That too!
Lewis Hamilton's company car gets a new engine.
The Mercedes driver is transferred to São Paulo as a penalty.
The championship chances of front runner Max Verstappen continue to increase.
São Paulo - Under the gray skies of São Paulo, Lewis Hamilton's World Cup prospects have grown even bleak.
At the start of the Grand Prix weekend in Brazil, the Mercedes driver experienced the next setback in a duel with front runner Max Verstappen.
Hamilton had to start five places further down after an illegal engine swap in the fourth last race of the season on Sunday (6 p.m. / Sky).
Red Bull driver Verstappen has excellent prospects of further extending his 19-point lead.
In the opening training session at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, however, the determined Hamilton set the pace.
The Briton set the fastest lap on Friday in 1: 09.050 minutes ahead of Verstappen (+0.367 seconds).
Third after the hour-long session was Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas secured fourth place.
Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel only ended up in twelfth place, Mick Schumacher in Haas was 16.
"Many things can happen in four races"
Hamilton is under pressure - and how!
"It has always been the case that you have to win every race, especially since we came back from the break, but we didn't really make it," said the 36-year-old about the pressure to finally have to win again.
Hamilton celebrated his last of five victories of the season in Russia at the end of September.
The expected engine penalty from Brazil makes his comeback attempt immensely difficult.
Verstappen recently won in the USA and Mexico, and was already successful nine times in 2021.
"I am very focused," assured the 24-year-old, who does not yet want to speak publicly about his first tangible World Cup title.
“A lot of things can happen in four races.
It looks good for us, but things can change very quickly. "
Verstappen referred to summer.
After the Austrian Grand Prix in early July, he was 32 points ahead of Hamilton.
Just two races later, the Englishman moved up to the top with eight points.
"We will try to do our best here again," said Verstappen, who won the last edition in Brazil in 2019.
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Max Verstappen has taken the lead again.
In the rain of Istanbul, Red Bull driver Lewis Hamilton ousted from the front.
The Brit is upset about the Mercedes tactics.
Verstappen "happy" about World Cup leadership - Hamilton angry
Turkey GP: Verstappen dissatisfied - Hamilton "has to be on pole"
Sebastian Vettel would like a rain qualification in Turkey.
Max Verstappen expects Red Bull to make significant progress after a difficult Formula 1 opener in Istanbul. Lewis Hamilton puts himself under pressure to become a Pole.
Turkey GP: Verstappen dissatisfied - Hamilton "has to be on pole"
But Interlagos is always good for dramas - maybe the sprint also has its part in it.
For the third and last time this season, the new format will be held here.
24 laps of full throttle without mandatory pit stop, but with three points for the winner.
On the last sprint weekends, Verstappen was eliminated from the Silverstone race after a collision with Hamilton at top speed, in Monza, Verstappen and Hamilton both crashed spectacularly.
The resolution will now be available on Saturday (8.30 p.m.).
dpa