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.
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. The Sun
Hamilton 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.”
“I’m sure that Jenson, Rubens and Sebastian are just focusing on their own races rather than each other.”
And with little pressure resting on his shoulders, Hamilton could even help the current F1 Championship leader by stopping Barrichello or Red Bull’s Vettel from winning.
Hamilton 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.” Telegraph.co.uk
The cauldron that awaits Button in Brazil will be the ultimate character-test and Hamilton admits that it is one of the proudest achievements of his life that he emerged victorious last year having stumbled in 2007.
“I tell you, it felt like a really small group of British supporters at Interlagos last year although I knew I had all the British support back at home”, he says. “But I didn’t resent it. It was normal. You look at Silverstone 2008 and I had all the support and Felipe didn’t. I’m sure it was tough for him.
“But I managed to keep it going so if you balance both of them I came out stronger.”
In any case, Hamilton believes the crowd are not as hostile as all that.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of support for Rubens as he is the local boy but I’m pretty certain that the Brazilian fans first and foremost enjoy a great race and a good contest”, he says.
“Brazil is a country with a huge motorsport heritage and I think they love the sport very passionately. From my experience, when I won in Brazil last year, I found that everybody was very happy for me — the whole experience was very positive.” Belfast Telegraph
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