Interlagos

Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The atmosphere at the Brazilian Grand Prix is second to none, thanks to the passionate home fans who regularly turn the place into a cauldron. But it’s the unpredictable nature of the Interlagos race that makes Brazilian Grand Prix tickets a virtual guarantee of entertainment.

Unusually, cars go anti-clockwise around the 2.68-mile track, but the main point of difference is the way it sprawls over hills that rise, fall and dip. To do well, drivers must cope with this and get to grips with the tropical conditions and high altitude.

Interlagos (‘between lakes’) has one of Formula One’s longest pit-lanes, starting just before the start-finish straight. After that comes the best spot for overtaking - the first corner of the ‘S do Senna’ (‘Senna’s S’), a tortuous series of angles and inclinations that includes a sharp left and a dive downhill. Then there’s Reta Oposta, the longest straight, but not the fastest. A slow, tricky section includes the ‘Laranjinha’ (Orange Turn), ‘Pinheirinho’, (‘Small Pine Tree’) and ‘Bico de Pato’ (‘Duck Bill’) and then a high-speed section that starts with the steep ‘Subida dos Boxes’ (‘Up to the Pits’).

The land the track stands on was originally earmarked for a housing development but proved unsuitable, and the track was built in 1938. Interlagos hosted its first Grand Prix 35 years later, and Brazilians Fittipaldi, Pace and Reutemann all won here in the 1970s.

The track was redesigned with the help of local boy Ayrton Senna and reconstructed over the winter of 1989-1990, and the local hero duly triumphed here in 1991 and 1993. There have been some bizarre moments since then, including advertising hoardings landing in the path of Alain Prost during qualifying in 2000 and a stray dog ending a practice session in 2004, but these only add to the colour of South America’s only Grand Prix.

Such incidents are appropriate, as Sao Paulo is a colourful place - and a Page & Moy escorted Formula One holiday is the perfect way to see this most diverse and thriving example of a nation celebrated for its cosmopolitan character.

The blend of ethnic minorities makes for some great food, with options including Japanese, Italian, Brazilian, Chinese, Jewish, Portuguese, French and Spanish. Head to the Jardins district for the best selection, but don’t go too early. Restaurants often don’t begin serving until 9pm, so begin with a caipirinha - the national cocktail - at a bar in Jardins or Vila Madalena.

Other highlights include excellent museums, gorgeous beaches, football (the local sides include Corinthians and Palmeiras) and capoeira - a martial art developed by slaves which became a dance. People here love to move, and you’ll find a multitude of places to dance till dawn.

And what needs saying about Rio de Janeiro? The images are world-famous: the statue of Christ gazing down from Sugar Loaf Mountain, the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. It’s truly one of the world’s must-see destinations, and what could be better than combining it with a thrilling Grand Prix?

How to book
View our complete list of F1 packages to the Brazilian Grand Prix this year.