Brazilian Grand Prix

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Circuit Interlagos.png
Brazil Grand Prix
Flag 22px-Flag of Brazil.png
Circuit Autódromo José Carlos Pace
Laps 71
Circuit length km 4.309
Circuit length mi 2.677
Race length km 305.909
Race length mi 190.067
Most wins driver 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost (6)
Most wins constructor 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png McLaren (11)
Current year 2007
Winner 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen
Winning team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Ferrari
Winning time 1:28:15.270
Pole time 1:11.931
Pole driver 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Felipe Massa
Pole team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Ferrari
Fastest lap 1:12.445
Fastest lap driver 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen
Fastest lap team 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Ferrari


The Brazilian Grand Prix (Portuguese: Grande Prêmio do Brasil) is a Formula One championship race which occurs at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, a district in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

A Brazilian Grand Prix was first held at Interlagos in 1972, although it was not part of the Formula One World Championship. The following year, however, the race was first included in the official calendar. In 1978 the Brazilian Grand Prix moved to Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro, briefly returning to Interlagos for the next two seasons before becoming the sole host from 1981 onwards. In 1990 the Grand Prix returned to Interlagos, where it has stayed since. In 2005, for the first time, the Brazilian GP decided the World Championship, won by Fernando Alonso. On October 22, 2006, Felipe Massa won the Brazilian GP.

While the quality of its facilities are often questioned, the Interlagos circuit has created some of the most exciting and memorable races in recent Formula One history, and is regarded as one of the most challenging and exciting circuits on the F1 calendar. Along with Spa-Francorchamps, it is rare in that the circuit in its modern form is one of the few with a lengthy history in the sport not considered to have lost much of its mystique or challenge in its adaptation for the modern, much more safety-conscious era of 21st century Formula One.

Particularly memorable recent Brazilian Grands Prix include the 2003 race, which saw a maiden Grand Prix victory, highly unexpectedly, and amidst chaotic and unusual circumstances, for Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella. Heavy rain before and during the race produced problems with tyre selection which caught out many teams, which allowed the weak Minardi team to have a real chance for victory the only time ever, because they were the only team who prepared to the rainfall, but their drivers were also soon out. And treacherous track conditions caused multiple drivers to spin out of the race, including then-reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher, ending a remarkable run of race finishes dating back to the German Grand Prix 2001. Amidst this, a number of drivers, including McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard, led the race, and, when a heavy accident involving Renault's Fernando Alonso blocked the circuit and brought out the red flag, confusion reigned. Fisichella led the race at the time, having just overtaken Räikkönen; however, it was the Finn who was declared the race winner under the count back rule, which stipulates that the race result in such circumstances is taken from the running order two laps prior to the race being stopped. This decision was overturned days later in the FIA Court of Appeal in Paris after new evidence came to light which proved that Fisichella had crossed the finish line in the lead for a second time before Alonso's accident, and therefore was the rightful winner.

The 2001 Grand Prix was notable for marking the explosive arrival of Juan Pablo Montoya onto the Formula One scene. The Colombian driver stunningly muscled his way past Michael Schumacher early on and led easily until an incident in which Arrows' Jos Verstappen ran into the back of his Williams-BMW and ended his race. Montoya did eventually lay to rest the ghost of this event by winning the 2004 race in his final Grand Prix for Williams before moving to McLaren, holding off his future team-mate Kimi Räikkönen to take a hard-fought victory.

Fernando Alonso became the youngest ever Formula One World Champion at the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix, his third place behind winner Juan Pablo Montoya and championship rival Kimi Räikkönen enough to clinch the title with two races remaining.

For 2006 the Brazilian Grand Prix, as in 2004, was moved to the prestigious position of hosting the final round of the season, in what was Michael Schumacher's farewell to Formula One. Starting from 10th position on the grid, Schumacher did an astonishing job on his last race. He fell to 19th position on the ninth lap due to a flat tyre caused by a minor collision with Giancarlo Fisichella when the former was trying to overturn the latter. After pitting for a new tyre he returned to the race, just in front of leader Massa, so almost being overlapped, passing several drivers to take the chequered flag in fourth place, after a dazzling passing manoeuvre on Kimi Räikkönen. His performance was not enough to give 'Schumi' his eighth trophy, as Fernando Alonso, who needed only one point to become World Champion again, finished in second place. Brazilian Felipe Massa took pole position and led the race from start to finish for the second victory of his career and celebrations from his Brazilian supporters.

