Written by Ana
Published 22 November 2021
(Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.)
The Interlagos Circuit has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in motorsport. From historic championship victories, to thrilling on track action, the Brazilian circuit has garnered a reputation for never hosting a boring race. The 2021 race, held last November 15, was no exception, as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fought it out on track, with the latter eventually emerging victorious.
Moreover, Brazil’s motorsport crown is not only decorated with the races it has witnessed, but its most precious gems are the drivers that have come out of the country—most notably, the legendary Ayrton Senna, who has sparked inspiration in drivers from many different generations.
Hamilton was one of the many young racers who were enthralled by Senna’s abilities, and even after the heights the driver has reached, it is incredible to see the humility and awe in his eyes when he talks about his hero.
Going into the weekend, Hamilton revealed that he would be wearing a special tribute helmet for Senna, one that integrated the Brazilian driver’s iconic yellow, green, and blue colors, as well as his own pre-existing purple design. This gesture seemed to set the tone for the rest of his weekend, even if its early stages did not seem to indicate that.
Before the racing even began, it was announced that Hamilton’s car would be taking another ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), giving him a five-place grid penalty.
On Saturday, Hamilton qualified on pole for the sprint qualifying. However, after a technical infringement involving his DRS (Drag Reduction System), he was disqualified from the session, leaving him to start from P20.
From this position, Hamilton charged through the pack during the sprint race, going from last, all the way to fifth position. The most exciting move he did was on Lando Norris to gain his starting position, with him applying nearly clinical precision in the way he timed his overtake to keep it clean.
He was still inheriting his five-place grid drop for the actual race though, rendering him to start from tenth position, right next to the Aston Martin of Sebastian Vettel.
From there, it was clear that he was a man on a mission, unleashing overtakes left and right, clearly showing that his ICE change gifted him with the extra power he needed. His performance was a statement that he was still in the running for this championship, and he amplified it on every lap.
The most historic move of the race was the one on rival Verstappen, which looked to be a fluke when it was first attempted early on in lap 59, but Hamilton eventually made it stick, making the Brazilian crowd go wild.
Hamilton went on to win the race, and he even emulated Senna’s 1991 win, after he was handed a Brazilian flag to hold in his hand as he rounded the circuit to parc ferme.
The members of the audience fortunate enough to witness this moment in history clearly knew what they were in for, as they performed the famous ‘Ole Senna’ chant, tugging at the heartstrings of all F1 fans alike.
Hamilton stood on the podium with the Brazilian flag over his shoulders, with Verstappen on his left in P2, and teammate Valtteri Bottas on his right. As the world looked on, it was clear that Hamilton had demonstrated why he was one of the all-time greats of this sport, and that this win would make history, just as his hero did many years before him.
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