Lewis Hamilton Named Honorary Citizen of Brazil

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton waves at the audience after being awarded the Honorary Brazilian Citizenship, during a ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia on 7 November 2022. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)
British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton waves at the audience after being awarded the Honorary Brazilian Citizenship, during a ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia on 7 November 2022. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)
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Lewis Hamilton Named Honorary Citizen of Brazil

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton waves at the audience after being awarded the Honorary Brazilian Citizenship, during a ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia on 7 November 2022. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)
British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton waves at the audience after being awarded the Honorary Brazilian Citizenship, during a ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia on 7 November 2022. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)

Brazil named Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton an honorary citizen Monday, feting the British seven-time champion with a ceremony in Congress.

Hamilton, 37, has a close relationship with Brazil, home of his boyhood idol, the late champion Ayrton Senna, and scene of his first Formula One title in 2008.

Wearing an electric-blue suit, Hamilton received a certificate and a medal in the green and yellow of the Brazilian flag from the speaker of the lower house of Congress, Arthur Lira.

"Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, British by birth but Brazilian at heart," Lira said to loud cheers.

Hamilton, who said he was honored, spoke emotionally of Senna, a three-time F1 champion (1988, 1990, 1991) who died in an accident at the San Marino Gran Prix in 1994.

"I really want to dedicate this honor to Ayrton Senna," AFP quoted the Mercedes driver as saying.

"When I was five years old I saw Ayrton race for the first time, and that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a world champion like him."

Hamilton, who has called Brazil a second home, has won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix three times (2016, 2018, 2021).

But his greatest memory there is perhaps from 2008, when he passed Germany's Timo Glock on the last corner of the last lap to finish fifth and pip Brazil's own Felipe Massa for the driver's title.

The dramatic finish made Hamilton the youngest F1 champ in history and first black driver to win the title.



Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo beat crowd favorite and six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to take pole position at the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez on Saturday, where the lap record was broken twice.

Championship leader Marquez looked on course for a fifth successive pole after he sped to a time of one minute and 35.643 seconds early in the second qualifying, but Quartararo put on a blistering lap in the final moments to stun the Ducati rider.

The 26-year-old Yamaha rider clocked a time of one minute and 35.610 seconds to take his first pole since 2022.

Twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia came third to complete the front row.

"It's a really special feeling, a special emotion for everybody," Quartararo said.

"We know that the points are on the sprint and the race, but already to feel the atmosphere close to all these guys is something.

"Hopefully, we can make a great fight on the sprint, on the race we know it's a little more difficult. But super happy to be here. We are working hard and the work will pay off."

Gresini's Alex Marquez was the fourth fastest, ahead of Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Racing in fifth.

Marquez leads his younger brother Alex by 17 points in the championship and Italian Bagnaia in third by 26. He has the opportunity to stretch it further in the sprint, which will be held later on Saturday.