The Interlagos Circuit is among the oldest venues in Formula One with the first race held year way back in 1973. Sao Paolo native Ayrton Senna’s success in Formula One proved to be a catalyst as authorities decided to revamp the old circuit to popularize the sport in Brazil.
The newly revamped circuit held its first race in 1990 and has since been a venue for some of the most exciting and remarkable races. On many occasions, the Brazilian Grand Prix was the concluding Grand Prix of the season and saw many champions being crowned. This year, however, this is not the case as the Formula One calendar has been expanded to include more races.
Brazilian Grand Prix – facts and stats
45 Grands Prix (35 at Interlagos, 10 at Jacarepagua)
Track length: 4.309km/2.677 miles (third-shortest track of the year – longest: Spa-Francorchamps, shortest: Monaco)
Race length: 305.909 km (190.083 mi)
Laps: 71
Distance to Turn One: 190m/0.118 miles (longest of season: Mexico 800m/0.497 miles)
Longest straight: 650m/0.404 miles, on the approach to Turn One (longest of the season: Baku, 2.1km/1.305 miles)
Top speed: 320km/h/199mph, on the approach to Turn One (fastest of season: Monza, 360km/h/224mph)
Full throttle: 62 per cent (highest of the season: Monza, 75 per cent)
Fuel consumption: 1.49kg per lap, which is low
Gear changes: 42 per lap/2,982 per race
Trickiest bits for the driver
Turn One is the most obvious overtaking point on the lap, helped by the fact that it’s a difficult corner to get right. It’s preceded by a long straight, so entry speeds are high and it’s easy to out-brake yourself because the track drops away abruptly at the apex.
Car set-up
Medium-to-high downforce. The gauge for downforce levels will be Turn Three; if it’s easy-flat-out with the 2017-spec cars, teams will trim downforce levels to increase straight-line speed.
Grip levels
High. The track was re-surfaced two years ago and it remains in good condition. The bumps aren’t as bad as they were, meaning the cars can be set-up low and stiff.
Wins (drivers)
PROST Alain 6
SCHUMACHER Michael 4
REUTEMANN Carlos 3
VETTEL Sebastian 3
FITTIPALDI Emerson 2
PIQUET Nelson 2
MANSELL Nigel 2
SENNA Ayrton 2
HAKKINEN Mika 2
MONTOYA Juan-Pablo 2
MASSA Felipe 2
WEBBER Mark 2
ROSBERG Nico 2
PACE Carlos 1
LAUDA Niki 1
LAFFITE Jacques 1
ARNOUX René 1
HILL Damon 1
VILLENEUVE Jacques 1
COULTHARD David 1
FISICHELLA Giancarlo 1
RAIKKONEN Kimi 1
BUTTON Jenson 1
HAMILTON Lewis 1
Wins (constructors)
McLaren 12
Ferrari 11
Williams 6
Red Bull 4
Mercedes 3
Brabham 2
Renault 2
Benetton 2
Lotus 1
Ligier 1
Jordan 1
Last race (2017)
Pole position: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 1:08.322
Podium
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 1:31:26.262
2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) +2.762
3. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) +4.600
Fastest lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull-TAG Heuer) 1:11.044
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