After two incredibly dramatic Grands Prix in Austin and Mexico City, Formula 1 goes racing for the third week in a row, this time at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace next Sunday.

The title fight in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships heated up significantly last time out when the circus came to Mexico, with Carlos Sainz picking up the victory as Ferrari had two drivers on the podium, with Charles Leclerc third. 

Adding to the Italian team’s previous win at Circuit of The Americas – the Monegasque pilot fronting a one-two finish – Ferrari have jumped Red Bull in the standings, putting them just 29 points behind leader McLaren.

Once again, reigning world champion Max Verstappen butted heads with contending Lando Norris, as the Briton attempted a move around the outside at Turn 4 leading to him being pushed wide. Into Turn 7 the Dutchman retaliated by diving down the inside at a relatively fast corner, pushing both cars wide and propelling Leclerc ahead the pair of them.

The Red Bull driver was handed two 10-second penalties; one for pushing Norris off the track, and one for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Ultimately, the papaya car came runner up to Sainz, with Verstappen a lowly P6.

As the paddock now comes to full realization that Ferrari possess the fastest car heading into the last four race weekends of the calendar, it really is all to play for in the remaining points grabbing sessions. While we wait for the days to go by, let’s dive into historical Brazilian Grands Prix.

2022: Magnussen’s maiden pole, Russell’s maiden win(s), Red Bull tensions flare

In a wildly dominated 2022 season in the hands of Red Bull – the championship already decided by both Verstappen and the Austrian team – the iconic circuit in Brazil was massively overshadowed, with many fans expecting a cruising victory for the Flying Dutchman.

A Friday qualifying saw the clouds come down over the 4.3 kilometer track, with some cars going out instantly after the green light in Q3. Kevin Magnussen was one of the drivers who went out early, setting a lap time before the storm fully kicked in. Shortly afterwards, rain did start falling down heavily on the circuit, making it slippery conditions for those still setting a flying lap behind the Dane.

Fortunately for him, despite his inferior machinery, Magnussen set his lap early enough for it to be unchallenged by the other nine cars, granting him his and Haas’ maiden pole position. Unfortunately his race pace on the Sprint the following day would see him drop to P8 in the end; still a decent result for the team.

George Russell in the Mercedes qualified third, not before spinning out of Q3 at Turn 4, but he capitalized on the Haas’ slow speed to secure him the Sprint victory and pole position for the Grand Prix (in 2022 the final Sprint result would be the starting grid order for the Grand Prix).

On Sunday, Russell would dominate the entire race, winning by a margin of just 1.5 seconds in the end due to a late Safety Car, and his teammate Lewis Hamilton finishing right behind to make it a 1-2 Mercedes victory, the first since Imola 2020. 

A bit towards the back however, tempers flared and roared around the Red Bull pit wall. Due to different pit strategies, after the late Safety Car ended Verstappen was permitted to pass his teammate Sergio Pérez to overtake other cars in front, as for the entire weekend the now double world champion had stronger pace.

However, Verstappen did not budge any significant threat to the cars ahead, so he was ordered to let Pérez through again to help him secure 2nd in the drivers’ championship. The Dutchman instead refused to comply with those team orders and told his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to “not ask him to do such a thing again”, stating that he had his “reasons” to defy such orders.

After the end of the race, Pérez expressed his own frustrations to Red Bull boss Christian Horner, mentioning Verstappen has shown “who he really is” and told the media that Verstappen won two championships because of his contributions.

While the pair cleared up the air and made everything neutral days after the events of Sunday, to this day it is still unclear whether the two drivers have actual tension with each other, or if it’s been swept under the rug by Red Bull seniors. But of course, the drama of the constructors’ champions weren’t enough to overshadow the euphoria of Russell’s maiden victory in Formula 1.

2019: Super Max, Gasly’s redemption, Ferraris clash, Sainz’s last-to-first challenge

Similar to 2022, the drivers’ and constructors’ championships were already decided before coming to São Paulo, with the majority of fans expecting either Hamilton or his teammate Valtteri Bottas winning. 

Mercedes have dominated the majority of the season, with Ferrari bringing a surprise challenge to the German manufacturer after the summer break, only for their engine to be neutralized by the FIA after it was speculated that the Maranello team were using illegal engine modes to give the cars more power.

However, a surprisingly fast lap set by Verstappen granted him pole position. Sebastian Vettel qualified second, with champion Hamilton third. The youngster maintained his lead out in front, as Hamilton overtook his former championship rival for P2. During the first pit stop phase, Red Bull switched the tyres of the race leader in just 1.82 seconds, the fastest pit stop in F1 history.

