Hamilton happy to soak up the love in Brazil
LEWIS Hamilton can expect the passionate Interlagos crowd to be on his side when the Formula One championship leader seeks his sixth win in a row — and the 11th of the season — in today’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
This year the title battle comes down to a straight duel between Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton, a boyhood fan of the late triple world champion Ayrton Senna who died in 1994, is finding that a lot of Brazilians are rooting for him — including some of Senna’s family.
The Briton has been presented with a mock-up of a Brazilian passport and a national soccer shirt courtesy of the television comedy show Panico.
“Tudo Bem (how are you?)” were Hamilton’s opening words as he faced reporters at Interlagos this week. “I’ve got a Brazilian passport now. I need to learn Brazilian.”
The good humour was a far cry from 2008, when Hamilton prevailed over Brazilian race winner Felipe Massa by a single point to take his first title with a last-corner overtake.
Six years ago, when Hamilton was at McLaren, the same comedians threw an unlucky black cat toy towards him.
“Anything other than 2008 is a good feeling because back then I felt it was sunny everywhere, but I had this black cloud over me and it was raining,” Hamilton recalled. “No matter which way I moved this cloud was still raining on me.
“I really feel over the years I’ve seen a lot of growth in my support here in Brazil, and of GOOD VIBES: Many locals are rooting for Lewis Hamilton course it helps that I’m not going up against a Brazilian in the championship.”
The Briton, who leads Rosberg by 24 points with 75 still to be won from Brazil and the finale in Abu Dhabi, spoke of his admiration for Senna and what it meant to be racing in his home town.
He said as a boy he would go home after a kart race and watch a video tape about Senna over and again.
“He really inspired me as a kid and he still does today. I’ve always said I’d love to emulate him,” said the 29-year-old, whose yellow helmet is similar to the one the Brazilian wore.
“I come here and I still feel his presence. It’s amazing that he still lives on through all these fans and the country. It’s one of the most special things I’ve ever seen anywhere.”
Although Hamilton need only finish second in the last two rounds to be sure of the title, he said: “I approach this race the same as I have approached the whole season: I want to win.
“I want to win when I win the world championship rather than finish fifth or wherever it may be,” said the Briton, who finished fifth in that 2008 race that Massa won. —