A LONG WAY SOUTH FOR THE CADILLAC FORMULA 1® TEAM

The São Paulo Grand Prix (formerly known as the Brazilian Grand Prix but renamed for sponsorship reasons), is one of the mainstays of the F1 calendar, having been a World Championship round since 1973. The race in Brazil has primarily been held at Interlagos, although hosted at Rio’s Jacarepaguá in 1978 and through the 1980s.

The Interlagos circuit measures 4.309km (2.677 miles), short by F1 standards and dominated by long corners, demanding a high downforce set-up. Cut into a hillside, it features dramatic elevation changes and tricky cambers. At 800m (2,600 feet) above sea-level it would be considered a high-altitude race, were it not for the inclusion last weekend of Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, at a far higher 2,250m (7,500 feet). The teams will be keen to put as much downforce as possible onto their cars to compensate for the thinner air.

The Brazilian Grand Prix never lacks for drama thanks to two key factors. The first is the section of track from Junção corner to the Senna S. While not particularly ‘straight’, this is a full-throttle section, rising back up the hillside, over the start-finish line and then down into a chicane. It’s the prime overtaking spot, with the Senna S offering both an inside and outside line, after a tricky downhill, off-camber braking point. Overtaking opportunities are frequent at Interlagos.

The second factor is the weather. São Paulo gets everything, usually at the same time. Races here can go from brilliant sunshine to torrential rain in an instant, and the buildings and hills surrounding the track make sudden storms very difficult to see on radar. The nature of the track means that streams often run across it, making it a challenge for engineers, mechanics and drivers alike. The forecast for this weekend is mixed, such is the typically unpredictable nature of this event.

While both Checo and Valtteri are veterans at this track having raced here multiple times, Colton Herta will make his Interlagos debut this weekend as he steps into the MAC-26 for another FP1 session this season, deputizing for Checo.

“Interlagos is always a hugely exciting event and a fan favorite”, says Team Principal Marcin Budkowski. “The track offers a bit of everything, and with the weather providing even more unpredictability, you can usually expect a few surprises. It’s a short, relentless lap with dramatic elevation changes, where getting high-speed stability through the opening sector while preserving traction through the technical mid-section demands a precise setup trade-off. The thinner air at high elevation adds another variable to manage for engine cooling and aero efficiency. We are coming off our most competitive race of the season in Mexico City, where our pace relative to our direct competitors showed encouraging progress. Following our post-race investigations, Valtteri suffered a suspension failure and we have implemented mitigations going forward. I’m also pleased to see Colton return to the MAC-26 for another FP1 outing, stepping in for Checo. His growth in the car across his sessions has been impressive, and his feedback remains invaluable to our 2027 development program. The goal for the final leg of this triple-header is to maintain strong operational discipline, react quickly to the changing conditions, and carry momentum into Sunday.”

Both Cadillac Formula 1® Team drivers are hugely experienced at Interlagos. Valtteri is a winner here, victorious in the 2021 Sprint race. He’s also been on pole twice: in 2017 and 2021 (the latter based on winning the Sprint), and recorded the fastest lap in 2018 and 2019, with the former still being the lap record. He has scored points on six occasions, with podium finishes in 2017 and 2021. Checo has contested the race on 13 occasions, scoring points in eight of those races. He also set the fastest lap at this circuit in 2021.

Checo Pérez:

“Interlagos is one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula 1 calendar and always provides great racing. It’s a short lap, but a very challenging one, with significant elevation changes, some long corners and plenty of opportunities to overtake. The weather can also make things very unpredictable, so being able to adapt quickly and make the right decisions as a team will be important.

“After Mexico, it’s great to continue this triple-header in front of another passionate crowd. I’m looking forward to the weekend and hopefully we can put together a strong performance and continue making progress as a team.”

Valtteri Bottas:

“After a difficult end to the weekend in Mexico, I’m looking forward to getting back in the car at Interlagos. It’s a great circuit to drive, with the elevation changes and a mix of corners that really reward getting into a good rhythm. The weather can make things interesting here, so we’ll need to be ready to adapt and take any opportunities that come our way. It’s been a busy triple-header for everyone, and we’re focused on putting together a clean weekend and finishing this run of races on a positive note.”

Colton Herta:

“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the MAC-26 for another FP1 session. Interlagos is such an iconic, historic track, and driving an F1 car around there is going to be an awesome experience. Every time I’ve stepped into the car this year, from Barcelona to Budapest, COTA and Mexico City, I’ve felt more comfortable and better integrated with the engineering team. My goal for Friday morning in Brazil is the same: execute the run plan cleanly, give Checo and the engineers the best possible setup data to start their weekend, and keep building on my progress in the car. I’m grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity.”