10 things you need to know about Brazilian GP

It is the season finale of Formula One in 2013 before the cars return afresh with new engines, rules and regulations in 2014. The Brazilian GP will be the 19th and final round of the season that has been dominated by Red-Bull and Sebastian Vettel with him becoming the World Champion for the fourth consecutive time. The German driver has got his name into the record-books time and again and has a chance of doing it one more time.

Here’s a list of things you need to know about the Brazilian GP.

The Venue

The Interlagos Circuit, officially called the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace held its first F1 Grand Prix in 1973

The race will be held at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo. Also known as Interlagos, the official name of the circuit is a tribute to Brazilian and Sau Paulo racing driver Jose Carlos Pace. Pace won the home grand prix in 1975 on the original Interlagos circuit. Following his unfortunate death in an air crash in 1977, the track was renamed in his honour keeping in mind it was his only win.

Historical Race

The shortened Interlagos Circuit has been home to the Brazilian GP since 1990 though races were held at the 8 km long circuit in 1970′s

The race has been held at two venues. The 4.3km Interlagos layout has held the F1 Brazilian GP since 1990. Prior to this the race was held in Rio de Janeiro at Jacarepaguá (1978,1981-89) and on the older and 8km long Interlagos layout (1973-77, 1979-80). The only drivers to win in both cities are Alain Prost and Carlos Reutemann. The shortened Interlagos circuit might not be as challenging like the older circuit but features many sections carried over from its predecessor.

Men of the Soil

Brazil is yet to witness a World Champion from the country since the great Ayrton Senna in 1991

Five Brazilian drivers have won their home grand prix: Emerson Fittipaldi (1973-74), Jose Carlos Pace (1975), Nelson Piquet (1983, 1986), Ayrton Senna (1991, 1993), and Felipe Massa (2006, 2008). Brazil is yet to witness a World Champion since the great Senna who won his last Championship in 1991.

Mclaren Rules Brazil

Emerson Fittipaldi won the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1974 driving for Mclaren

McLaren have a record of 12 wins in Brazil. Emerson Fittipaldi triumphed at home in 1974, Alain Prost won in ’84, ’85, ’87 and ’88, Ayrton Senna in ’91 and ’93, Mika Hakkinen in ’98 and ’99, David Coulthard in 2001, Juan Pablo Montoya in 2005 and Jenson Button in 2012. Ferrari are not far behind with 10 wins with the last one being Massa’s win in 2008.

The Driver to beat

Alain Prost is the most successful driver at the race with 6 wins. Though five of them were at the Jacarepaguá in Rio di Janero.

Alain Prost is the most successful driver in the history of the race with six victories (1982, 1984-85, 1987-88, 1990) followed by Michael Schumacher (1994-95, 2000, 2002). Among the current drivers Felipe Massa(2006,2008) and Mark Webber (2009, 2011) are two time winners. Kimi Raikkonen (2007), Sebastian Vettel (2010), Lewis Hamilton(2012) have also won here.

The Challenge

The Brazilian GP is known for its unpredictability with a major role played by the weather.

The circuit sits in a bowl, giving it the feel of an amphitheatre. It is 800 metres above sea level and one of the toughest circuits on engines. The cars require more wing for a given level of down-force than they would at sea-level; however the thinner air does mean a corresponding reduction in drag. The track’s other stand-out features include its steep start-line straight, the unpredictable weather, its notoriously bumpy surface and its anti-clockwise direction that makes it physical draining for the drivers.

Confusion galore

Kimi Raikkonen and Giancharlo Fisichella at the podium after the 2003 Brazilian GP. The win was later handed over to Fisichella.

The 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix proved one of the most confusing races in living memory where the winner was changed three days after the race. The race started under the safety car with a wet track and lack of suitable tyres. The track was difficult to drive on and the drivers kept retiring by the minute. Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella was leading the pack when the red flag stopped the race due to Mark Webber’s accident. Organisers announced Kimi Raikkonen the winner in the McLaren over confusion about a two lap countback rule. Three days later the FIA overruled the decision handing Fisichella the victory and his first Grand Prix win.

Massa missed the title by a whisker

Despite winning the his home Grand Prix in Brazil in 2008, Felipe Massa lost the Championship title to Lewis Hamilton

There is hardly a dull moment at Interlagos with rain, cars crashing and session being stopped with a Billboard falling down on track. There has been quite a drama with the title getting decided quite remarkably on more than one occasion. A thrilling climax to the Championship was witnessed yet again in 2008, where the title was not decided until half a minute after the winner had crossed the line. Felipe Massa won the race for Ferrari leaving Lewis Hamilton in the Mclaren the task of finishing fifth to clinch the title. With rain falling he was running only sixth into the last sector of the final lap. Hamilton remarkably made the pass on Timo Glock in the Toyota during the final seconds of the race and beat Massa by a solitary point to win his maiden Championship.

Title Decider

The Brazilian GP has witnessed quite a few title deciding races in the recent times.

The Brazilian Grand Prix has played a significant part in every Drivers’ Championship battle between 2005-2010 and also in 2012. 2005 saw Fernando Alonso finish third to clinch the title with two races remaining. Alonso triumphed again in 2006 in a season-ending thriller with Michael Schumacher. The 2007 race was again a season finale and saw Kimi Raikkonen crowned after winning the grand prix, finishing the season one point ahead of title contenders Alonso and Hamilton. In 2009 Jenson Button clinched the title at Interlagos with one race to spare and in 2010 Sebastian Vettel went into the race fourth in the standings but won to pull himself back into championship contention going to the final round in Abu Dhabi, where he duly won his first title. In 2012 again Vettel and Alonso locked horns heading into the race for the title. Under treacherous circumstances of rain and safety car Alonso managed to get second place but Vettel hung on and managed to finish sixth ahead of Michael Schumacher enough to give him his third title by three points.

Lap Record

Juan Pablo Montoya still holds the record for the fastest lap at the Interlagos Circuit that was set in 2004

The lap record of 1:11.473 at the circuit dates back to 2004. Surprisingly yet to be broken, it is held by Columbian driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya a two time winner in Brazil, won the race 2004 with BMW-Williams and in 2005 with Mclaren-Mercedes.He could have won the race in 2001, his debut year, before the dream was ruined by Jos Verstappen. Montoya led the race from Schumacher by over 30 seconds before he overlapped Verstappen. While the pass was clean, Verstappen braking for a turn, slammed his Arrow violently into the back of Montoya’s Williams sending both the drivers out of the race.