Lewis Hamilton will celebrate a remarkable Formula 1 milestone at Interlagos on Sunday, but the occasion is unlikely to come with the sort of celebratory backdrop he might have imagined.
The seven-time world champion will line up 20th for his 400th Grand Prix, stranded on the penultimate row, just ahead of another familiar face in the rear-view mirror: Max Verstappen, who starts 21st.
For the sport's two biggest names, Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix has suddenly become a rather different kind of challenge.
Interlagos, however, is hardly an unfamiliar hunting ground for either man. Both have produced spectacular recoveries at the Brazilian venue, with Hamilton and Verstappen each turning seemingly hopeless starting positions into memorable victories.
The question is whether the latest generation of Formula 1 machinery will allow them to repeat those heroics. Hamilton, for one, isn't particularly optimistic about his prospects of carving through the field.
No easy way through
The Ferrari driver's remarkable comeback in 2021 remains one of the defining performances of his career. Excluded from the qualifying classification because of a technical infringement, Hamilton started the sprint from the back, charged through to fifth, and then overcame a five-place engine penalty to line up 10th for Sunday's race.
He subsequently fought his way to victory in a thrilling confrontation with Verstappen.
Three years later, the Dutchman provided his own Interlagos masterclass, recovering from 17th on the grid in treacherous conditions to claim a commanding win for Red Bull.
But Hamilton believes the current technical regulations could make another such charge considerably more difficult.
The removal of DRS and the introduction of the new overtake mode have changed the dynamics of attacking rivals, particularly around Interlagos, where the long straight previously offered a valuable opportunity to make up ground.
Asked how overtaking would compare with his spectacular 2021 recovery, Hamilton was decidedly pessimistic.
“Harder, because back then we had, obviously, a very long straight, and if you got close, you had the DRS, and maybe a car wouldn't have it – whereas now, everyone is just opening up their wings,” he said.
“I think overtaking will be very, very, very hard. I'm not sure you're going to see the same sort of races that you've seen in the past. But maybe the wet conditions will change that.”
Verstappen shared his rival's concerns, pointing out that the energy demands of the new power units could significantly reduce the speed advantage available to a pursuing driver.
“Now we don't have DRS anymore,” Verstappen concurred. “And the overtake mode is very limiting around here because of the long straight, everyone is draining the battery.
“So, your speed difference on the straight is going to be a lot less – a bit like Mexico, really. So, it will be quite a lot harder to pass than normal.”
Hamilton's unlikely winning strategy
With both drivers facing an enormous recovery mission, there is little room for elaborate strategic plotting. Hamilton's answer when asked what will be his approach to the race was characteristically succinct.
“I don't have one,” he responded. “Try to win, somehow.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, is hoping that a chaotic afternoon might provide the opening he needs to get back into contention.
“Lots of safety cars, so they can't pull away, it keeps coming back to me,” the Red Bull racer said. “We'll see. I don't really think about it too much. I'll just go from lap one and see where I end up.
“I hope [with Lewis] we can clear the cars in front of us as quickly as we can.”
The prospect of Hamilton and Verstappen charging through the field together certainly adds an intriguing subplot to Sunday's race, although both will need considerably more than raw pace to overcome the limitations of their starting positions.
A 400th appearance with unfinished business
Hamilton’s 400th Grand Prix places him second on Formula 1's all-time list of race starts, behind former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, who will contest his 445th race at Interlagos.
Unlike Alonso, who has taken breaks from the championship, Hamilton's tally represents 20 consecutive seasons competing at the highest level.
Reflecting on the achievement on Thursday, the 40-year-old admitted that reaching such a number had never been part of his original expectations.
“It's kind of crazy,” he said. “I never ever thought that I would be reaching numbers like that.
“It's crazy, because I still feel young, and regardless of the things that people say, you saw my pole last week – I still have the pace, I still have the speed, and I still have the dedication, which is most important, and the focus.
“For me, that number is kind of irrelevant. It's beautiful to be able to have that here in Brazil. I've heard of some photographers who have been there for 500 races. At some stage, that's probably where I'll be.”
Read also: Verstappen swapped useless qualifying for Premier League football!There is an obvious irony in celebrating such a landmark from so far down the grid, particularly after Hamilton demonstrated his enduring speed with a pole position just last week in Mexico City.
But the Ferrari driver's ambitions have hardly diminished with the passing of time, and he certainly won't be travelling to Interlagos simply to mark the occasion.
Whether the new regulations will allow him to reproduce the sort of charge that once made this circuit his playground remains doubtful.
Yet with rain potentially adding another layer of unpredictability, Hamilton and Verstappen have at least one reason not to abandon hope.
For Hamilton, a 400th Grand Prix victory would be an extraordinary way to celebrate the milestone. From 20th on the grid, however, even he knows that winning somehow will require something rather special.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Hamilton faces 400th GP uphill battle, but will ‘try to win somehow’ F1i.com.
Hence then, the article about hamilton faces 400th gp uphill battle but will try to win somehow was published today ( ) and is available on F1 News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Hamilton faces 400th GP uphill battle, but will ‘try to win somehow’ )
Also on site :