Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton gained the Portuguese Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday to stretch his Method One lead over Pink Bull`s Max Verstappen to eight factors after three races.
Verstappen completed second on the Algarve circuit with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas finishing the rostrum, and taking a bonus level for the quickest lap, after ranging from pole place.
Verstappen’s Mexican staff mate Sergio Perez was fourth.
The victory was a record-extending 97th of Hamilton’s profession, second of the yr and repeated his win on the identical circuit final season.
The second @LewisHamilton took his second win of 2021! #PortugueseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/wBl2oQauAb
— Method 1 (@F1) Might 2, 2021
“That was such a tricky race, bodily and mentally, simply maintaining every little thing collectively. It was very windy on the market so it was very simple to place a foot flawed,” stated Hamilton, who began on the entrance row with Bottas.
“I simply didn`t fairly get nearly as good a begin as Valtteri after which misplaced out on the re-start, which was not good. I used to be not joyful about that.”
The protection automobile was deployed on lap two after the Alfa Romeos of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi made contact, with particles left on the observe and the sector streaming via the pitlane.
When racing resumed, Verstappen pounced to go Hamilton for second place however the Briton seized again the place 5 laps later. He then swept previous Bottas on observe on lap 20 of 66 and took the chequered flag 29.148 seconds away from Verstappen after the Dutch driver pitted in a bid for quickest lap on recent, delicate tyres.
— Method 1 (@F1) Might 2, 2021
“I needed to make the transfer early on earlier than the tyres had been destroyed and managed to only get him in Flip One,” stated Hamilton of the important thing overtake earlier than his pitstop. “Proper on the restrict, however nice race.”
Perez and Bottas each pitted within the closing laps to try to bag the bonus level.
Verstappen thought he had it however his lap time was deleted for going large, with former racer Paul di Resta breaking the unhealthy information within the post-race interviews. The one comfort was that it didn’t go to Hamilton.
McLaren`s Lando Norris was fifth with Charles Leclerc sixth for Ferrari, adopted by Alpine pairing Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo completed ninth for McLaren, after beginning 16th, and Pierre Gasly took the ultimate level for AlphaTauri.