Flashbacks: Interlagos

Even before last Sunday, I'd heard tales of the chaotic racing at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. However, what transpired in Brazil a few days ago made me fall in love with this circuit, for the same reason as many others: unpredictability. That unpredictability has led to some classic races being hosted at Interlagos since the circuit's inception in Formula One. Let's rewind to some of the most brilliant races that this circuit has produced in the past, both recent and distant.

1994 Brazilian Grand Prix

During the Brazilian Grand Prix's first stint as the season opener between 1983 and 1989, the races were held at the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro. The first Brazilian season opener held in Sao Paulo was unfortunately a massive case of foreshadowing for the dark events that would occur just four weeks later at the San Marino Grand Prix, where rookie Roland Ratzenberger and three-time champion Ayrton Senna would tragically lose their lives in separate incidents. The Brazilian Grand Prix saw its own nearly fatal collision midway through the race. Hometown hero Senna lined up on pole, with an up-and-coming youngster named Michael Schumacher alongside him on the front row. Senna gapped the cars behind off the line, but a slow pit stop allowed Schumacher past into the lead. Senna would spin off the track on lap 55, handing Schumacher the second race win of his young career (Schumacher would go on to rattle off five more wins in the next six races, en route to the first of his seven championships). While that action was occurring at the front, a midfield battle nearly ended in disaster for Martin Brundle. While both were attempting to lap Eric Bernard's Ligier, Eddie Irvine pushed Jos Verstappen into the grass, where he lost control and crashed into Irvine. Verstappen's Benetton careened over the top of Brundle's McLaren, which was a bit further down the road than the Ligier, cracking Brundle's helmet right across the top. Brundle miraculously escaped with no injury, and the recording of the collision makes the race worth a watch by itself.

2012 Brazilian Grand Prix

Despite that two-year stint as season opener in the mid-90s, Interlagos is much better known for hosting the thrilling final chapters to several different championship battles. The Driver's Championship was clinched in Brazil four straight times from 2006 to 2009, with possibly the most epic championship decider held here occurring a few years later in 2012. After 19 races of arguably the greatest season in F1 history (the first seven races were all won by a different driver, the only time this has ever occurred), back-to-back defending champion Sebastian Vettel held a 13-point championship lead over long-time leader Fernando Alonso, who himself had a pair of championships and was searching for his first at Ferrari. Vettel lined up P4, but was spun round in a collision with Bruno Senna, causing sidepod damage and resulting in Vettel continuing on from P22. While Alonso was locked in a battle with Nico Hulkenberg for the final podium place (and the points Alonso needed to win the championship), Vettel was quietly carving his way through the field, reaching P5. An outstanding strategy call to remain out on slicks in light rain meant that leaders Hulkenberg and Jenson Button had nearly a minute gap to the pack, but a safety car brought the rest of the field back into play for the top two spots-exactly what Alonso needed. Vettel's damage caused him to lose significant grip in dry conditions, meaning he dropped positions to Kamui Kobayashi and Alonso's teammate, Felipe Massa. More rain caused more pit chaos, as Vettel nearly lost his race (and the championship) due to a huge blunder from Red Bull in the pits. Alonso reached P2 due to a Hulkenberg penalty earned while fighting for the lead, meaning that Vettel needed P6 to secure the championship. In P6 was retiring legend (and Vettel's racing idol) Michael Schumacher, who parted for Vettel, giving his fellow German the points needed to fend off Alonso. Paul di Resta crashed in the waning stages of the race, causing the race to end under a safety car and giving Vettel his third of four consecutive championships.

2016 Brazilian Grand Prix

Although this rendition of the race didn't have the title implications of 2012 (victor Lewis Hamilton was unable to catch teammate Nico Rosberg despite his win at Interlagos), it did have the coming out party of one of the greatest drivers of all time, Max Verstappen. The Verstappens have always been connected to Interlagos, from Jos' 1994 crash to Max's three wins (and you can't forget the infamous "storm lap" to grab pole in 2023). Although Max's 2024 victory is up there among the greatest performances of his career, it has this masterclass from 2016 to contend with. The race began under a safety car until lap 8, but the green flags only lasted until Marcus Ericsson's lap 13 crash brought Bernd Maylander back onto the circuit. Immediately after the next return to green, Kimi Raikkonen's day ended when he lost control on the main straight, bringing out the red flags. After returning to the track under a safety car over a half-hour later, the red flags were waved again, as conditions hadn't lessened enough for safe driving. Late in the race, the safety car came out the final time after Felipe Massa crashed out. At this point, Verstappen pitted for new intermediates, but just ten laps later was called back in for full wets. In P16, with 17 racing laps to go, Verstappen charged through the field, making 13 overtakes to finish on the podium and firmly put himself on the map in Formula One.