Formula 1 classification: Bottas achieves pole with Sainz fifth and Alonso out of Q3 | GP Portugal

Valtteri Bottas rears his head in the fight between Hamilton and Verstappen. The Finn surprised in Portimao, taking pole in the classification of the Portuguese Grand Prix. Double for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton in second position and his great rival Verstappen completing the first three positions on the grid.As for the Spanish drivers, Carlos Sainz beat Charles Leclerc with a great performance that helps him to start fifth east Sunday in Portimao. For his part, Fernando Alonso did not make the cut in Q2 and again showed that he needs time to adapt to an Alpine that is faster compared to the previous two weekends.The third classification of the season promised to be a great opportunity for the Spanish pilots to sign a great result. The sensations were good for Carlos Sainz, but even better for a Fernando Alonso who had felt the best of an Alpine on the asphalt that was excited again. The car of the Asturian and Esteban Ocon promised to give a lot of war in Portimao and the objective was to be very close to the Ferraris and complete a good classification. Equality had once again been the dominant trend in the free practice of the third Grand Prix and the fight for pole it could be even tighter than at Imola. It was going to be except capital surprise Lewis Hamilton, who was looking for his 100th pole to continue rewriting the history of Formula 1. Portugal will be the third battle between the seven-time world champion and Max Verstappen. Ricciardo, the great surprise in the Q1 It’s not being a great start to the season for Daniel Ricciardo.While his teammate Lando Norris pokes his head among the fastest, the Australian is having a hard time adapting to the McLaren and did not make the cut in Q1 of the Portuguese Grand Prix classification. Ricciardo’s first big surprise on Saturday, who was left out at the first exchange. Q1 ❌ ELIMINATED DRIVERS Ricciardo is out 😮 P16 RIC P17 STRP18 LATP19 MSCP20 MAZ # PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 # F1 pic.twitter.com/G6H8osoLxj – Formula 1 (@ F1) May 1, 2021 Along with Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Nicholas Lafiti and the two Haas – Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin – were out in Q1. Esteban Ocon overtook Ricciardo in the last seconds to qualify for a Q2 that Fernando Alonso managed to reach. Also George Russell, who continues to squeeze the Williams and went through the hair. Fernando Alonso fell in Q2 The great challenge for Fernando Alonso was to repeat the feat of Bahrain getting back into Q3. However, while his teammate Esteban Ocon made the cut without the need to force in a last attempt (the only one in the top 10 not to do so), Alonso stayed again in Q2 and will start this Sunday from 13th position. Alpine confirms his improvement, despite the fact that the Asturian will have to continue working on his adaptation to the French team. 🙌 Excitement to the end! Sainz closes Q2 in seventh position and Alonso will start tomorrow 13th 🤝 # PortugalDAZNF1 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/LbsU0VhLC0 – DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) May 1, 2021 Also, a great George Russell, Giovinazzi, Alonso himself, Tsunoda and Kimi Raikkonen failed to be among the top ten fastest drivers and stayed in Q2. Great qualifying for Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon, who managed to get into Q3.Carlos Sainz also did it, taking revenge for the disappointment of Imola’s classification. Bottas surprises everyone in a somewhat gray Q3 The last twelve minutes of this Saturday arrived in Portimao with the expectation of seeing a spectacular battle to achieve pole position. Very difficult to know who would be the fastest among such equality, although the moment of truth came with Lewis Hamilton as the fastest man so far. The 100th pole was very close, but Verstappen, Bottas, Norris and company wanted to avoid it. Hamilton and Bottas faced the final challenge on the medium tire in a surprising strategy from Mercedes. After two brutal qualifications, Portimao’s was not disappointing and a few exciting final minutes were expected. However, very few improved their time and Valtteri Bottas surprisingly took his first pole of the season. Great result for Carlos Sainz, who beat Leclerc and will start fifth in Portimao. 17th pole of @ValtteriBottas’ career 💪 # PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 # F1 pic.twitter.com/dSbzpCM3Y7 – Formula 1 (@ F1) May 1, 2021