LEWIS HAMILTON sensationally won the Brazilian Grand Prix after fighting up from 10th on the grid.
The Mercedes star overtook championship rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull to keep his title hopes alive.
Hamilton had been forced to start Saturday’s qualifying sprint race from the pits after his car had been found to breach technical regulations concerning DRS.
But after putting his car on the fifth row for Sunday’s main event, the Brit drove a sensational race to beat his Dutch rival to the chequered flag.
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HAMILTON: I PASSED GREAT CHALLENGE
Lewis Hamilton hailed his 101st win as one of his best as he refused to give up the fight for title No.8, writes Ben Hunt.
Having been disqualified from qualifying for an illegal rear wing, and slapped with a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, the brilliant Brit battled back from 10th on the grid to win in Sao Paulo.
It came on a weekend he was dogged by controversy as tempers between his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his opposite number at Red Bull, Christian Horner, boiled over.
On track, there was a simmering battle with Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen, who saw his advantage slashed to 14 points with three races to go.
Hamilton said: “I feel this has been one of the most, if not the most challenging with the things we have faced this weekend, but in terms of driving, this has maybe been my best.
“It is easy to get down when you are facing things that can get you down like engine penalties, but everyone just focused on their jobs and stayed positive.
“It was just down to me to let go of things as quickly as possible and move forward, but did I think we could come from last to first?
“I did not know what was possible and this is probably one of my best weekends of my career.
HAMILTON COY OVER NEAR COLLISION
Race winner Lewis Hamilton and runner-up Max Verstappen nearly touched on Lap 48, which saw the Dutchman evade any penalty despite forcing the Mercedes man off the track.
It looked a carbon copy of their incident at Silverstone, but fortunately no driver was taken out of the race.
Hamilton was coy on the flashpoint afterwards, although it would have been a different story had he not passed the Red Bull on lap 59 and gone on to victory in Sao Paulo.
He added: “I was ahead initially and he held his ground and then we ran out of road.
“It is hard battling and I would not expect anything less. We didn’t touch wheels, which was good.”
LEWIS: PERHAPS MY FINEST DRIVE EVER
Lewis Hamilton hailed his 101st win as one of his best as he refused to give up the fight for title No.8, writes Ben Hunt.
Having been disqualified from qualifying for an illegal rear wing, and slapped with a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, the brilliant Brit battled back from 10th on the grid to win in Sao Paulo.
It came on a weekend he was dogged by controversy as tempers between his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his opposite number at Red Bull, Christian Horner, boiled over.
On track, there was a simmering battle with Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen, who saw his advantage slashed to 14 points with three races to go.
Hamilton said: “I feel this has been one of the most, if not the most challenging with the things we have faced this weekend, but in terms of driving, this has maybe been my best.
“It is easy to get down when you are facing things that can get you down like engine penalties, but everyone just focused on their jobs and stayed positive.
“It was just down to me to let go of things as quickly as possible and move forward, but did I think we could come from last to first?
“I did not know what was possible and this is probably one of my best weekends of my career.
“Coming into this weekend I never, ever thought that we would be able to close the gap like we have, and these things that just kept going against us, but I just think it really shows to everyone just never give up,
“Whatever you’re facing, you’ve just got to keep pushing, keep fighting and never, never stop fighting.
“Coming here 19 points behind and only one point ahead in the team’s championship, we really needed a solid result but then we had all these penalties, which just made it…“Mentally you could have thought it was over, but nothing is over if you put your mind to it, and we went in fighting, guns blazing.”
HAMILTON’S SIX OF THE BEST
LEWIS HAMILTON produced one of the greatest drives in F1 history to claim victory at the Brazil Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion fought up from 10th on the grid to pass title rival Max Verstappen and keep his championship hopes alive.
The Brit was forced to come from behind after starting Saturday’s qualifying sprint race from the pits as punishment for a breach of DRS technical regulations.
But he delivered the win for his Mercedes team with a sensational performance at the storied Interlagos track in Sao Paulo.
Here SunSport’s Ben Hunt takes a look at how his latest victory – number 101 – stacks up against five of his top drives to date.
BRITAIN 2008, MCLAREN, WIN 7
CHINA 2011, MCLAREN, WIN 15
HUNGARY 2013, MERCEDES, WIN 22
GERMANY 2018, MERCEDES, WIN 66
TURKEY 2020, MERCEDES, WIN 94
BRAZIL 2021, MERCEDES, WIN 101HERE’S THE FULL LOWDOWN ON THOSE SIX VICTORIES
BOTTAS UPSET WITH START
Valtteri Bottas bounced back for third place after being unhappy with his start.
