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The Brazilian Grand Prix takes place at Interlagos from November 1 to 3, bringing the American leg of this season's Formula 1 calendar to a close and providing an opportunity to revisit the highlights of previous editions.
Part of the F1 calendar since 1973, the Brazilian Grand Prix has provided a series of spectacular and unforgettable moments. Here are some of the most iconic events that have taken place at the Interlagos circuit.
1991: Ayrton Senna finally wins on home soil
When you think of Brazil, the name Ayrton Senna immediately springs to mind. More than just an exceptional driver, he is a national legend, the messiah of the sport for many Brazilians. However, the three-time world champion had to wait until his seventh season in Formula 1 to win in front of his own fans. Starting from pole position, Senna seemed destined to win, especially as his closest rival, Nigel Mansell, had a puncture and lost ground.
As the crowd prepared to celebrate the victory, Senna's gearbox locked up in sixth gear. Most drivers would have been forced to retire, but the Brazilian continued, determined to finish the race on home soil. He crossed the finish line 2.9 seconds ahead of Ricardo Patrese, a feat that is still considered superhuman today. Exhausted, Senna struggled to get out of the car and lift the trophy on the podium, a scene that highlighted both his physical fatigue and his overwhelming emotion.
2008: Lewis Hamilton wins his first title
The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix became one of the most dramatic season finales in F1 history. Lewis Hamilton needed at least fifth place to win the championship if Felipe Massa, in pole position, took the win for Ferrari. Starting in fourth position, Hamilton seemed well placed, but he quickly found himself stuck in sixth position behind Timo Glock. Massa crossed the finish line first, convinced that the title was his, and the Ferrari team exploded with joy. In the final corner, however, Hamilton managed to overtake Glock and clinch fifth place, winning the championship by a single point. This victory also made him the youngest world champion at 23 years, 9 months, and 26 days, a result that left an indelible mark on the sport.
2012: Michael Schumacher's final race
Interlagos hosted Michael Schumacher's final Formula 1 Grand Prix. After a ten-year career spanning more than 300 races and seven world titles, the seven-time champion finished seventh in Brazil, watching his compatriot Sebastian Vettel win his third championship. Overwhelmed with emotion, Schumacher received a heartfelt ovation from the fans and the entire paddock, marking the end of an era for one of the sport's greatest drivers.
2019: Pierre Gasly's first podium finish
November 17, 2019, will be remembered as the day Pierre Gasly made his breakthrough. After a difficult first half of the season with Red Bull that saw him demoted to Toro Rosso, the Frenchman showed resilience at Interlagos. Starting in sixth position, he led much of the race and took advantage of the retirements of both Ferraris, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, to move up to third place on lap 69.
A collision between Lewis Hamilton and Alexander Albon then propelled Gasly into second place, giving him his first F1 podium finish. At 23, he became the youngest French driver to finish on an F1 podium, a form of “revenge” after his dismissal from Red Bull and a clear demonstration of his talent. Less than a year later, he would turn that promise into his first victory at Monza. 2021: Lewis Hamilton's spectacular comeback In the battle for the 2021 title with Max Verstappen, Hamilton was penalized in Brazil for changing his engine, which cost him five places on the starting grid. He took pole position in qualifying but was then disqualified for a DRS opening that was too small, forcing him to start the sprint race at the back of the grid. After finishing fifth in the sprint, he started Sunday's race in tenth position. Hamilton then put in a masterful performance, quickly moving up to second place and overtaking Verstappen on lap 59. He won the Grand Prix after making 24 overtakes, achieving one of the most remarkable comebacks in Formula 1 history.
