PORTIMAO, Portugal: Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completing a Mercedes front-row lockout in qualifying on Saturday.
Hamilton’s pursuit of a 100th pole at the track where last year he notched up his record 92nd win was delayed when Bottas earned the 17th of his career.
“It’s a good feeling to be on pole,” said Bottas after a final qualifying session lap of 1min 18.348sec.
He added: “Feels like it’s been a while. It’s been a weak point for me in the first two races. The team have been working hard all weekend and we have a good position for tomorrow.”
Bottas’ performance was well-timed after he had qualified third in the season-opener in Bahrain but then a lowly eighth at…
