With Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen starting from the 20th and 21st positions on the grid for the Brazilian Grand Prix, Sunday’s Formula 1 event is set to be compelling – regardless of the weather.
Both Hamilton and Verstappen are known for their impressive recoveries at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, where overtaking has historically been less challenging than at other circuits.
In 2021, the seven-time world champion faced exclusion from qualifying due to a technical infringement, placing him last in the sprint; however, he managed to climb to fifth. After receiving a five-place grid penalty for a new engine, Hamilton found himself starting 10th for the grand prix, but he fought his way to victory in an epic battle with Verstappen.
Fast forward three years, and Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 on a rainy Sunday morning and received a five-place penalty for using his sixth internal combustion engine, placing him 17th on the grid. The rain played a significant role in the race, but Verstappen capitalized on the conditions to comfortably surpass Esteban Ocon and secure the win.
However, Hamilton’s remarkable performances were aided by the DRS device, while the new overtake mode in F1’s current power units is less effective, potentially complicating overtaking even further on the Interlagos layout.
When asked about the difficulty of overtaking compared to 2021, the Ferrari driver noted, “It’s harder because back then we had a very long straight, and if you got close enough, you had the DRS, while maybe the other car wouldn’t. Now, everyone is just adjusting their wings.
“I think overtaking will be extremely difficult. I doubt you’ll witness the same kinds of races as in the past. However, perhaps the wet conditions could alter that.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
“At this point, we don’t have DRS,” Verstappen acknowledged. “And the overtake mode is quite restrictive here because of the lengthy straight, where everyone is using their battery. Thus, the difference in speed on the straight will be considerably less – quite similar to Mexico, really. This will make overtaking considerably more challenging than usual.”
So, what’s Hamilton’s plan? “I don’t have a specific one,” he replied. “My goal is to win, by any means necessary.”
On the other hand, Verstappen is hoping for several incidents to become a serious contender for the win. “A lot of safety cars will ensure that they can’t create large gaps, allowing me to stay in the mix,” the Red Bull driver shared. “We’ll see how it goes. I won’t think about it too much; I’ll just start and assess my position as the race unfolds.”
He added: “I wish [with Lewis] we could swiftly work through the cars ahead.”
Throughout the 19 races of F1 2026 thus far, only two have been won from positions outside the front row. Verstappen won from fifth place in Mexico, almost leading by the first lap, while Antonelli made a remarkable victory from 19th in Italy. Yet if the anticipated rain alters the race’s dynamics, the traditional dry-weather patterns of 2026 could become irrelevant.
Additional reporting by Isa Fernandes and Federico Faturos
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