F1: Portuguese Grand Prix, competition

Hamilton breaks Schumacher’s record for victories (Photo: AFP)

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Although Valtteri Bottas was remarkably ahead of his teammate the entire way, Lewis Hamilton achieved pole position at the Portuguese Grand Prix, which he returned after 24 years. Thus, for the 97th time in his career, the British driver was able to wait for the leader’s red lights to go off, while the Finn had to start on the dirtiest side of the track. Behind the “silver arrows” that start in medium mixes, soft attackers Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who achieved fantastic results with Ferrari and started on yellow sidewall tires like Mercedes, could take their place.

His Monaco had to look back, though, as Sergio Perez, who finished fourth in fifth over the past two racing weekends, and Alexander Albon, who was forced sixth to prove, were able to make it to the race. 66 laps. after which he manages to become a monarch.

Although the arrival of the rain was foreseen after the fall, the preparation circle started dripping rain which caused quite a stir in the first few laps. Hamilton in vain he kept driving, after a few laps he drove only in third place, after falling back to third position for a few moments Bottas I took advantage of that Verstappen Y Perez he found himself, and on the wet track he was ahead of his teammate who was slipping slightly, who was then Carlos Sainz Jr. he also instructed behind him. However, the Spanish driver did not stop after overtaking Hamilton, Bottast He also targeted him and then took the lead!

At the end of the first round, Sainz, Bottas, Hamilton, Norris and Verstappen thus formed in the top five, while further back Kimi raikkonen he won many positions in the opening laps by going from 16th to 6th with a parade march. However, when the rain slowly stopped, the Mercedes came to life and Bottas also took the lead on lap 6. Sainz then lost more positions in later rounds, first Hamilton, then with Verstappen on the contrary, so that behind the two Mercedes the Dutch closed their first three rows.

Bottas also led, but finished at a great disadvantage in second place (Photo: AFP)

A Finnish After the confusion, he built a 2-second lead over Hamilton and was able to maintain his lead for a long time, but the British closed in on his teammate on lap 20 and soon left the 77th Mercedes behind him, resulting in in took the initiative. Hamilton then ripped Bottas off at a great pace, while backing off. Walk Lance Y Norris got stuck. He tried to overtake from the Canadian outer corner but turned and the two cars collided, injuring Racing Point and McLaren’s front wing. The case was also investigated by sports supervisors and With a time penalty of 5 seconds Strollt was hit for causing an accident.

The Canadian then picked up another 5 second penalty, after failing to comply with the field limits even after several warnings, he received a similar penalty Romain grosjean Y Danyiil Kvjat is.

Regarding strategies, from the forefront Verstappen stood out for the first time in return, the Dutch got medium tires on lap 24 while shifting on lap 30 Hamilton, excelling in round 31 Bottas Y Leclerc He also continued on hard tires.

After the first wheel changes, Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Leclerc and Ocon top 5-I, while with Verstappen after the start, and after a collision classified as a race accident by sports supervisors, backing up to the end of the field. Perez He broke down to sixth with a great run and then qualified fifth shortly after repairing another place.

Backward Vettel fought for last scoring place Räikkönennel, the German driver climbed to 10th position ten laps before the end, although the Finn did not break the Ferrari, so the four-time world champion had to be careful not to make a mistake. However, Vettel did not waver and held his position, not as Perez, who also lost two places in the final laps after being overtaken first by Pierre Gasly and then by Sainz after a great battle.

The leader, meanwhile, fought for the fastest lap at the end of the race, with the positive point finally It was marked by Hamilton, who, driving safely, was the first to cross the finish line at Portimao with an advantage of more than 25 seconds. With their recent victory, the British broke Schumacher’s record (91), making him now dominant. Mercedes’ fourth double success this year was completed by Bottas, while Verstappen was able to climb to the last step of the podium, as a result of which the “silver arrows” have yet to secure the design title.

Behind them, Leclerc finished the big weekend, followed by Gasly, Sainz, Pérez, Ocon, Ricciardo and Vettel. in the top ten, that is, both Ferraris scored points.

Raikkonen The parade finished 11th after the first few laps, while Albon, who was carried away by the burden of proof, also finished 12th after receiving a lap from his teammate.

Perez and Gasly’s end-of-career incident will be investigated by sports supervisors after the crash.

Continue next week In Imola, where the first two-day racing weekend will take place!