Lewis Hamilton’s win at 2021 Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix at the weekend was nothing short of sensational. In every sense of the word. Not only did Hamilton melt sheer probability factor that an athlete can turn numerous negative circumstances to unquestionable victory, the 7x F1 World Driver Champion proved when mind-heart-soul-passion are in synch with equally focused Mercedes-AMG Petronas Team- the seemingly impossible can be achieved.
But how? Breaking down how Hamilton handled each adverse situation from elation-to-deflation in oh-such-short amount of time, one gets the gist on how a Champion delivers results based on pure natural instincts as opposed to reacting to auto-cues on pit-boards on what to do next.
How so? Taking pole in Qualifying on Friday marked high-brow result for Hamilton setting grid position for Sprint event the following day. Knowing the five-place grid penalty was in place for Sunday’s Race from having taken new engine, all elements of focus was in high demand not to mention state of uncertainties come racing.
Lewis: ‘I’ve been going from practice and then sitting there for the whole hour trying to make the right set-up change, the anxiety you get is crazy. A lot of the times we get it wrong, I get it wrong, and today I got it right, the car was really nice to drive, so it was everything I wanted’. Ref: F1.
By 10.00pm FIA Stewards impounded Mercedes W12 rear wing for investigation into technical infringement. Specifically, regulations within Drag Reduction System of uppermost rear wing element was to be inspected for meeting prescribed gap of between 10mm and 15mm when DRS is not activated. No decision would be made until Saturday 10.30am.
What’s next? Night of uncertainties on how FIA’s technical infringement decision would play out. 2 hours before Sprint Race Hamilton learnt of his disqualification from the Qualifying session as a result from technical non-compliance and would start back of grid. Lewis: ‘Devastated to learn I had been disqualified from Friday’s F1 qualifying session at Sao Paulo. You can’t let it hold you back. You have to keep your head down and keep going, quickly re-set, put my mind focused on doing what I could do and just giving my everything’.
If one week in politics is a long time, 3 days in Formula One GP is hellava count-down of clock ticking from on track practice to final chequered flag. Where does unsurmountable amount of fight, determination, energy and mental ability come from within Hamilton to shift leverage from being on front row to ending back of grid in 20th place? How does even 7x World Driver Champion make performance count when a barrage of ‘what-if’s’ can only be answered by himself behind the wheel on track.
Even for Lewis, his expectation of carving through the Sprint Race field from last to ‘I’ll try to get up as far as possible’, was down to state of mind. In interview with Sky F1 Lewis states post Sprint Race that making 15 passes in 24 lap Race to finish P5 was well beyond what I thought would happen.
Lewis: ‘Honestly, I had no idea what was possible. I didn’t set a limit or a maximum. I think when I was at the back of the grid just before formation lap I could maybe see, like 10th. I was like ok, that’s my goal, I will try and get as far as possible. I really used a lot of different things for fuel today. I just can’t give up, you’ve got to keep pushing’.
Champion mentality? Yes! All the more reason to celebrate who brings the fans closer to edge of their seats in anticipation on what will happen next. Sure, pundits claim Mercedes W12 new engine was untouchable at Brazil’s holy grail track of the nation’s F1 legend Ayrton Senna- and the same pundits witnessed history made when Hamilton came from last to P5 in Saturday’s Sprint and then pressed repeat to come from P10 to take overall victory in F1 Sao Paulo GP on Sunday.
Lewis on winning Race: ‘I’m overwhelmed with it to be honest. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. You never really know whether or not overtaking is going to be possible on a track like this- but the long straights enabled us to progress faster’.
‘Really, it was just the mental state of mind that I went into, which was never give up, keep pushing, still I rise, you can do this’. Ref: F1.
Formula One GP Round 20 Qatar November 19-21. Header Photo: Lewis Hamilton winning 2021 Sao Paulo GP Credit: F1.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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