Brazil: Figures and Technical Data

This weekend, Formula 1 is in Brazil for the last race of the 2013 Formula 1 season. It will be the 41st Brazilian Grand Prix in F1 history and the 31st held on the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, with the other 10 having taken place at the Jacarepagua circuit in Rio de Janeiro.

This Brazilian race will mark Mark Webber’s last Grand Prix in F1. It will also be Jenson Button’s 247th start, a record for a British driver. Besides Webber, this will also be the end of the V8 engines this weekend and a new goodbye for one of the manufacturers on the grid, Cosworth, who will no longer be present in F1 from 2014 with the arrival of the 1.6L Turbo V6 engines – the Brazilian track is special for Cosworth because it is where the manufacturer achieved its last victory in F1, in 2003 during Giancarlo Fisichella’s victory at the wheel of his Jordan.

The layout of Interlagos is specific with a fast first and third sectors, while the second is more technical and features a sequence of corners. The Brazilian circuit is also one of the few that runs counterclockwise, along with the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, the Yeongam circuit in South Korea, the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin – Suzuka as well, because the Japanese circuit runs both clockwise and counterclockwise due to its figure-eight layout.

On the FIA side, Mark Blundell – former McLaren, Tyrrell, Ligier, and Brabham driver, with 61 Grand Prix between 1991 and 1995 including 3 podiums and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot in 1992 – will be the driver steward this weekend. It should be noted that the governing body has decided to implement two DRS zones this year, with the detection of the first occurring in the Senna S and then activation on the following straight, and the detection of the second happening at the start of the full power section – after Turn 13 – and activation before the pit straight – Turn 15.

As often in recent years, the weather could play a significant role during this Brazilian Grand Prix as there is a risk of rain in São Paulo for this weekend.

Interlagos chassis side

Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering for the Sauber F1 Team:

« The Autodromo José Carlos Pace has produced many exciting races in recent years thanks to its overtaking opportunities and uncertain weather conditions. The inner sequence of turns in the second sector is relentless, with one turn leading directly to another. On the contrary, from the exit of turn 12 to the braking of the first turn, there is a significant uphill section with a long straight where top speed is crucial, so efficiency is of great importance. The circuit is very short, which implies a 71-lap race. As last year, Pirelli is bringing medium and hard tires for this race weekend. »

Interlagos engine side

Rémi Taffin, Track Operations Director of Renault Sport F1:

« Brazil will be a poignant moment. High-revving naturally aspirated engines are all I have known in F1. I’m sure many of us in the paddock will be saying the same thing. The V8 era was about making a car faster by using everything… except pure power. So, we learned a lot in different areas, such as integration into the single-seater, fuel savings, and the exploitation of external elements like exhausts.

We are always thinking about what we could have done better, but we must recognize that we have accomplished a lot of things we can be proud of. I think Renault and its partner teams have shown how to design and use an engine in the most efficient way to achieve the fastest car! We could undoubtedly have finished more races without encountering issues, but victory is sometimes achieved thanks to mistakes made earlier. We always learn by pushing the limits.

The 2006 season will remain one of my favorite memories. After an engine problem at Monza, we were up against the wall. Schumacher had taken the lead in the championship and it was almost impossible to come back since the Ferrari was faster at this stage of the season. But we showed perseverance and won the next race in Japan. This time, it was the Ferrari engine that broke and we took back the lead before the final round in Brazil. It was a perfect example of fighting to the end. The V8s were only in their infancy, but we were already using them to the limit. The Monza failure had shown us how close we were.

Even though I greatly enjoyed this time, next year will be an even bigger challenge. I grew up watching turbo engines; it’s what I dreamed of doing when I was little. So it will be a bit like a return to the future!

Interlagos on the tire side

The tires available for drivers in Interlagos are as follows:

• Mediums (white sidewalls) ;
• Hards (orange sidewalls) ;
• Intermediates (green sidewalls) ;
• Wet (blue sidewalls).

Paul Hembery’s opinion, director of Pirelli Motorsport:

We have chosen medium and hard tires for Brazil to cope with the different demands of the famous Interlagos circuit, where we always receive a fantastic welcome from incredibly enthusiastic fans. There are a number of things to be mindful of in Brazil: despite the track being resurfaced a few years ago, it is still very bumpy, which makes traction challenging for the tires and increases the physical demands on the drivers.

Just like last year, we will offer teams the opportunity to test next year’s tires during Friday’s free practice sessions, due to the fundamental technical changes that will come into play in 2014. Brazil is currently Pirelli’s largest market. We are all looking forward to going there for a race that will mark the end of a technical era.

Opinion of Jean Alesi, Pirelli ambassador:

« Interlagos is a circuit that truly involves the driver; even if it seems illogical, there are certain circuits where you drive generally from corner to corner, whereas Interlagos is a real experience that sweeps you away. Even though the track has received a new surface several times, it is still quite bumpy, with strong compressions. As it runs counterclockwise, it is very physically demanding in terms of driving. I love the feel and atmosphere at Interlagos. The fans there are absolutely fantastic and it’s a great place to come and race.

Of course, for Pirelli, this is a very important race due to the Brazilian market. This has always been the case: in my time, I remember Nelson Piquet owned a Pirelli tire distributor in Brazil and was committed to emphasizing the importance of having the right tires. The weather is always very changeable at Interlagos, so you have to be prepared for anything! The key is to find the right rhythm: if you achieve this, you can minimize tire wear and find good performance. I have been on the podium here in the past, but it’s important to find the right feeling immediately.

Interlagos in numbers

The 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix

Pole position.

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) in 1:12.458

Podium:

1 – Jenson Button (McLaren)

2 – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

3 – Felipe Massa (Ferrari)

Fastest lap in the race:

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) in 1:18.069