Winning at home, in front of a passionate crowd, is the dream of any Formula 1 driver. In Brazil, this emotion has already been experienced by five names: Emerson Fittipaldi, José Carlos Pace, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa.
Fittipaldi, two-time world champion in 1972 and 1974, paved the way in 1973, driving a Lotus, and 1974, with McLaren. Soon after, José Carlos Pace, the Booger.
In 1975, the driver from São Paulo won with Brabham at Interlagos, beating Fittipaldi and the Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jarier. The only one in the category was so remarkable that the São Paulo race track began to bear his name after the premature death of the pilot, in 1977, in a plane crash.
In the 1980s, it was Nelson Piquet’s turn to shine at home. At the Jacarepaguá circuit, in Rio de Janeiro, the three-time world champion in 1981, 1983 and 1987 won in Brazil in 1983 and 1986. The 1986 race was marked by the Brazilian one-two with Ayrton Senna, one of the most exciting moments in the race’s history.
In fact, Ayrton Senna’s relationship with the Brazilian GP was intense. The three-time world champion in 1988, 1990 and 1991 suffered from retirements and crashes until finally reaching the top of the podium in 1991, in one of the most legendary victories in Formula 1.
In the lead, Senna had the gearbox stuck in sixth gear in the final laps, but he resisted until the end, crossing the finish line in the rain and to the screams of the crowd. Exhausted, he could barely lift the trophy, but the whole country celebrated together.
Two years later, in 1993, another show came. In the rain in , Senna overcame the powerful Williams of Alain Prost and won in spectacular fashion. The public invaded the track to celebrate their idol in one of the most iconic images of F1 in Brazil.
After 13 years without Brazilian victories, Felipe Massa returned pride to the green and yellow fans. In 2006, in his first season with Ferrari, he was dominant: he started on pole position, led from start to finish and ended his national drought with a perfect performance at Interlagos.
But, in 2008, Massa experienced the most exciting moment of his career. He won the GP in Brazil again and, for a few seconds, felt the taste of being world champion. However, in the last corner, Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock and took the title by just one point.
See the victories of Brazilians at home in Formula 1
- Emerson Fittipaldi – 1973 and 1974
- José Carlos Pace – 1975
- Nelson Piquet – 1983 and 1986
- Ayrton Senna – 1991 and 1993
- Felipe Massa – 2006 and 2008
