Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has overtaken main rival Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas to win the Portuguese Grand Prix, and go eight points clear in the Formula One standings.
Red Bull's Verstappen finished second at the Algarve circuit, with Bottas third, after starting on pole position. The disappointed Finn's only consolation was a bonus point for fastest lap.
The victory was a record-extending 97th of Hamilton's career, with the sport's most successful driver repeating last year's win at the circuit to go 2-1 up on Verstappen after three races.
"That was such a tough race, physically and mentally, just keeping everything together," says Hamilton, who started on the front row. "It was very windy out there, so it was very easy to put a foot wrong.
"I just didn't quite get as good a start as Valtteri and then lost out on the restart, which was not good. I was not happy about that."
The safety car was deployed on lap two, after the Alfa Romeos of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi made contact, with debris left on the track and the field streaming through the pitlane.
When racing resumed, Verstappen was quick to pounce and pass Hamilton for second place, but the Briton seized it back five laps later, after the Red Bull driver made a small mistake.
"I tried to put the pressure on Valtteri, but in the end, I think we just lacked a little pace overall, so Lewis got by again," says the Dutch driver.
Hamilton swept past Bottas on lap 20 of 66 and took the chequered flag 29.148s clear of Verstappen, after the Dutch driver had pitted in a late bid for fastest lap on fresh, soft tyres.
"I had to make the move early on, before the tyres were destroyed and managed to just get him in turn one," says Hamilton of the key overtake before his only pitstop. "Right on the limit, but great race."
Hamilton now has 69 points to Verstappen's 61, with Mercedes 18 points clear of Red Bull in the constructors' standings.
Reuters
