In November 2021, Lewis Hamilton, “The seven-time champ” in Formula1.com’s words, came to the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, as he put it, “19 points behind, only one point ahead in the teams’ championship,” chasing “Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen,” as the FIA called him. “Hamilton set the fastest time in Qualifying on Friday, only to be disqualified for a technical infringement,” Formula1.com recalled in 2025. “The FIA delegate reported that Hamilton’s car had failed a test to measure the size of DRS aperture,” the FIA said: “When DRS is activated … the gap must be between 10mm and 85mm,” and “the gauge would not pass through at the inner section of the wing, but did at the outer section of the wing.” “Car 44 (Hamilton) was disqualified from the results of qualifying as per Article 12.4.1 m of the FIA International Sporting Code.”
That meant “relegating him to the very back of the grid for the 24-lap dash,” Formula1.com wrote; he “started the Sprint from P20 and surged to fifth in just 24 laps of racing.” “Really it was just the mental state of mind that I went into, which was just never give up, keep pushing, still I rise, you can do this,” he said. But there was still “a five place grid penalty still to come for Hamilton in Sunday’s race for an engine change,” and the FIA records “a 10th-place grid spot due to an penalty for taking a new ICE ahead of the weekend.”
“Hamilton enjoyed a terrific start from P10 on the grid,” Formula1.com reported, and he “then took P2 off Perez in a duel that began on Lap 17 and culminated in a Lap 19 pass at Turn 4.” Then, “on Lap 48 he closed in on Verstappen, trying to move around the outside of the Red Bull at Turn 4 – but Verstappen pushed him wide, off the track, and kept the lead. The stewards noted it … no investigation necessary.” “Both cars went off into the run off area but resumed safely,” the FIA said. On “Lap 59, Hamilton was within a second of Verstappen and had DRS on the run up to Turn 4. He took no chances and made the move stick around the outside on the straight,” Formula1.com wrote, “ultimately winning by 10.4 seconds”; its official result shows a gap of “+10.496s.”
“After crossing the line, Hamilton emulated his childhood hero by lifting the Brazilian flag high from the cockpit just as Senna had done after his first home victory in 1991,” Formula1.com says. “When I saw a marshal holding one, I had to stop and grab it,” Hamilton said. On June 9, 2022, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies passed Resolution No. 32: “Concede ao Sr. Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton o título de cidadão honorário da República Federativa do Brasil” (it grants him the title of honorary citizen of the Federative Republic of Brazil). At a solemn session in Brasília on November 7, 2022, “destinada a conceder o título de cidadão honorário ao piloto britânico heptacampeão mundial de Fórmula 1 Lewis Hamilton” (held to confer the title on the British seven-time Formula 1 world champion), in Agência Senado’s words, “he was made an honorary citizen,” as Formula1.com puts it.
Fact check
The facts and where they come from
- He was sent to the back of the grid, then punished again, but he still won. Formula1.com: “he started the Sprint from P20 and surged to fifth in just 24 laps of racing” … “A further grid penalty dropped him to 10th for Sunday’s Grand Prix, but yet again he carved through the field, sweeping past title rival Max Verstappen to win.” FIA: “a stunning recovery from disqualification in qualifying and an engine-related grid penalty to win the São Paulo Grand Prix.” 46
- His name is Lewis Hamilton. Formula1.com: “The seven-time champ”; “the seven-time World Champion.” FIA: “Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.” 246
- He came to Brazil 19 points behind Max Verstappen. Hamilton, to Formula1.com: “Coming here 19 points behind, only one point ahead in the teams’ championship.” FIA: “Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen.” Formula1.com’s race report is dated November 14, 2021. 361
- On Friday, he was fastest in qualifying. Formula1.com: “Hamilton set the fastest time in Qualifying on Friday, only to be disqualified for a technical infringement.” FIA: “after the Mercedes driver had beaten him to pole position.” 45
- Then officials found his rear wing opened too wide. FIA: “the FIA delegate reported that Hamilton’s car had failed a test to measure the size of DRS aperture”; “When DRS is activated … the gap must be between 10mm and 85mm”; “the gauge would not pass through at the inner section of the wing, but did at the outer section of the wing.” 5
- He was disqualified and started Saturday’s sprint dead last, 20th of 20. FIA: “Car 44 (Hamilton) was disqualified from the results of qualifying as per Article 12.4.1 m of the FIA International Sporting Code.” Formula1.com: “relegating him to the very back of the grid for the 24-lap dash”; he “started the Sprint from P20.” 524
- In 24 laps, he climbed 15 places to finish fifth. Formula1.com: “started the Sprint from P20 and surged to fifth in just 24 laps of racing”; “scything his way through the field to wind up P5 at the flag.” 42
- “Never give up, keep pushing, still I rise,” he said. Hamilton, after the sprint, to Formula1.com: “Really it was just the mental state of mind that I went into, which was just never give up, keep pushing, still I rise, you can do this.” 2
- But a new engine cost him five more places. Formula1.com: “with a five place grid penalty still to come for Hamilton in Sunday’s race for an engine change.” FIA: “a 10th-place grid spot due to an penalty for taking a new ICE ahead of the weekend.” 26
- On Sunday, he started 10th. Formula1.com: “Hamilton enjoyed a terrific start from P10 on the grid”; “starting 10th, he again worked his way up the field.” 13
- He fought up to second, behind Verstappen. Formula1.com: “Hamilton then took P2 off Perez in a duel that began on Lap 17 and culminated in a Lap 19 pass at Turn 4.” FIA: “he closed one more time to pass the Red Bull for the final time and take second place.” 16
- On lap 48, Verstappen pushed him wide, off the track. Formula1.com: “on Lap 48 he closed in on Verstappen, trying to move around the outside of the Red Bull at Turn 4 – but Verstappen pushed him wide, off the track, and kept the lead. The stewards noted it … no investigation necessary.” FIA: “Both cars went off into the run off area but resumed safely.” 16
