INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 30: Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi gestures while standing and posing for cameras in his Indy car during time trials for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1993 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
The 50th edition of the Brazilian Grand Prix is set to take place this weekend – do you know who won the inaugural edition?
F1 action moves from Mexico to Brazil this weekend for the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. The 50th edition of this Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from November 11 -13 and also involves the final Sprint race of the season. The drivers’ and Constructors’ titles have already been decided but there’s still a lot at stake as we head out to Brazil!
The inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix was held in 1972 but it was a non-championship race. Argentina’s Carlos Reutemann won the race, representing Brabham-Ford. Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson finished second on the podium while Brazilian Wilson Fittipaldi occupied third place.
The first ever F1 World Championship race of the Brazilian GP took place in 1973. It was won by local favourite Emerson Fittipaldi. Jackie Stewart finished in second position, driving a Tyrrell while Denny Hulme finished in third position, driving a McLaren.
Alain Prost is the most successful driver in the history of the Brazilian Grand Prix and at this circuit, having won the race a record six times. McLaren are the most successful constructors, having registered twelve wins in this GP. Valtteri Bottas’ lap timing of 1:10.540, while driving a Mercedes W09 in the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix is the official race lap record at this GP.
When it comes to the current grid, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are the joint-most successful drivers at this circuit. Both have won this GP thrice. In the last edition of this Grand Prix in 2021, Bottas took pole position but failed to convert it into a race win. Hamilton won the race with Verstappen and Bottas finishing second and third respectively.
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