Brazilian GP

Interlagos Circuit, officially named Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, is regarded as one of the most challenging and exciting circuits on the Formula One calendar. The circuit is located in the outskirts of Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. Unusually the Interlagos racing circuit runs anti-clockwise and is at high-altitude, so races are particularly hard on the drivers. The heat and humidity of Brazil also add to the driver's discomfort.



The combination of the tight infield and the long straight make the track layout very unique. The track has a bit of everything - low speed, high speed and there are several overtaking opportunities. Interlagos has some great corners such as the Curva do Laranjinha with lots of g-force and there are real overtaking opportunities into the Senna S at the start of the lap and under braking for turn four, Descida do Lago, at the end of the back straight.

The present design of the track dates back from 1990, when the original circuit due to safety reasons was shortened from 7.83 kilometers to only 4.31 kilometers. The first Brazilian Grand Prix on the reconfigured circuit was won by Frenchman Alain Prost, with Austria's Gerhard Berger in second place and Brazil's Ayrton Senna in third.

Compared to some circuits, Interlagos has a relatively small capacity of about 70,000 people. The fact that the track was built within a natural amphitheatre has resulted in spectators being offered an excellent view of more than half of the circuit, regardless of where they sit. Weather conditions can change rather dramatically at this time of year, so be advised to bring both raincoat and sun cream to Interlagos.

• DID YOU KNOW?
• Five Brazilian drivers have won on home soil since the Brazilian Grand Prix became a part of the world championship in 1973. Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa took two wins apiece, whilst Carlos Pace won once.
• Mark Webber celebrated his final F1 race by removing his helmet on the slow-down lap after finishing second at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2013
• For most of its existence (until 2003), the Brazilian Grand Prix had an early season calendar slot. It only moved to a late-season slot from 2004, holding the calendar’s final race for 5 years until Abu Dhabi joined the calendar in 2009.
• The circuit is located in the Sao Paolo suburb of Interlagos, which literally translates in Portugese as ‘between the lakes’. Even though the circuit was renamed Autodromo José Carlos Pace in honor of Carlos Pace, a Sao Paolo local who won his only F1 race at the circuit in 1975 but died tragically in a light air crash in 1977, many still refer to it as Interlagos.
• Alain Prost is the most successful driver with six Brazilian Grand Prix victories between 1982-1990, five of which were at the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio (his sixth and final was came at Interlagos in 1990.) The next most successful drivers in Brazil are Carlos Reutemann and Michael Schumacher, who each took the checkered flag four times.

Most wins 

- Alain Prost (6)

- Carlos Reutemann (4)

- Michael Schumacher (4)

2016 Race winner :  Lewis Hamilton

2016 Fastest Lap : Max Verstappen  1:25:305

2016 Pole position :  Lewis Hamilton 1:10:736

AUTÓDROMO JOSÉ CARLOS PACE

FIRST GRAND PRIX: 1973

NUMBER OF LAPS: 71

CIRCUIT LENGTH: 4.309KM

RACE DISTANCE: 305.909KM

LAP RECORD: 1:11.473 BY JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (2004)