Improvements that work
The season is winding down, yet the title races still hold drama. Max Verstappen and Red Bull have sealed the drivers’ and teams’ crowns, but three Grands Prix remain, including Sao Paulo, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. Mercedes sees Sao Paulo as a clear opportunity. Sitting second in the standings, 23 points adrift of Ferrari, the team aims to echo last year’s strong showing. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are at the forefront of that push, with Hamilton chasing a closer fight for second overall as he narrows the gap to the top step.
Looking back at the midseason action, Hamilton would have mounted a much tighter challenge if not for a disqualification in Austin that cost him 18 points. The British driver has delivered a remarkable season finish, staying inside the top six in every race and collecting six podiums to date. His consistency has underpinned Mercedes’ resurgence, even as the team has faced setbacks and stiff competition from Verstappen and his RB19 machine.
Perez has endured a dramatic Sunday of his own this season, including a crash at the start in Mexico that left him without points. That result, paired with Hamilton’s strong finish and the bonus point for fastest lap, has kept Perez in the championship mix. With 220 points, he sits just 20 behind the Mexican rival as the Brazilian Grand Prix approaches, a race that will see Hamilton adored by the local fans as Sao Paulo once again becomes a stage for intense spectacle.
Lewis, “super motivated”
Hamilton has stressed that if the car is performing at the needed level, the team will give its best in the fight for the title. The Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil is a homecoming of sorts for him. He recalls 2021, when he received honorary citizenship from Brazil in recognition of Ayrton Senna, an enduring idol for the sport. That moment stands out as one of the most surreal in his career, and it fuels his current drive as he targets a strong performance this season in front of the passionate Brazilian crowd.
Hamilton has explained that the goal is straightforward: push as hard as the car allows and pursue every available opportunity to climb the standings. As for Russell, the Englishman is focused on maintaining momentum and repeating last year’s Interlagos victory. The duo sees a clear path forward: a car capable of winning races again, with Mercedes aiming to reassert itself at the summit of the championship and force Verstappen to contend with a renewed challenge. The atmosphere around Mercedes is charged with belief that a sustained push can redefine the season’s closing chapters.
Interlagos, perched at an altitude of around 760 meters above sea level, brings a mix of slow corners and long straights. It is a track that can surprise even the best teams. The top-end speed that gives Red Bull an edge elsewhere does not dominate this circuit, allowing Mercedes to position itself as a serious threat once more. If the balance shifts, it could echo the way Carlos Sainz and Ferrari challenged the order in Singapore, demonstrating that the championship machine can meet its maker from time to time. The track record this year has left Verstappen with numerous wins, but the dynamic nature of Sao Paulo means surprises are possible and the outcome is far from sealed.
Last year, Red Bull’s Verstappen and Perez faced stiff competition, with Verstappen finishing off the podium and Perez in the lower part of the top ten at times. The season has featured Verstappen collecting many victories, yet the field has shown capable performances from Mercedes, Ferrari, and even McLaren at various moments. The race in Sao Paulo could deliver another pivotal moment in the fight for position behind the championship leader, reinforcing the unpredictable charm of Formula 1 as a season culminates.