Lewis Hamilton breaks another record as Mercedes match Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton with the champagne — Photo: © LAT Images

São Paulo Grand Prix

Hamilton breaks another record as Mercedes match Ferrari

All the best stats and facts from the São Paulo Grand Prix

GPFans Staff

Monday 15 November 2021 11:37

Lewis Hamilton overcame a qualifying disqualification and a five-place grid penalty to take an incredible São Paulo Grand Prix victory.

Starting 10th on the grid, the Mercedes driver carved through the top half of the field before out-duelling championship rival Max Verstappen in what is sure to be deemed an all-time classic race.

Valtteri Bottas picked up third as Mercedes opened up a small gap in the constructors' standings, with Ferrari also excelling over rivals McLaren in the battle for third.

Here are the best stats and facts from Interlagos.

Mercedes match legendary Ferrari duo

Hamilton's victory notched win number 58 for the partnership between the Briton and Bottas.

This equals the tally amassed by legendary Ferrari partners Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello between 2000 and 2005 in the years the German added five drivers' titles to his two earned in 1994 and 1995.

Hamilton's unique charge

The win for seven-time champion Hamilton was only the second in his career when starting outside the top six, following his triumph in Germany when starting from 14th at Hockenheim in 2018.

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It was also the first time a driver had won from outside the top eight at Interlagos since F1 began racing in São Paulo in 1972.

What grid penalty?

Hamilton became just the fourth driver in F1 history to win a race after a grid penalty, following in the wheel-tracks of Sir Jackie Stewart [Britain 1969], Kimi Raikkonen [Japan 2005] and Jenson Button [Hungary 2006].