Algarve to be resurfaced ahead of F1 Portuguese GP

Algarve was used for F1 testing in the winter of 2008-09, and the teams have not returned since - although Mercedes ran a W06 there on demo tyres for George Russell and Nicholas Latifi in April 2017.

The resurfacing also creates an extra challenge for Pirelli, as the Italian company now has to prepare for the four European venues that have been added to the 2020 calendar, with Mugello, Nurburgring and Imola all joining the schedule at a late stage.

F1 race director Michael Masi is scheduled to visit the Algarve circuit in mid-September, after the resurfacing work has been completed.

Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola says the Algarve track would be tough on tyres even without the new surface generating extra grip.

"Portimao is the highest severity circuit of the new ones," said Isola when asked by Autosport.

"It's hard on tyres, it's hard in terms of of layout, and also the tarmac is abrasive.

"They are going to resurface the track at the end of August, they are planning a complete resurface of the circuit.

"The target is to have an asphalt that is similar to the one we have now, but we know a new asphalt is always different from an old one.

"For example the level of bitumen that you have on top of new asphalt is a lot more than on old asphalt.

"That is why we will nominate the three hardest compounds - it's not confirmed, but it will be as soon as we agree the compounds together with the FIA.

"The feeling is that we have to go with the hardest compounds.

"The other point, and we won't discover that until we get to Portimao, is that with the new tarmac we'll have a much higher level of grip, and much lower wear.

"And that means we have a lot of heat in the tread, and that is something that the teams will have to manage during the weekend."

Pirelli has recently visited Mugello with Ferrari, and Imola with AlphaTauri, and thus has some recent knowledge of the Italian venues.

However, it last ran its F1 tyres at the Nurburgring in the V8 era in 2013.