F1: 5 interesting records at the Brazilian Grand Prix

Welcome to Senna-land. What else can one expect at the Brazilian Grand Prix other than fierce racing, excellent overtaking, and some 'on the edge' action?

The great Ayrton has won here on two occasions, Hakkinen has defeated Schumacher on consecutive drives, and the likes of Vettel and Hamilton, among the modern greats of the grid, have enjoyed famous track tussles here.

For a track that first held a race back in 1972, one wonders what might the forty-seventh run at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace bring?

So what does the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix have in store for us, especially with the fight to the championship having come to an end, and with the season heading toward the end?

Will we see a more relaxed Hamilton now, one who'd want to end on an even bigger high, starting with a win at Brazil and ending his sensational year with another at Abu Dhabi? Will Verstappen pull off another sensational triumph, as seen at Mexico, perhaps doing a repeat of his 2016 drive, or will Vettel assuage the hearts of his fans with a win at Interlagos?

For now, let's focus on the 5 incredible records at the Brazilian Grand Prix:

#1 Most wins at Brazil

It's not a Brazilian who's won the most number of races here in Brazil.

So can you guess who is the most successful driver at Interlagos?

At one point in time, it was the famous 'Professor' Alain Prost who held the record for most wins here at the heart of Brazil, among the most challenging tracks to race on.

Later, it would be Michael Schumacher of Germany who would emerge with the most number of wins at Interlagos, clinching the Brazilian Grand Prix on 4 separate occasions.

What's incredible about this feat is that it's not Ayrton Senna who has the most wins at a track which was his home race. It's not even greats like Lauda, Hunt or even, Prost.

Schumacher won the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1994, 1995, 2000, and 2002.

#2 Three Brazilians tied with two race wins each at Brazil

Among the least successful drivers here at Brazil is former local-hero Rubens Barrichello. For starters, none of his 11 race wins has resulted in him occupying the stop of the podium at Brazil, a track where from the onset of 1993, the former Ferrari driver endured over 10 race-retirements.

But what's most interesting is that a trio of famous Brazilian drivers- Felipe Massa, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Ayrton Senna- are tied where it comes to holding the exact number of wins at Brazil.

Each of these drivers has won their home race on 2 separate occasions.

While Senna won at Interlagos back in 1991 and 1993, and Fittipaldi winning in 1973 and 1974, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa would win here in 2006 and 2008.

Unfortunately, there's no Brazilian driver on the grid currently. Who do you think would prevail in the 2018-run?

#3 Vettel has outscored Hamilton here at Brazil

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has won more races here at Interlagos as compared to his arch-rival, Lewis Hamilton, now a five-time world champion.

But before we get into the number of wins that the German has garnered at Brazil, it might be worthwhile to think whether he can extend his tally over Lewis in the form of gathering another win this year- or will he?

The four-time world champion has managed to win on 3 separate occasions. Vettel's first win here came in 2010 in a Red Bull. His next win would also be in a Red Bull in 2013, a year that would result in the last of his four world titles. His last win, though, at Brazil, came in the form of an incredible triumph in a Ferrari in 2017.

Hamilton last won a race at Interlagos in 2016. Time for Lewis to bounce back in 2018?

#4 Fastest lap record at Brazil

It's not the usually experienced old-guards or the men with the most number of world titles behind the record for the fastest lap at Brazil. If you were a witness to the stunning 2016 drive, one under sturdy rains, then you might get a positive hint.

It's Red Bull driver Max Verstappen who holds the record for the fastest-ever lap at the famous Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.

Going fiercely quick at 1:11:044, the famous Dutchman registered the quickest lap ever driven at Interlagos.

His fans would love to see a repeat of his 2016 effort, that stunning drive under rains where Verstappen, who started fourth and later, fell behind the grid, was responsible for mounting a sensational drive back to the front of the grid that saw the young driver pass several established men on the grid, including Raikkonen, Vettel, and Rosberg.

#5 Brazil is one of Alonso's favourite hunting grounds

While Alonso is yet to win a Grand Prix at Brazil, he has collected a fine record of 8 podiums in all at Interlagos.

Alonso's best-place finish at Interlagos has come in the form of a P2.

Is that too bad for a veteran of the sport? Surely to have not won at Brazil may be something that Alonso would himself not approve of. But you immediately harvest respect for the Spaniard when you consider who frequently has Brazil featured among his podium spots in his run, 'El Nino' finding his maiden podium in 2003 and his last, so far, in 2013.

In fact, if you were to compare Alonso's effort to say, someone who's also a veteran of the sport, in fact, the oldest man on the grid, Kimi Raikkonen, then you'd not under-appreciate Alonso's record.

In comparison to Alonso's tally, Raikkonen, who began his career relatively at the same time as his former Ferrari teammate, has managed only 3 podiums from the onset of 2007. His last stand on the podium though came as recently in 2017. So can Kimi do something special like Fernando, in his Renault and Ferrari years here at Interlagos?

Edited by Sai Krishna