F1 qualifying has a Mercedes at the top — but it's not Lewis Hamilton.
Valtteri Bottas took home his first pole position for the 2021 season after just edging out Lewis Hamilton on Saturday.
VALTTERI BOTTAS IS ON POLE❗️
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2021
A storming lap delivers the Finn pole position ahead of Hamilton (P2) and Verstappen (P3) ⚡️#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/mEJan9JuI1
Rounding out the top three are Hamilton and Max Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver pushing the pack once again after an intense quali session in Portimao. Hamilton and Verstappen split the first two races of the season, providing for early drama entering Round 3.
MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Here's how the drivers will line up on Saturday:
Formula 1 starting lineup for 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Red Bull's Max Verstappen took the poll after an exciting qualifying for the first race weekend of the 2021 F1 marathon this year, but Lewis Hamilton returns to his throne atop the F1 grid for Saturday's race.
| Position | Driver (Team) |
|---|---|
| 1. | Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) |
| 2. | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 3. | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| 4. | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) |
| 5. | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) |
| 6. | Esteban Ocon (Alpine) |
| 7. | Lando Norris (McLaren) |
| 8. | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| 9. | Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) |
| 10. | Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) |
| 11. | George Russell (Williams) |
| 12. | Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) |
| 13. | Fernando Alonso (Alpine) |
| 14. | Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) |
| 15. | Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) |
| 16. | Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) |
| 17. | Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) |
| 18. | Nicholas Latifi (Williams) |
| 19. | Mick Schumacher (Haas) |
| 20. | Nikita Mazepin (Haas) |
What channel is the F1 race on Sunday?
- Race: Portuguese Grand Prix
- Date: Sunday, May 2, 2021
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: WatchESPN, fuboTV
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2021 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with a few races heading to ABC later in the season.
In addition, ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2021 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start on Sunday?
- Date: Sunday, May 2
- Start time: 10 a.m. ET
The 10 a.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the Portuguese GP will start at 3:00 p.m. local time. The on-the-hour start time means lights out will likely take place around 10:05 a.m. ESPN's pre-race show usually airs in the hour prior to the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the Emilia Romagna GP. All times are Eastern.
| Date | Event | Time | TV channel |
| Friday, April 30 | Practice 1 | 6:30 a.m. | ESPNU |
| Friday, April 30 | Practice 2 (Qualifying) | 10 a.m. | ESPNU |
| Saturday, May 1 | Practice 3 | 7 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, May 1 | Qualifying | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, May 2 | Race | 10 a.m. | ESPN |
Formula 1 live stream for Portuguese Grand Prix
For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are four major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the four, Hulu and YouTubeTV offer free trial options.Formula 1 live stream for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Below are links to each.
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
Formula 1 schedule 2021
Formula 1 returns in 2021 with a zaftig 23 race schedule, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, and concluding with the customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 12.
The Portuguese Grand Prix returns for its second-consecutive running after a 22-year absence. Also making its debut this year is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix taking pace on the Jeddah Street Circuit, scheduled for December.
All times Eastern.
| Date | Race | Course | Start time | TV channel | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 | Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes |
| April 18 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari | 9 a.m. | TBD | Max Verstappen, Red Bull |
| May 2 | Portuguese Grand Prix | Algarve International Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| May 9 | Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| May 23 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| June 6 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| June 13 | Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 2 p.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| June 27 | French Grand Prix | Circuit Paul Ricard | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| July 4 | Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| July 18 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| Aug. 1 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| Aug. 29 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 5 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 12 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Sept. 26 | Russian Grand Prix | Sochi Autodrom | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 3 | Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 10 | Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 1 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Oct. 24 | United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3 p.m. | ABC | TBD |
| Oct. 31 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 3 p.m. | ABC | TBD |
| Nov. 7 | Brazilian Grand Prix | Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace | Noon | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Nov. 21 | Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 1 a.m. | ESPN News | TBD |
| Dec. 5 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Street Circuit | 11 p.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |
| Dec. 12 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN2 | TBD |