- On lap 59, he swept around the outside into the lead. Formula1.com: “Lap 59, Hamilton was within a second of Verstappen and had DRS on the run up to Turn 4. He took no chances and made the move stick around the outside on the straight.” 1
- He won by more than ten seconds. Formula1.com’s result: “1 Lewis Hamilton … 1:32:22.851 … 2 Max Verstappen … +10.496s”; “ultimately winning by 10.4 seconds.” 1
- He grabbed a Brazilian flag and held it high, like his hero Ayrton Senna. Formula1.com: “After crossing the line, Hamilton emulated his childhood hero by lifting the Brazilian flag high from the cockpit just as Senna had done after his first home victory in 1991.” Hamilton: “When I saw a marshal holding one, I had to stop and grab it.” Agência Senado: “deu uma volta adicional no autódromo com a bandeira brasileira, repetindo o gesto do piloto Ayrton Senna em 1991.” 48
- The next year, Brazil made him an honorary citizen. Chamber of Deputies, Resolution No. 32 of June 9, 2022: “Concede ao Sr. Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton o título de cidadão honorário da República Federativa do Brasil.” Agência Senado (November 7, 2022): “sessão não deliberativa solene … destinada a conceder o título de cidadão honorário ao piloto britânico heptacampeão mundial de Fórmula 1 Lewis Hamilton.” Formula1.com: “he was made an honorary citizen. In a ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia.” 784
Sources
- Hamilton takes victory in Brazil after stunning drive from P10 and pass on Verstappen (November 14, 2021) Formula1.com
- ‘It’s not over yet’ vows fired-up Hamilton after storming drive from last to P5 in Brazil Sprint (November 13, 2021) Formula1.com
- ‘I don’t remember another weekend like this’ says Hamilton after sensational last-to-first comeback in Brazil (November 14, 2021) Formula1.com
- From Senna’s inspiration to an honorary citizen – Why Hamilton has a special connection to Brazil (November 8, 2025) Formula1.com
- F1 – Hamilton excluded from Interlagos qualifying for wing irregularity, Verstappen fined, Alonso tops second practice (November 13, 2021) FIA
- F1 - Hamilton delivers superb comeback drive to claim victory in Brazil ahead of Verstappen, Bottas (November 14, 2021) FIA
- Resolução da Câmara dos Deputados nº 32, de 9 de junho de 2022 Câmara dos Deputados
- Sessão Especial - Título de Cidadão Honorário do Brasil (photo and caption, November 7, 2022) Agência Senado, on Flickr
Notes
“Dead last” in the race: a popular clip says he started the race last and passed 15 cars in it. He started Saturday’s sprint last (20th) and gained 15 places there; he started Sunday’s race 10th (Formula1.com, FIA). The Short keeps the two days apart.
The wing: the stewards put the breach down to “something gone wrong,” “a fault with the mechanism, or incorrect assembly of the parts” (FIA), and Mercedes said the wing was damaged. The Short says only that officials found it opened too wide; no cheating is implied.
Lap 48: the Short uses Formula1.com’s words (“Verstappen pushed him wide, off the track”); the FIA says both cars went off, the stewards decided no investigation was necessary, and Verstappen called it “a good battle” (Formula1.com). No foul is claimed.
The winning margin: Formula1.com’s result gives +10.496 seconds and its report “10.4 seconds”; the Short says “more than ten seconds.”
Left out: other stewards’ decisions that weekend, the fastest-lap point, the title decider in Abu Dhabi, and Hamilton’s radio message “It’s not over yet.” Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are alive; only race results, official reports and Hamilton’s own published words are used, and Verstappen appears only as the championship leader and Hamilton’s rival.
Pictures: no free photo shows the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix weekend; the only race-day uploads we found come from the state government or are credited to the race promoter, so none is used. Lewis Hamilton is at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on June 30, 2022 (cropped to him), at the Allianz VIP Lounge at Interlagos on November 24, 2013, and at the session in Brasília that made him an honorary citizen on November 7, 2022 (two photos, by the Senate’s and the Chamber of Deputies’ own photographers). His 2021 Mercedes W12 is at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, from the front and the side on July 2, 2021, and from behind, showing the rear wing, on July 4, 2021; Max Verstappen’s Red Bull RB16B is there on July 2, 2021; and the two cars, Verstappen’s ahead, are at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on October 24, 2021 (cropped). Verstappen himself is at the Formula One tests in Barcelona on March 1, 2019. Hamilton’s 2022 Mercedes is at Interlagos on November 13, 2022 (two photos), not 2021. Interlagos is shown from a drone on December 1, 2025, from a SkySat satellite on July 3, 2018, and as an empty start line on February 17, 2008; fans with a giant Brazilian-flag banner are at the Brazilian Grand Prix in October 2004 (rotated and cropped). The engine is a Mercedes Formula One power unit on show at the Formula 1 Exhibition in Madrid on April 13, 2023, filed on Commons as the 2019 unit, not his. Ayrton Senna is in the paddock before the 1993 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Photo credits
The archive photos in this story
The photographs and illustrations in this story are in the public domain or shared under open licenses; each one is credited below with its license. Tap one to enlarge it, or follow the link to its Wikimedia Commons page for the full record. The narration, captions and graphics in the Short are our own; its music and sound effects are credited below.
Music and sound effects
Music: Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68: I. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0); Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain (1886 version) (Musopen, public domain); Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68: IV. Adagio - Piu andante - Allegro non troppo, ma con brio (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0).
Sound effects: Freesound, CC0.
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