In March 2008, the mayor of Sao Paulo announced that he had signed a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone to continue the holding of the Brazilian Grand Prix. This deal allows the Brazilian race to be on the calendar until 2015. With this, Interlagos is set for major improvements in its pit and paddock facilities.

Winners

Drivers

# Wins Driver Years Won
6 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
4 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann 1972, 1977, 1978, 1981
22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002
2 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi 1973, 1974
22px-Flag of Brazil.png Nelson Piquet 1983, 1986
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Nigel Mansell 1989, 1992
22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna 1991, 1993
22px-Flag of Finland.png Mika Häkkinen 1998, 1999
22px-Flag of Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya 2004, 2005
1 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Carlos Pace 1975
22px-Flag of Austria.png Niki Lauda 1976
22px-Flag of France.png Jacques Laffite 1979
22px-Flag of France.png René Arnoux 1980
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill 1996
22px-Flag of the Canada.png Jacques Villeneuve 1997
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png David Coulthard 2001
3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Giancarlo Fisichella 2003
22px-Flag of Brazil.png Felipe Massa 2006
22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen 2007

Constructors

Emboldened constructors are still competing in the Formula One championship

# Wins Constructor Years Won
11 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png McLaren 1974, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991,
1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005
9 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Ferrari 1976, 1977, 1978, 1989, 1990, 2000,
2002, 2006, 2007, 2008
6 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Williams 1981, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2004
3 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Brabham 1972, 1975, 1983
2 22px-Flag of France.png Renault 1980, 1982
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Benetton 1994, 1995
1 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Lotus 1973
22px-Flag of France.png Ligier 1979
22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Jordan 2003

By year

A light gray background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
2009 22px-Flag of Australia.png Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault Interlagos 4.3 km circuit Report
2008 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Felipe Massa Ferrari Interlagos 4.3 km circuit Report
2007 22px-Flag of Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Interlagos Report
2006 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Felipe Massa Ferrari Interlagos Report
2005 22px-Flag of Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes Interlagos Report
2004 22px-Flag of Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW Interlagos Report
2003 3dflagsdotcom italy2bs.gif Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford Interlagos Report
2002 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Interlagos Report
2001 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes Interlagos Report
2000 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Interlagos Report
1999 22px-Flag of Finland.png Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Interlagos Report
1998 22px-Flag of Finland.png Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Interlagos Report
1997 22px-Flag of the Canada.png Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault Interlagos Report
1996 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Damon Hill Williams-Renault Interlagos Report
1995 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Interlagos Report
1994 22px-Flag of Germany.png Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Interlagos Report
1993 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Ford Interlagos Report
1992 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault Interlagos Report
1991 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Interlagos Report
1990 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost Ferrari Interlagos Report
1989 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png Nigel Mansell Ferrari Jacarepaguá Report
1988 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost McLaren-Honda Jacarepaguá Report
1987 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Jacarepaguá Report
1986 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Nelson Piquet Williams-Honda Jacarepaguá Report
1985 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Jacarepaguá Report
1984 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Jacarepaguá Report
1983 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW Jacarepaguá Report
1982 22px-Flag of France.png Alain Prost Renault Jacarepaguá Report
1981 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Jacarepaguá Report
1980 22px-Flag of France.png René Arnoux Renault Interlagos Report
1979 22px-Flag of France.png Jacques Laffite Ligier-Ford Interlagos Report
1978 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann Ferrari Jacarepaguá Report
1977 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann Ferrari Interlagos Report
1976 22px-Flag of Austria.png Niki Lauda Ferrari Interlagos Report
1975 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Carlos Pace Brabham-Ford Interlagos Report
1974 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren-Ford Interlagos Report
1973 22px-Flag of Brazil.png Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford Interlagos Report
1972 22px-Flag of Argentina.png Carlos Reutemann Brabham-Ford Interlagos Report


External links


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German | European| Hungarian | Turkish | Italian | Belgian | Japanese | Chinese | Brazilian

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