Hamilton is on a mission at Brazilian GP after memorable week
After a turbulent past at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil this week… now he’s on a mission to topple Ferrari in hero Ayrton Senna’s back yard
- Lewis Hamilton has had a memorable week in Brazil ahead of Sunday’s race
- He was made an honorary citizen and a mural was painted on a Sao Paulo school
- The Brit won his first title in Brazil and enjoyed one of his best wins last season
- Hamilton and Mercedes hope to pip Ferrari to second in the constructors’ title
Lewis Hamilton’s image stares down at him from a mural painted on a Sao Paulo school wall. It is newly created and, in a sense, stands for all this sprawling city has meant to him down the years.
It is here that his hero Ayrton Senna was born and is buried.
It was in a suite at the Hilton hotel, in the same Morumbi district as Senna’s graveyard, that he excused himself as he chucked up in the bathroom after drowning his sorrows at missing out on a dream world title in the final race of his debut season.
Lewis Hamilton is a popular figure in the country and held up their national flag after his superb drive to win last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix after overtaking title rival Max Verstappen
The seven-time champion earlier this week was made an honorary citizen of Brazil
It was on the undulating Interlagos track a year later, in 2008, that he overtook Timo Glock in the rain to clinch his first of seven championships on the last lap. He was not the hometown hero then. Felipe Massa was, and hisses assailed Hamilton on the grid that afternoon.
A mural painted of Lewis Hamilton on the side of a Sao Paulo school
But only this week the Briton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil, bestowed in Brasilia’s Chamber of Deputies. He declared that he now felt part of the national family, dedicating the award to Senna, of course.
‘I saw Ayrton race for the first time when I was five years old and that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a world champion, just like him,’ said Hamilton.
An eighth world title has long been beyond Hamilton this season. But he is setting his sights on Mercedes overhauling Ferrari for second place in the constructors’ standings.
Mercedes trail the Italians 487 points to 447 with Saturday’s sprint, for which Hamilton starts eighth, in Sunday’s grand prix and the closing round in Abu Dhabi next week remaining.
Hamilton wants to swap places with Ferrari to help his colleagues tackle the cost of living crisis. Prize money is apportioned based on where teams finish in the table and the difference between second and third places is believed to be about £10million.
Hamilton idolised Brazilian legend and three-time champion Ayrton Senna growing up
Hamilton will start in eighth for Saturday’s sprint which decides the order for Sunday’s race
Hamilton has set the goal of Mercedes beating Ferrari to second in the constructors’ title
‘I know how important it is for everyone at the factory, especially at a time when energy prices have gone through the roof and living costs in the UK have sky-rocketed,’ said Hamilton. ‘It would be amazing to finish second after how deep we have dug to catch up.’
Kevin Magnussen took a surprise pole position for Haas for Saturday’s sprint, his first in 140 attempts. The Dane benefited from George Russell, who starts third, skidding off with eight minutes of Q3 left.
The action was suspended under a red flag and rain fell. When the session resumed, it was too wet for anyone to improve on their times. ‘I have never felt like this before in my life,’ said Magnussen, 30. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
Sprint race Saturday 7.30pm. Grand prix Sunday 6pm. Both LIVE on Sky Sports.
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