It’s Race Week again! The Brazilian Grand Prix is approaching fast — one of the most historic and beloved rounds of the Formula 1 calendar. The Interlagos circuit has always been a stage for thrilling races and unforgettable moments, where some of the sport’s greatest chapters have been written. World Championships have been decided here, and rain-soaked battles have gone down in history. But before diving into those stories, let’s take a look at the layout of the circuit and its key statistics.
With a length of 4,309 meters and 15 corners, the Autódromo José Carlos Pace is one of the shortest yet most technically demanding tracks on the calendar. The first corner is a left-hander, meaning the track runs counterclockwise. The opening sequence of corners and the long start-finish straight are among the most iconic sections, often producing breathtaking duels right up to the finish line. Weather is another decisive factor here — the Brazilian climate has frequently turned the race upside down. Among the current drivers, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have both won three times at Interlagos. As for the teams, McLaren leads the record books with 12 victories, just one more than Ferrari.
Land of title deciders…
For many years, the Brazilian Grand Prix was the season finale of the Formula 1 World Championship — and that meant drama was almost guaranteed. Who could forget Ferrari’s last world title in 2007, sealed right here, when Kimi Räikkönen pulled off an incredible comeback to snatch the championship from Lewis Hamilton? The Briton suffered various problems during that race and lost the title, but one year later, he took revenge — in unforgettable fashion. The final laps were pure chaos as rain began to fall, shaking up strategies. On the very last lap, Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to secure the championship, denying local hero Felipe Massa a dream title in front of his home fans. Ferrari’s heartbreaks didn’t end there: in 2012, Fernando Alonso came close to another championship. A first-lap spin by Sebastian Vettel gave Ferrari hope, but the German fought his way back through the field to crush Fernando Alonso’s dreams once again.
…of legendary comebacks…
Interlagos has always been a place for incredible recoveries. Take last year’s race, when bad weather disrupted the entire weekend. Qualifying had to be moved to Sunday morning, right before the race. Under heavy rain, Max Verstappen seemed to be dancing between walls of water. Starting from 17th position, he delivered one of the greatest comebacks in modern F1 history, eventually winning the race ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly — both driving for Alpine. But that wasn’t Verstappen’s first Brazilian masterpiece: back in 2016, he stunned the world with another rain-soaked drive that marked his arrival among Formula 1’s elite.
Speaking of comebacks, it’s impossible not to mention Lewis Hamilton’s heroic performance in 2021. After being disqualified from qualifying — which that year determined the Sprint grid — Hamilton started the Sprint from the back and recovered to fifth place. However, due to an internal combustion engine change, he had to start the main race from 10th. Once again, he staged a phenomenal recovery, overtaking Max Verstappen and taking one of his most emotional victories in Brazil.
…and unforgettable feats
No discussion of Interlagos would be complete without recalling the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix — a race that cemented Ayrton Senna’s status as a legend. During lap 60, his gearbox failed, leaving him with only sixth gear. Despite that, Senna managed to complete the final laps and win in what seemed an impossible triumph. Completely exhausted, he stopped his McLaren on the Reta Oposta straight and had to be lifted out of the car by marshals before being driven back to the pits. On the podium, Senna could barely lift the trophy, his body drained from the effort, but his victory that day became one of the most iconic moments in Formula 1 history.
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