Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
- Pirelli’s tyre choice for Portuguese GP wasn’t “too hard”, Hamilton concedes
- Who are the top F1 juniors bidding for a grand prix debut in 2022?
- 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix Star Performers
- Race gains encourage Ricciardo after ‘unacceptable’ qualifying performance
- Sainz says top-five finish was possible after first no-score for Ferrari
Neutralino
2nd May 2021, 16:41
This is why we need Bottas out of that Mercedes.
Robbie (@robbie)
2nd May 2021, 16:52
Exactly. When Merc dominate a weekend VB still has no answer for LH nor Max. Much season to go of course but so far I still see no reason whatsoever to not put GR in that seat for next year.
ian dearing
2nd May 2021, 18:10
Not if you are a Max fan. This championship could be decided by the number of points the No2s take of their No1s. I don’t think Perez will take any of Max even if he is in a position to. RB would be silly if they allowed that. But I think Wolff will still play fair with Bottas at this stage of the season. And unlike Perez, if Bottas is in a prime position, he probably won’t give it up.
GeeMac (@geemac)
3rd May 2021, 6:56
I saw Bottas:
(a) Start from pole position.
(b) Get overtaken by a soon to be 8 time world champion.
(c) Lose out to Verstappen afgter his pitstop partly becaiuse the team cost him 1 second to Verstappen in the pits (Bottas’ stop was 3.3 seconds to Verstappen’s 2.3);
(d) Close to 1.2 seconds behind Verstappen before suffering a sensor issue that cost him 5 seconds; an
(e) Finish within 5 seconds of Verstappen.
Now I grant you I was frustrated he didn’t have more pace in the first stint, but given the person who beat him is the most successful driver of all time and that there were at least 2 major mitigating factors which contributed to him not finishing ahead of Verstappen, (a) why should be not be in that Mercedes and (b) who would do a better job than him?
MXMXD (@mxmxd)
2nd May 2021, 16:42
Verstappen was off-limits during his fastest lap.
LB (@burden93)
2nd May 2021, 16:45
He’s lost the lap. Bottas has fastest lap now
IamSleepyWill
2nd May 2021, 16:43
Max just had his fastest lap deleted!
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd May 2021, 16:43
I could see the lap time invalidation coming.
A decent effort by Alonso, albeit Sainz struggled with the medium.
SadF1fan
2nd May 2021, 16:46
3rd race in a row with track limit drama.
Get it right..
aezy_doc
2nd May 2021, 16:55
Bottas never ceases to underwhelm. When it matters he always makes the wrong decision or messes up somehow – first the pass from Hamilton he gave him far too much respect and space on the outside and over tightened his own apex. Then he inexplicably let Max up the inside after he’d lit up his tyres. To anyone else Max was always going to brake later and have more grip, so at least make him go round the outside! Later on the hards as he’s closing on Verstappen and even before his engine issue (whatever that was) I had no confidence he’d even get a run on Max or go for a move.
Not a great restart from Hamilton but a mistake from Verstappen let Lewis get the extra speed for the overtake and then a great move for the lead (Bottas making it a bit less difficult). Only 8 points in it and we go to Spain.
Marinated Monolith (@)
2nd May 2021, 16:58
Well, pretty sure this race just justified Haas’ decision in picking Mick.
A battle between backmarkers for 17th probably would’ve never got that much airtime had one of their last names weren’t Schumacher. That was still quite a solid effort from him though, outracing a Williams on merit and completely dominating Mazepin just 3 races in.