Inside the Storied History of The F1 Brazil Track: Interlagos

Key Takeaways

• Interlagos is one of the most unpredictable tracks in Formula One, with weather swings, elevation changes, and tight sequences. 
• The circuit has produced some of the most memorable moments in F1 Brazilian history, from Senna’s emotional 1991 victory to Hamilton’s last-lap triumph in 2008. 
• With the São Paulo GP securing its place on the calendar through 2030, the future of this F1 track in Brazil promises even more drama and nail-biting championships. 

Autódromo José Carlos Pace, more commonly referred to as Interlagos, is home to some of the most dramatic races in the history of F1, and it remains a place where the hopes for a championship can swing in a single lap. With elevation changes, long-radius corners, and unpredictable storms, this Brazilian track is one of the great equalizers of F1 History.

Anyone who followed Ayrton Senna’s exhausting but unforgettable 1991 win, Kimi Raikkonen’s title steal in 2007, or Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap charge in 2008 knows exactly how quickly fortunes can swing in São Paulo.

There's a palpable tension at Interlagos found on a few other circuits, and with each season comes a new thread in its long-running history, which we’re going to explore today.

Origins of this Brazilian F1 Track

Interlagos began construction in 1938, more than a decade after property developers had initially purchased the land. Planners in São Paulo sought to create a permanent racing venue modeled after the flowing European circuits of the era.

According to early accounts, Brazil’s motorsports scene was on the rise, and this purpose-built course positioned between two lakes (hence the name “Interlagos”) offered the space and topography developers needed.

This early version of the F1 track ran longer than today’s layout, with sweeping sections carved into the wildly uneven terrain Brazil is known for. This video provides an excellent look at the early track, which clearly gave local drivers a place that demanded skill long before Formula One arrived. 

The push to join the World Championship gained momentum in the late 1960s, fueled by local organizers and a growing national interest in international racing. Their efforts paid off when Interlagos received its first official F1 race in 1973. With extreme heat, a bumpy, demanding marshland circuit, and a counter-clockwise layout, the race was much more challenging than drivers expected. 

Ironically enough, difficulty was what helped this Brazilian F1 track gain attention from teams who appreciated the test it offered. 

Legendary Moments Throughout Brazilian F1 History

Senna’s 1991 Home Victory

Ask any old-school F1 fan about the most unforgettable moments at Interlagos, and most will point to Ayrton Senna’s 1991 home victory. Senna spent the final laps of the race stuck in sixth gear, wrestling the car through corners with rain looming overhead. Despite being exhausted and fighting with the steering for seven laps, he held on to win the race by just a few seconds.

Upon his win, he was too exhausted to lift the trophy himself and had to be helped to the podium by a medical car. The celebration that followed was one of the most powerful scenes ever captured at the F1 Brazilian track. 

Title Deciders That Shook the Championship

The early 2000s at Interlagos was a period of Brazilian F1 history with plenty of title drama.

Kimi Raikkonen completed a comeback in 2007 that few expected, clinching the championship after leading a coordinated Ferrari charge and coming from behind to take advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s gearbox failure to win by a single point.

Lucky for Hamilton, he was able to clinch the title in 2008 after passing Timo Glock on the final corner of the last lap, securing the fifth-place finish he needed to win his first World Championship. 

Rain, Safety Cars, and Other Race-Changing Moments

With the circuit’s unique layout and unpredictable weather patterns, Brazilian F1 history is chock-full of chaotic moments.

One of them is Giancarlo Fisichella’s 2003 surprise win after a red flag reshuffled the order in what Auto Hebdo referred to as a “festival of accidents.” Just three hours before the race, Interlagos was hit by a violent storm with rains so heavy that they flooded the press room, yet the event went on.

Another track-defining moment was Vettel’s comeback in 2012 after recovering from a first-lap collision and a treacherously long pit stop.

 The 1990s Interlagos Redesign

The early version of Interlagos stretched over seven kilometers, and by the late 1980s, it was clear that the site needed modern safety upgrades. The major redesign took place between 1990 and 1991. The goal was to create a track that met international standards while maintaining the style that made the venue so special in the first place.

Construction crews added better barriers, upgraded the paddock, and reworked several sections that had become difficult to maintain. When the project was finished, the Brazilian F1 track measured only 4.3 kilometers with a much more concentrated sequence of corners. 

The São Paulo GP Rebrand

The sudden shift to the Sao Paulo GP name marked a turning point for the event.

The last race officially held under the Brazilian Grand Prix title took place in 2019, with Max Verstappen taking the win before the 2020 round was canceled due to the global pandemic.

When Formula One returned in 2021, it did so with a new agreement that secured Interlagos through 2025, ending speculation that the race might relocate to Rio de Janeiro. The name gives local organizers for the Brazilian F1 track a stronger role, with the goal of putting São Paulo on the world stage and positioning the city more prominently in global motorsports coverage.

It's the same reason why we now have the Mexico City Grand Prix, rather than the Mexican Grand Prix.

What the Future Holds for this Brazilian F1 Track

For now, we know that the circuit has a contract to host Formula One until at least 2030, with the 2026 race scheduled for November 1-3.

F1 President Stefano Domenicali noted that he was looking forward to how the circuit continues to develop over the coming years to create a better fan experience, and how recent track resurfacing will make for a more comfortable race for drivers. 

All in all, we imagine the track’s future will remain just as compelling as its past.