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Thursday October 15, 2009

Lewis warns fellow Brit of cauldron of hate in Brazil

LONDON: Jenson Button must prepare for a cauldron of hate when he bids for world title glory in Brazil on Sunday.

The Brit takes on team-mate and title rival Rubens Barrichello in the Brazilian’s backyard in Sao Paulo.

In demand: Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello, wearing a jersey of Brazilian soccer team Corinthians, showing off his helmet with the logo of a new sponsor in Sao Paulo on Tuesday. - AP

Brawn GP star Button leads his pal by 14 points with Germany’s Sebastian Vettel two further back.

And Lewis Hamilton knows just what Button will face after going up against Brazilian Felipe Massa in their championship decider in Sao Paulo last year.

Hamilton was driven to the Interlagos track in a bullet-proof car amid fears he would be targeted by armed gangs in the local slums.

The McLaren Mercedes team took on extra security in case fans — who booed the Brit every time he went down the home straight — tried to sabotage his car.

Hamilton, 24, said: “It was the most intense experience of my life. I had two per cent of the fans wanting me to win while the rest were for Felipe.

“There is going to be a lot of support for Rubens this year as he is the local boy. But I think every driver deals with these situations in their own way.

“I’m sure that Jenson, Rubens and Sebastian are just focusing on their own races rather than each other.”

Hamilton was crowned the sport’s youngest-ever champion after seeing off Massa by just one point in the most thrilling decider in Formula One history.

And he could help Button, 29, succeed him as drivers’ supremo by taking points off the two main rivals. Button will be champion with the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi to spare if he finishes third in Brazil.

But his task will be even easier if F1’s form man Hamilton stops Barrichello or Red Bull racer Vettel from winning.

Hamilton, who suffered championship agony in Interlagos in his rookie year in 2007, added: “It will be the first time I’ve travelled to Sao Paulo without being in contention for the title.

“I’m looking forward to taking in a bit of the city and relaxing. But I’m there to win the race.”

Hamilton has outscored all three title contenders in the last six races — winning two of them — in a boost to his hopes of regaining the crown in 2010.

Mercedes boss Norbert Haug said: “Lewis has beaten Jenson four times, Rubens and Sebastian three times each.

“Lewis has managed 34 points in his last six, whereas Rubens scored 27, Sebastian 22 and Jenson 17 — which is only half of Lewis’ points.

“I know from my experience what I am talking about when I say that with the 16-point deficit of Sebastian to Jenson, nothing has been decided yet.” — The Sun, London

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