Valtteri Bottas admits he simply didn’t have the pace to contend with Lewis Ham꧒ilton at the Portuguese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

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

It was short-lived as once Hamilton got comfortable with the track cond🅰itions, he overtook the Finn several laps later int🔥o Turn 1 with the use of DRS.

Bottas eventually finished the race over 25s behind H꧑amilton - who claimed a record 92nd F1 victory, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s ꦉwin tally.

“Yes, the opening lap was pretty good, there was a bit of drizzle, which made it a bit tricky,” Bottas said. “Obviously, 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 rea😼lly I could do. Like I said, I have no idea why I didn’t have the pace today. Pushing hard but should have gone faster.”

Bottas had requested soft tyres for his second stint over team r🦂adio, ꩵbut Mercedes fitted hards to ensure both cars were on the same compound.

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

“I was hoping to extend the first 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.