If there was one word that could describe Lewis Hamilton in the Portuguese Grand Prix, it would be magnificent. Such is the aura and power of the Briton that he created a gap of nearly 25 seconds between himself and the runner-up Bottas.

It serves to remind us all what Hamilton is capable of on his best days. From sneaking in a pole position in the dying moments of qualifying to winning the race while fighting a cramp.

No one expected him to rise to this position when he first arrived as a hotshot rookie in 2007 with McLaren. However, his journey has been one of the most intriguing and awe-inspiring ones over the years.

Fellow drivers also congratulate Lewis Hamilton on historic milestone

The fact that he has garnered the respect of his rivals is what makes the Mercedes man a true legend. Game recognizes game, has long been a well-known sports metaphor. And that has immediately followed across social media, with several popular athletes taking the time out to post their wishes.

The amount of love and appreciation that Hamilton has received goes to show the magnitude of the feat he achieved on Sunday. To win a few times is one thing, but to keep doing it consistently time and again over the years is another.

A Sunday to remember in Portugal

The Algarve International Circuit witnessed nothing short of brilliance from Lewis Hamilton. In fact, for most of the weekend, it was his teammate Valtteri Bottas who dominated proceedings.

However, he came up quickest in qualifying with just about 15 seconds to go in Q3. And from there on, to put in an extraordinary flying lap to secure pole position, truly outstanding.

However, the important event was the main race. Though it will take a few days for Hamilton to let all this sink in, the fact that the job is not done is not lost on him.

Being a champion means going the distance to winning titles and races. And that edges closer when he takes to the track in Imola next week on November 1st.