Hamilton and Verstappen face recovery from back of Brazilian GP grid

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start 20th and 21st on the grid for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, setting up what could be a fascinating race. Both drivers have previously produced memorable recoveries at Interlagos, where overtaking has traditionally been easier than at most circuits.

Hamilton was 10th on the grid in 2021 after a five-place penalty and battled to the front, while Verstappen won from 17th in 2022 after a similar penalty, benefiting from wet conditions. This year, the absence of DRS and the layout of the track are expected to make passing harder. Hamilton said overtaking would be harder than in 2021, adding that his plan was simply to try to win somehow.

Verstappen also expects overtaking to be difficult, pointing to limited overtake mode on the long straight. He said he is hoping for safety car periods to help his chances, adding that he would start from lap one and see where he ended up.