As Ferrari heads to Brazil for the final stop of the season’s penultimate triple-header, we’re diving into some of the most fascinating facts and stats.
Brazil’s deep-rooted passion for motorsport dates back to the 1930s when the country hosted its first Grand Prix races and began constructing the Interlagos circuit, Brazil’s first permanent racing venue. The bowl-like track would soon become synonymous with speed and excitement.
The world’s attention turned to Brazil in 1972 when Emerson Fittipaldi became the country’s first Formula One World Champion. The following year, Interlagos hosted its first Formula One World Championship event, where Fittipaldi triumphed, igniting a new era in Brazilian motorsport. He repeated his victory the next year, cementing his legacy.
The streak of Brazilian victories at Interlagos continued in 1975 with hometown hero Carlos Pace winning for Brabham. Tragically, Pace’s life was cut short in a plane crash two years later, and the circuit was renamed Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in his honor.
The spotlight then shifted to Rio de Janeiro in 1978, with the Grand Prix moving to the Jacarepaguá circuit, which became a staple of the early 1980s season. But Interlagos would reclaim its prominence, thanks in large part to the rise of Ayrton Senna. The São Paulo native’s success and charisma convinced city officials to invest $15 million into upgrading and modernizing the Interlagos circuit. The track returned to the Formula One calendar in 1990 and has been the permanent home of the Brazilian Grand Prix ever since.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in Formula One history:
Ayrton Senna, despite racing in Formula One since 1984, had to wait until 1991 to secure his first home victory. It was a grueling race where, stuck in sixth gear, Senna clung to the lead and crossed the finish line in sheer exhaustion, needing to be lifted from his car and taken to the podium.
The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix is remembered as one of the most thrilling races of all time. Felipe Massa crossed the line believing he had won the world championship. But in the final moments, on the last corner of the last lap, Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to secure fifth place – and the single point he needed to snatch the title from Massa. It was a heart-wrenching turn of events, unparalleled in its suspense.
The circuit has also been the site of remarkable comebacks, such as in 2012, when Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull Racing, was knocked to the back of the field on the opening lap. In an extraordinary drive, he fought his way back through the pack to score enough points to clinch his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
Interlagos remains a place where history is made, and this year’s race promises to add another chapter to its storied legacy.
Although the Brazilian Grand Prix has a rich history of thrilling races, 13 of the last 14 victories have come from the front row of the grid. Before Hamilton’s win from 10th in 2021, the last driver to triumph from outside the top two starting positions was Kimi Raikkonen for Ferrari in 2007.
Out of 40 World Championship races held at Interlagos, 25 different drivers have claimed victory. The circuit witnessed its longest streak of unique winners between 1974 and 1992, with nine consecutive races producing no repeat champions.
Grand Slams in São Paulo
Two drivers have achieved Grand Slams at Interlagos, where they took pole position, set the fastest lap, and led every lap of the race. Jacques Laffite accomplished this at the 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix, while Mika Häkkinen repeated the feat in 1998.
Close finishes are a hallmark of this circuit, with 15 races being decided by less than five seconds, including three of the last six Grands Prix. Over the last ten races at Interlagos, the average winning margin has been just 6.173 seconds.
Starting position often plays a crucial role, but the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix saw Carlos Sainz achieve the most remarkable comeback, finishing third after starting from 20th on the grid. Pole-sitters, meanwhile, have made it to the podium 27 times at Interlagos, including in every race over the last decade.
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