Sao Paulo - Brazilian comedians gave symbolic "bad luck presents" to British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who is seeking the world championship title Sunday in Sao Paulo.

Hamilton's rival for the title is Brasilian Felipe Massa, so many of his compatriots are hoping for a "miracle" at the season-ender on the Interlagos circuit.

Comedians from the programme "Panic on TV" approached Hamilton late Thursday and handed over to him a shirt of Vasco da Gama, a Rio de Janeiro football team that has lost most of the finals it has played in recent years.

The McLaren-Mercedes driver Hamilton drove a taxi Thursday evening in Sao Paulo in an event organized by one of his sponsors. The comedians approached him during that event.

"We would like to hand you a present that is synonymous with good luck in Brazil," one of them lied, throwing a toy black cat on the driver.

Hamilton just smiled.

The comedians also attempted to hand over to the Brit a box which allegedly held a DVD with the title, "How to lose a race, by Rubens Barrichello." The title was an ironic reference to the veteran Brazilian driver who won very few races in his long career. (dpa)