Formula 1

• Track insights

  The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is both short and high at the same time.

  At 4.309km, the track is one of the shortest on the calendar, but it’s also 800m above sea level, making it the second highest after Mexico City. That means that the team will face many of the same challenges as they did last time out, including less downforce and grip, and a greater demand on turbo and cooling, albeit on a less drastic scale.

  Previously known as Interlagos, the original layout of the now-named Autódromo José Carlos Pace was 8km long when it was opened in 1940, but it’s nearly halved in size since, without compromising on quality. The run from the start line to the Senna S turns when the lights go out is one of F1’s most iconic sights.

  Being one of F1’s oldest tracks, banked corners are almost inevitable, and the Autódromo José Carlos Pace has them throughout the lap, but most notably at the final turn, which precedes one of F1’s nosiest straights and the track's best overtaking opportunity, Turn 1.

  Nearly 68% of the lap is taken at full throttle, which when combined with the track's up-and-down nature, makes it feel like something of a rollercoaster ride. And there’s always a high chance of rain in São Paulo, with the city nicknamed “Land of the Drizzle”, and where there’s rain in F1, there’s quite often chaos.

• What's it like in Brazil?

  Now, you might not think that a place nicknamed “Land of the Drizzle” would be top of your places to visit, but Brazil’s largest city is full of culture and natural beauty, from the lively shop and restaurant-lined Paulista Avenua to the stunning foliage-filled Ibirapuera Park. And when it isn’t raining, the weather in November is nice and warm, without being overly humid.

  Throughout your stay, you’re sure to encounter stunning street art and amazing food. Brazil’s barbecued meat is famous, so you’ll definitely want to sample some Picanha, but we’d also recommend trying Feijoada, a pork and black bean-based stew.

• Stat pack

  • We are the most successful team in the race’s history, with 12 victories
  • Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi won McLaren’s first Brazilian Grand Prix
  • Brazilian Ayrton Senna won his home race twice for McLaren
  • Alain Prost won the Brazilian Grand Prix four times for McLaren
  • Mika Häkkinen (1998, 1999), David Coulthard (2001), Juan Pablo Montoya (2005) and Jenson Button (2012) have also all won in Brazil for McLaren
  • Lewis Hamilton secured his first F1 World Championship at the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix