The São Paulo GP is one of the most symbolic events on the Formula 1 calendar. Throughout history, four Brazilians have achieved victories on national territory: Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa.
The scenes of Senna’s victories in 1991 and 1993 and Massa’s consecration in 2006 and 2008 remain alive in the fans’ collective memory.
Now, in 2025, expectations once again revolve around a new name: Gabriel Bortoleto, who will make his debut in the home race and restore Brazil to the Formula 1 grid after a period of absence in the main category of world motorsport.
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History of winning Brazilian drivers
Emerson Fittipaldi paved the way with his first victories at Interlagos, while José Carlos Pace, after whom the circuit is named, was immortalized with a triumph in 1975. In the following years, Brazilian dominance grew with Nelson Piquet, three-time world champion, and its peak arrived with Ayrton Senna.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Brazilian public once again supported a home-grown driver in Felipe Massa. The São Paulo native won in 2006 and staged, in 2008, one of the most exciting races in the history of Formula 1, when he won the Brazilian GP, but lost the world title to Lewis Hamilton by one point, in the final moments.
Results of Brazilian drivers at the Brazilian GP (Interlagos and Jacarepaguá)
| Pilot | Victories | Podiums | Years | Team(s) | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 2 | 3 | 1973 (1st), 1974 (1st), 1975 (2nd) | Lotus / McLaren | First Brazilian winner at home |
| Jose Carlos Pace | 1 | 2 | 1975 (1st), 1973 (2nd) | brabham | He won in 1975, giving his name to the Interlagos Race Track. |
| Nelson Piquet | 0 | 3 | 1978 (3rd), 1980 (2nd), 1986 (3rd) | Brabham / Williams | Regular at Interlagos, but never won. |
| Ayrton Senna | 2 | 6 | 1986 (2nd), 1990 (3rd), 1991 (1st), 1992 (3rd), 1993 (1st), 1994 (2nd) | McLaren / Williams | The 1991 victory is considered one of the most exciting in F1. |
| Rubens Barrichello | 0 | 3 | 1994 (3rd), 2000 (3rd), 2004 (3rd) | Jordan / Ferrari | They came close several times, but victory at home eluded them due to mechanical problems. |
| Felipe Massa | 2 | 3 | 2006 (1st), 2008 (1st), 2014 (3rd) | Ferrari / Williams | He starred in the unforgettable decision of 2008, losing the title by one point. |
| Carlos Pace | 1 | 2 | 1973 (2nd), 1975 (1st) | brabham | Reinforces the tradition of Brazilian victories in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Nelson Piquet Jr. | 0 | 0 | — | Renault | He competed in 2008, but without impressive results. |
| Bruno Senna | 0 | 0 | — | Lotus / Williams | Participated from 2010 to 2012; did not score at Interlagos. |
| Felipe Nasr | 0 | 0 | — | Sauber | Ran in 2015 and 2016; scored points in 2016 (9th place) in heavy rain. |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | — | — | — | Sauber (2025–) | It will make its debut at the 2025 São Paulo GP; first Brazilian fixed on the grid after nine years. |
The challenge of Gabriel Bortoleto’s debut at home
At 20 years old, Gabriel Bortoleto arrives in Formula 1 as one of the great recent promises of national motorsport. Champion of Formula 3 in 2023 and Formula 2 in 2024, the driver from São Paulo has built a solid CV in the youth categories. Good performance took him to Sauber.
Realistically, Bortoleto’s initial goal in his debut race will be to complete the race and, if possible, fight for points. Even though the Sauber car is not among the most competitive, Bortoleto’s combination of motivation and familiarity could yield a good performance, especially if unpredictable weather conditions in São Paulo prevail over the weekend.
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