Valtteri Bottas admits he simply didn’t have the pace to conte🎀nd with Lewis Hamilton at the Portu﷽guese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Despite making a slow start, Bottas managed to get ahead of Max Verstappen into Turn 2 and then Lewis Hamil🤡ton into Turn 8 on the opening lap.

It was short-lived as on🍷ce Hamilton got comfortable with the track conditions, he overtook the 🐲Finn several laps later into Turn 1 with the use of DRS.

Bottas🐬 event꧑ually finished the race over 25s behind Hamilton - who claimed a record 92nd F1 victory, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s win tally.

“Yes, the opening lap was pretty good, there was a bit of drizzle, which made it a bit tricky,” Bottas said. “Obviouslꦆy, some cars from behind, on the Soft tyre, had the upper hand, but I was pretty pleased I could get the lead. But, to be honest, after that, I🎐 just had no pace today, I don’t understand why, but no pace…

“I tried to defend but at the rate he was going to close there was nothing really I could do. Like I said, I have no idea why I didn’t have thꦕe pace today. Pushing hard but should have gone faster.”

Bottas had requested soft tyres for his second stint over team♏ radio, bu𒊎t Mercedes fitted hards to ensure both cars were on the same compound.

Bottas doubts🐠 a switch to softs would have aided him in his fight with Hamilton.

“I was hoping to extend the fi🎉rst stint a bit and go for the softs at the end, but I don’t think it would have made any difference to the result today,” 🌱Bottas added.