Valtteri Bottas admits he simply didn’t hav🔴e the pace to contend with Lewis Hamilton at the Portuguese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Despite making a slow start, Bottas managed to get ahead of Max Verstappen i꧙nto Turn 2 and then Lewis Hamilton into Turn 8 on the opening lap.

It was short-lived as once Hamilton got comfortablಌe with the track conditions, 💃he overtook the Finn several laps later into Turn 1 with the use of DRS.

Bottas eventualꦍly finished the race over 25s behind Hamilton - who claimed a record 92nd F1 victory, surpassing Michael Schu𝄹macher’s win 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 p𒉰ace…

“I tried to defend but at the rate he w🀅as going to close there was nothing really 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 radio, but Mercedes fitt🏅ed hards to en🏅sure both cars were on the same compound.

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

“I w♍as 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.