Hamilton is preparing for a fightback: I’ve got to do it all over again

Lewis Hamilton will start in the middle of the field for the Brazilian Grand Prix, and he is expecting another tight battle.

Lewis Hamilton has vowed to go all out in the Brazilian Grand Prix after channelling his anger about his exclusion from qualifying into a charge through the field in Saturday’s Sprint race.

Hamilton dominated qualifying at Interlagos but was later disqualified due to a technical issue with the Drag Reduction System (DRS), meaning he started the season’s third and final Sprint from the back of the field.

After a five-place grid drop due to an engine change, the Mercedes driver recovered from 20th to fifth, ensuring he will start Sunday’s Grand Prix in 10th place.

Using the penalty as inspiration

Hamilton claimed that his disqualification left him “devastated,” but he overcame his disappointment by achieving a Sprint Qualifying result that “keeps me in the battle” for the Grand Prix.

“I just try to take whatever experience I’m having as a lesson,” Hamilton explained to media when asked for his view on the stewards’ verdict.

“I mean, we’re all faced at some point in our lives with adversity, right? And that’s not the point in which you give up, you’ve just gotta keep going, you’ve gotta keep your head up and you’ve gotta keep fighting.

“I had to move forwards, I just had to [say], ‘OK, reset, it’s done. What can you do about it?’ I didn’t know what I could do. I didn’t know if I was going to be moving forwards or not, but I was like, ‘I’m not going out without a fight!'”

“It was like my first year in go-karts”

Hamilton compared his Sprint race return to go-karting, as he steadily climbed the order with a succession of crucial overtakes.

“Normally [Sprint races are] not that much fun, but I had a lot of fun,” he commented.

“It reminded me of my first year in go-karts. I’ve got a good car now, but when I started go-karting it was a really old go-kart. We’d always start last and have to make our way through, so those lessons were special.

“I just tried to channel that negative, difficult experience and that adversity that you’re facing, and just never give up, keep pushing.

“I had so much fun out there, and that’s the most important thing, I guess.”

Hamilton to go on the attack again

On Sunday, Hamilton is completely focused on delivering a second charge through the field.

“I’ve got to do it all over again,” Hamilton said, as he looked ahead to the main event.

“I think it’s going to be harder; it’s a little bit harder, naturally, when you get close to the front. In the hot conditions, it’s going to be tough.

“But to be able to come back to that point keeps me in the fight for the race. [10th is] a much better position to start the last.”

Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s title opponent, will start the Grand Prix in second place, with a 21-point advantage in the standings.

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