SAO PAULO: Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton hunted down Max Verstappen to end the “hardest weekend I’ve had” with a stunning victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday and slash his Red Bull rival’s Formula One lead to 14 points in one of the greatest drives of his career.

Verstappen finished second with Valtteri Bottas third for Mercedes after a controversial, roller-coaster weekend in Brazil.

“I don’t remember another weekend like this,” said Hamilton, his dream of a record eighth title back on with three races remaining. “It’s quite overwhelming, to be honest.

“From last on the grid [for Saturday’s sprint race], and then another five-place penalty I think that’s the hardest weekend I’ve had. Things kept going against us, but it just shows, never give up, keep fighting. Never, ever stop fighting.”

The Briton was fastest in Friday qualifying at Interlagos for Saturday’s sprint that set Sunday’s grid, and then demoted to the back of the field after his car’s rear wing failed a technical inspection.

He went from 20th to fifth on Saturday, dropping back to 10th on Sunday’s grid after an engine penalty but hungry for much more.

The rest was history as the 36-year-old took his third win at Interlagos and set a record for victory in Brazil from the lowest grid position, beating Italian Giancarlo Fisichella’s 2003 win from eighth.

The win was Hamilton’s sixth of the season and record-extending 101st of his career. He took a Brazil flag to celebrate his win in the car and on the podium, just as his idol Ayrton Senna did.

“I feel like Lewis was in his own league today,” said Bottas.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished fourth, pitting at the end for fresh tyres to set the fastest lap and deny Hamilton a precious bonus point. The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fifth and sixth, respectively.

Mercedes moved 11 points clear of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

Verstappen led most of the race after the first turn, when he overtook pole-sitter Bottas. But Hamilton, who rose from 10th to third position in just six laps, went ahead of Verstappen on lap 59, putting a raucous crowd on their feet at Interlagos.

Hamilton finished the race with a 10-second advantage over Verstappen.

“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,” Verstappen said. “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.”

Qatar makes its F1 debut as host of next Sunday’s latest fix of the sport’s refreshingly exciting circuit drama followed by Saudi Arabia and the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in mid-December.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2021