Max Verstappen has praised Lewis Hamilton for his extraordinary opening lap at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, admitting he was disappointed not to have made a similarly impressive start himself. The Ferrari driver produced one of the most remarkable moments of Sunday’s race at Interlagos, climbing from 20th to ninth in just one lap and gaining an astonishing 11 positions.
Although Max Verstappen also made a spectacular recovery through the field, the Red Bull driver acknowledged that Lewis Hamilton had done an even better job negotiating the traffic at the start. The Dutchman’s comments were particularly notable given the long-standing rivalry between the two Formula 1 champions.
Lewis Hamilton stuns Max Verstappen with incredible Brazilian GP start
Max Verstappen was one of the main protagonists of Sunday’s race at Interlagos. For the third consecutive year, the Dutch champion started from the back of the field and fought his way through to the podium, eventually finishing the Brazilian Grand Prix in second place.
On the opening lap alone, the Red Bull driver, racing with number 3, climbed from 21st to 13th position, gaining eight places in an impressive recovery. However, there was another driver who managed to do even better.
Lewis Hamilton, who had started immediately ahead of Max Verstappen in 20th position, completed the opening lap in an extraordinary ninth place. The seven-time world champion gained 11 positions through a succession of overtakes, producing the kind of spectacular start more commonly associated with a racing video game than a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver’s remarkable progress was particularly impressive considering the number of cars he had to negotiate in the opening corners. His charge through the field immediately transformed what had appeared to be a difficult starting position into an opportunity to fight much further up the order.
The dramatic improvement in Lewis Hamilton’s position can also be explored through the F1 Race Position and Progression Tracker, which allows fans to follow how drivers move through the field during a Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s promising start gives way to a difficult race for Lewis Hamilton
Unfortunately for Lewis Hamilton, the positive developments largely ended with that remarkable opening lap. The remainder of the Brazilian Grand Prix proved considerably more challenging for the Ferrari driver, who was unable to maintain the momentum of his spectacular start.
Despite the difficulties that followed, the opening-lap performance remained one of the highlights of his afternoon. The contrast between his initial recovery and Ferrari’s subsequent struggles was particularly striking, with the SF-26 unable to sustain the competitiveness demonstrated during the opening stages.
Ferrari’s difficulties at Interlagos also raised questions about the car’s performance in changing conditions, with Lewis Hamilton’s early pace disappearing as the race progressed.
Nevertheless, his impressive start did not go unnoticed by his historic rival. Speaking to journalists in Brazil after the race, Max Verstappen admitted that he had been particularly impressed by the Ferrari driver’s ability to find a way through the traffic.
Max Verstappen praises Lewis Hamilton and admits his own starting mistake
Max Verstappen was candid when discussing his own getaway, acknowledging that an error with the clutch had prevented him from making the start he wanted.
“To be honest, my reaction times were very slow at the start,” Max Verstappen admitted. “I held the clutch incorrectly, so I had to react quickly. As a result, I got away slowly. It was my mistake.”
The Red Bull driver then turned his attention to Lewis Hamilton’s performance, making it clear that he had been impressed by what his former championship rival achieved in the opening corners.
“Lewis, on the other hand, had a really great first lap. He managed to squeeze his way between all those cars, so I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t do the same.”
Despite his frustration with the start, Max Verstappen more than made up for it over the following 70 laps, completing an impressive recovery to finish second. His ability to fight back through the field ensured that he remained one of the standout performers of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
For Lewis Hamilton, however, the race told a different story. His extraordinary opening lap demonstrated his ability to make rapid progress through traffic, but Ferrari’s subsequent difficulties prevented that early promise from developing into a similarly impressive overall result.
The contrast between the two drivers’ races was significant: while Max Verstappen converted his recovery into a podium finish, Lewis Hamilton was left with the satisfaction of having produced a first lap impressive enough to earn praise from one of his greatest rivals.
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