Lewis Hamilton has Neymar involved before the big F1 battle in Brazil

Lewis Hamilton stayed with Brazilian fans on Wednesday to invite football star Neymar to the record for the British record-breaking eighth Formula 1 championship before the big weekend.

The Mercedes driver told reporters he hoped to watch his friend in the five-time World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Colombia at the home of the Sao Paulo Corinthians on Thursday night.

“I’m very much in touch with Neymar, quite often, we only actually talked earlier today,” the British explained at the press conference to team sponsor Petronas.

“I know he’s playing tomorrow, I really want to go see the game.”

Paris St Germain striker Neymar and Hamilton have spent time on several occasions in the past, and the Brazilian once referred to the Formula 1 champion as “brother of another mother.”

Formula One only has media assignments on Thursday, and the action kicks off on Friday with practice and a qualifying session for Saturday’s sprint race.

Hamilton is 19 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the championship series after four races, including Interlagos.

Mercedes is just a point ahead of Red Bull in the Builders Championship.

This season has been one of the tightest and toughest in recent years, with the lead swinging between two competitors, and Hamilton hoped next year could be even more competitive with the new rules and cars.

He said it should make a difference in wanting to get more grip on the tires and also reduce turbulence when following another car.

“They’ve developed this new car so you can use less compression when you follow another car, so we really hope the race will be the best Formula 1 has ever seen,” he said.

The new cars have larger 18-inch tires with guards and simpler front and rear wings designed to make it easier for drivers to overtake.