Lewis Hamilton returns to the scene of one among his biggest triumphs this weekend hoping to rejoice once more by giving Brazil a “home” winner on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the penultimate race this season.
The seven-time world champion was confirmed as an honorary Brazilian citizen this week and promptly declared that he felt “like now I am one of you” – a declare that Mercedes could hope helps energy him and them to a primary win of the season in Sunday’s race.
To try this and prolong his document of claiming at the least one win in each season of his profession since his debut in 2007, the 37-year-old Briton might want to beat the relentless runaway world champions Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
He did it final yr with a spectacular demonstration of pace and braveness to safe his third win on the quick and thrilling Interlagos circuit, the place the spectators generate a carnival ambiance, and the place he gained his maiden title in 2008 as Felipe Massa scored Brazil’s final residence win in a Ferrari.
But regardless of two consecutive second-place finishes behind newly-acclaimed two-time world champion Verstappen and a mounting sense of momentum, Hamilton and the “silver arrows” know they face a formidable problem.
“Interlagos is an iconic track and the scene of so many special F1 moments, including Lewis’s spectacular performance last year in the ‘sprint’ and the race,” mentioned crew boss Toto Wolff.
“And we’re proud to be coming again to Brazil with Lewis having been made an honorary citizen – and having such good recollections.
“On paper, it shouldn’t be quite as strong a circuit for us as Mexico, but regardless, we want to keep up our momentum from recent races. So, we will keep working hard to hopefully be in the mix once again.”
Last yr, Hamilton stored his title problem alive in sensational vogue by charging via the sphere from tenth to take a shocking victory after which pulled aloft a Brazilian flag to sign his emotions and revive recollections of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.
On Sunday, he shall be a surrogate Brazilian and search to win each the dash on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday. In final yr’s dash, he began final on the grid and completed fifth earlier than receiving a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s contest.
Political storm
This time, there shall be no titles on supply as Mercedes battles to overtake Ferrari for second place within the constructors’ championship forward of a scrap between Alpine and McLaren for fourth.
An identical shut contest is in prospect between Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin for sixth because the F1 circus heads in direction of the seasonal finale in Abu Dhabi.
After the political storms in Mexico, the place Red Bull have been advised of their punishment for breaking final season’s $145 million value cap after which introduced they have been snubbing Sky TV, for alleged bias reporting, Verstappen is predicted to get pleasure from a calmer weekend as he seeks a record-extending fifteenth win in a single season.
If he succeeds, it would additionally characterize Red Bull’s tenth consecutive victory, a landmark second to salute the contribution to their crew by patriarch Dieter Mateschitz, who died final month.