Unfortunately, the Williams of Robert Kubica got out ahead of Verstappen in his pit box, leading to Verstappen being behind the Polish driver for the entirety of the pit exit, which cost him plenty of time. Eventually Hamilton held the lead for just a few laps, before a mighty divebomb from Verstappen down to Turn 1.

On Lap 66, the Ferraris battled for position, with Leclerc behind Vettel. With DRS on the main straight, the Monegasque overtook the veteran into the first corner, but another DRS straight after Turn 3 prompted Vettel to reclaim his position. The two eventually collided after misjudging each other’s movements, causing Vettel to get a puncture and Leclerc’s suspension broken, ultimately retiring both drivers from the race, as the Safety Car was deployed.

At the race restart on Lap 70, Hamilton overtook Pierre Gasly for third, and attempted to pass Alex Albon for second next down into Turn 10. However, Hamilton clipped the Thai driver’s rear right tyre, sending him to the grass and out of the points. Due to this, Hamilton received a 5-second penalty, as Gasly took advantage and overtook both Albon and Hamilton to move into P2.

In front, Verstappen maintained his composure and kept his head clean, while behind him laid a drag race between the Toro Rosso and the Mercedes; Gasly the winner, marking his maiden podium. As Hamilton was handed the time penalty, the McLaren of Sainz moved up into third.

Having gone unnoticed for the majority of the race, the Spaniard started the Grand Prix from last, after not being able to set a lap time during qualifying the day before. Quietly, the Smooth Operator put on one of the smoothest drives of his career, navigating through the carnage and chaos to claim his own maiden podium and McLaren’s first since Australia 2014.

Brazil is always an incredibly entertaining race track; great for driving, and great for racing. It’s undoubtedly one of the most beloved venues on the F1 calendar, and the next showcased race might take the title for the best ever Brazilian GP.

2012: Vettel three-peats from last, Alonso’s heartbreak, Schumacher’s swansong

2012 was arguably the greatest and tightest season in Formula 1 history. After seven different race winners in the first seven races, to Nico Rosberg’s maiden win and Mark Webber’s final victory, and unpredictability everywhere, Fernando Alonso entered the Brazilian Grand Prix 13 points down on championship rival Vettel.

Both drivers were looking to seal their third title, as Alonso targeted his first since 2006 and Vettel eyeing a third consecutive championship. However, McLaren locked out the front row with Hamilton ahead of Jenson Button. On the first lap, Vettel collided with Bruno Senna at Turn 4, which saw the German spin and fall to last place, P22.

With damage to his left sidepod, Vettel used all his talent to recover from behind and gain plenty of positions. In front, Alonso held a comfortable position in third, as that’s all the Spaniard needed in order to win the title ahead of Vettel (that is if Vettel stayed out of the points).

After many incidents involving Nico Hülkenberg and Hamilton colliding while fighting for position, to rain pouring down which heavily mixed up tyre strategies – especially for Alonso and Vettel – the worst happened for the German: his radio failed, meaning he couldn’t communicate with his pit wall and race engineers.

Because of this, when Vettel came in for a change of tyres, the team was not ready for his arrival, causing an extremely lengthy pit stop, exiting in seventh. Eventually he overtook compatriot legend Michael Schumacher for sixth, which would be enough to retain the title despite his Spaniard rival P2.

The race came to an abrupt anticlimactic close, as Paul di Resta crashed on the start/finish straight with just a few laps to go, bringing out the Safety Car to the end of the race. Button came home first and Alonso second, but Sebastian Vettel was crowned world champion once again after crossing the chequered flag P6, enough to retain his title.

This marked the second time Alonso failed to win the drivers’ championship with Vettel as his rival, the first being in Abu Dhabi 2010. But for Vettel, it was all sunshine and rainbows for him and for Red Bull, as they celebrated their three-peat and monumented themselves in modern F1 history.

2024: Ferrari clean sweeps triple header, aggressive battles between Norris and Verstappen, a surprise winner?

We’ve seen championships being decided. We’ve seen drivers get their maiden pole positions and victories, and we’ve seen many exciting battles, moments, and brilliant drives from many of those who came before the 2024 drivers.

With Ferrari’s recent performance, it might seem like a good bet that they will be a top contender for the win. As for Red Bull and McLaren – with both “number 2” drivers out of form at the moment – it’s unclear whether they will be fighting for the win or fighting for their leading drivers’ points tally.

As we count the hours to the start of the São Paulo Grand Prix, we can’t wait to see what the iconic race track brings us. Another dominant Ferrari outing? Another fierce and controversial duel between the top 2 contenders? Or, a different race winner – a NEW race winner – in Formula 1? We’re so ready.