Max Verstappen qualified third for the 2021 Portuguese GP but had to settle for a second place finish

Red Bull star Max Verstappen came into the third race of the 2021 F1 season in great form. He had taken pole in the opening race in Bahrain before finishing second but won the race in Imola.

However, Verstappen was only able to get third place after qualifying. The two Mercedes cars were on another level but race day was always going to be another story.

Verstappen seemed to have the pace early on and even overtook Lewis Hamilton, his championship rival.

But, the Mercedes cars had the power to beat Red Bull this weekend and it was Hamilton who took back the place after the pit stops.

Verstappen was able to overtake Valtteri Bottas, the other Mercedes, in the race. However, that was as good as it got for him.

The Dutch youngster finished second behind Hamilton for the second time this season, and his fastest lap of the race was also deleted due to exceeding track limits.

Verstappen brought up the Portuguese GP on social media and conceded that finishing second was the best they could have done.

He further added that the season was long and he was going to fight till the end:

Looking back at the #PortugueseGP, I have to say that finishing P2 after such a tricky few days was absolutely the maximum for us. This season is going to be long and we will be taking it one weekend at a time. And above all: we’ll keep fighting until the end 💪 #KeepPushing pic.twitter.com/Xvzaf9sdNy

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) May 4, 2021

A proper fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton?

F1 fans have been craving a proper fight for the driver’s championship. Hamilton has dominated even though Bottas is in the same car but this season seems to be different.

Honda have provided Red Bull with an engine that can match the Mercedes cars, for now. Verstappen also looks hungry for the gold and this should be an interesting campaign, to say the least.

The Dutch racer is just eight points behind Hamilton after three races and Red Bull know they will improve.

Christian Horner’s side have always been better in the second half of the campaign, and they could finally break the stranglehold that Mercedes have had on both titles.

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