And he was delighted at Mercedes outscoring Red Bull, thanks to team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s win.
He said: “The start was quick but I was disappointed with the start, but afterwards the pace was OK.
“I thought we could have done one stop quite easily, but I am glad we got more points than Red Bull and Lewis did amazingly today.
“The virtual safety car was in a good place for me for once and we managed to get solid points.”
MERC REVEL IN HAMILTON WIN
Mercedes stirred up mixed feelings online with this tweet – seemingly boasting about Lewis Hamilton being penalised and still winning
HAMILTON: WIN WAS FOR MY DAD
Lewis Hamilton says his stunning victory in Brazil was for his dad.
Brit Hamilton, chasing a record-equalling eighth world title, is now just 14 points behind Championship leader Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes ace said: “I have not had this much support since Silverstone, so to hear the fans it has been humbling.
“What a race! The team did an amazing job and Valtteri did a great job to get as many points as possible.
“I just pushed as fast as I could but this is my hardest weekend I have had [this season].
“My dad reminded me of when I was in F3 in Bahrain, when I started last and finished first – so this is for my dad.
“I never thought we would close the gap like we did today – just never give up and never stop fighting.”
MAX: DEFEAT WAS ‘GOOD FUN’
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen promised to bounce back after describing Lewis Hamilton’s comeback win as a ‘good battle’ and ‘good fun’
Championship leader and Sau Paulo runner-up Verstappen said: “We tried everything we could today.
“It was a good battle but at the end we missed a little pace. But it was good fun.
“We still have a decent lead so today was a bit of damage limitation.
“I’m confident, in the coming races we will come back stronger.”
ONE OF HIS BEST EVER WINS?
It was certainly epic – and perhaps essential to keeping his title chances genuine rather than academic.
But some are rating Lewis Hamilton’s victory as one of his greatest ever…
You agree?
FROM TENTH STARTER TO TENSE WINNER
Lewis Hamilton’s amazing win from tenth on the grid in Sao Paulo opens up the title race with Max Verstappen as wide as his arms.
LEW’S CRUISE MAKES WAVES IN CHAMPIONSHIP
Here’s how Lewis Hamilton celebrated victory in Brazil – and how he saw off Max Verstappen.
Credit: AFP CLOSING THE GAP ON STAPP
Britain’s world champ and Sao Paulo GP winner Lewis Hamilton is now just 14 points behind title leader Max Verstappen.
It’s Hamilton’s first win since Russia in September.
LEW TITLE BOOST
Lewis Hamilton’s win has certainly reinvigorated the title race.
But big Red Bull rival Max Verstappen was second, with Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.
HAMILTON WINS THE SAO PAULO GP
Epic stuff from the Mercedes man.
Verstappen is second.
Bottas is third
Perez fourth and with a point for fastest lap.
FINAL LAP
HAMILTON IS BRINGING IT HOME
THIS HAS BEEN A STONKING RACE
So much to take in. Merc’s performance here will be a very real concern for Red Bull.
LAP 69
Hamilton leads Verstappen by 8.4 seconds.
Bottas in P3, Perez in P4.
LAP 62 BOTTAS GETS THE HURRY UP
The Finn has been told to catch Verstappen.
TOTO WOLFF THUMPS THE AIR
The Merc boss takes a lot of satisfaction from seeing Hamilton pass his title rival.
LAP 59 HAMILTON GETS VERSTAPPEN HE IS IN THE LEAD
A beautiful move from the world champion, who passes the Dutchman.
Verstappen was weaving on the straight, earning him a warning from the stewards, but that did not stop Hamilton from taking the lead.
LAP 54 HAMILTON CLOSING UP TO VERSTAPPEN AGAIN
This fight is not over. The Merc man is thumping his way towards the Red Bull.
When he was told Verstappen would not be pushing for “running you off the road”, Hamilton replies: “Of course man, of course.”
He feels hard-done-by. It is getting spicy.
NO INVESTIGATION FROM THE FIA
That is another huge call that favours Verstappen.
RICCIARDO RETIRES FROM THE RACE
Stroll is also out of the Sao Paulo GP.
BOTTAS COULD BE IN THR BOX SEAT
He is told over the radio: “Things are heating up at the front, there could be penalties incoming.”
LAP 48 WOW – VERSTAPPEN FORCES HAMILTON WIDE
The Dutchman pushes Hamilton so wide, they both have to go off track. Merc will claim he ran him off track.
The stewards might look into that. Crikey, that was just like Silverstone….
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
