The Formula 1 race weekend at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Interlagos brings a daunting challenge for two of the grid's biggest heavyweights. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have openly warned that overtaking during the Brazilian Grand Prix main race will be significantly harder than in previous seasons due to the aerodynamic regulations implemented this year.
Both world champions are forced to start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after exceeding their season allocation of power unit components. This heavy penalty places Hamilton 20th on the grid, while Verstappen lines up right behind him in 21st position, ahead only of Cadillac's Sergio Perez at the very back.
Historically, Interlagos has long been renowned as a venue where overtaking is relatively straightforward, allowing for spectacular charge-through drives. Fans vividly remember Hamilton storming to victory from 10th on the grid back in 2021, or Verstappen's masterclass charge from 17th in 2024. However, the elimination of DRS under the 2026 regulations alongside the introduction of the new overtake mode means those historic fightbacks may no longer be replicated easily.
"It's going to be a bit harder to overtake," Verstappen told media outlets after a rain-soaked qualifying session at Interlagos. "The overtake mode doesn't really do a lot around here. Everyone is draining their battery from the last corner to Turn 1. Everyone has their wings open." The leading Red Bull Racing driver further explained that the aerodynamic effect will be reduced once battling cars with similar lap times, making progression through the field an arduous task.
Echoing those sentiments, the star driver for Scuderia Ferrari noted that the technical landscape of the circuit has fundamentally shifted. "I think it will be harder. Because back then we had, obviously, a very long straight, and if you got close, you had the DRS and maybe a car wouldn't have it," he stated. With all drivers now opening their wings simultaneously under the new rules, finding a way past rivals will require extreme tactical patience, though unpredictable wet weather could still alter the course of the race.
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