoon and into qualifying."

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BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

We've got commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra so press the play button at the top of this page to listen along to our team of Jack Nicholls, Jolyon Palmer and Andrew Benson.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

It emerged late on Friday evening that all the Formula 1 drivers are joining this weekend’s boycott of social media, in protest at online abuse. Some - for example Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo and several others - have been explicit about it.

Others - Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas etc - have been less precise about their actions but very clear about their opposition to hate of all descriptions. But the effect is the same.

All are off social media for the duration of the weekend. F1 as a sport is not, nor are the teams - preferring to promote inclusivity and fairness in their own way. They have left the drivers to take their own stand on the matter.

If you want to get your messages in our pages this weekend then the way to do so is by texting us on 81111.

Send us your observations and thoughts. Also, we'll be talking about Lewis Hamilton going for 100 pole positions later on, so which of his current 99 stand out for you and why?

After two races of the 2021 season, we have Mercedes at the top of both the Drivers' Championship and the Constructors' Championship.

Image source, .

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Lewis Hamilton headed Max Verstappen by 0.143 seconds to lead the way in second practice at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

The second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas was third quickest, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and the Alpines of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.

It is the first time this season that Hamilton has topped a practice session.

And the day suggested there will be another close fight between Mercedes and Red Bull at the front.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to set the pace in first practice at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Bottas was 0.025 seconds ahead of Verstappen and 0.319secs quicker than his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The seven-time champion was fifth fastest, behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton was struggling with his car, trying a number of times to improve but never managing to get a lap together.

Hello and thanks for joining us for BBC Sport's coverage of third practice and then qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

We have third practice at 12:00 BST and qualifying at 15:00 with live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra of both sessions.

It was a good day yesterday for Mercedes so let's have a quick look back at Friday's action.

Image source, Getty Images

June 9, 2007 - a 22-year-old Lewis Hamilton, competing in only his sixth ever Formula 1 race weekend, took pole position for the very first time at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Image source, Getty Images

Now, nearly 14 years and seven world championships later, Hamilton could well claim the 100th pole position of his career - an achievement that may never be equalled.