F1 Brazilian GP Track Guide – Where To Stay, Eat, And How To Get There
The Formula 1 season is continuing with the Brazilian Grand Prix on 10th-13th November. The race will consist of 71 laps around the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, better known as the Interlagos track. It will also be the last race of the 2022 season to feature the sprint race.
Alfa Romeo driver, Valtteri Bottas currently holds the lap record at the São Paulo GP with a time of 1:10.540, however, we are sure that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be looking to break that along with the other records he is breaking this year.
The track first came to the F1 calendar in 1973 after the great success that Brazilian driver, Emerson Fittipaldi, had. Brazilian fans were delighted to watch three consecutive home wins since the opening with Fittipaldi taking the win in 1973 and 1974, and Carlos Pace winning in 1975.
Although there is not a Brazilian driver on the line-up this year, spectators can expect a party weekend, with many describing the São Paulo GP as having a carnival-like atmosphere. Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, was made to be an honorary citizen of Brazil in June, so it is likely that local fans will be rooting for the seven-time world champion.
Spectators will be looking to get the best spot on the track to see the most action. Grandstand A sits on the entry to the start-finish straight and because of the nature of the track, this will give fans a view of the cars racing through the infield section and then passing underneath them. Also, Grandstand M is on top of the first corner and the ‘Senna S’ which is a hotspot for overtaking.
Where is the Brazilian Grand Prix?
The São Paulo GP will be at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, more commonly known as the Interlagos track. It has 15 turns, 2 DRS zones, and a track length of 4.309km.
The track is roughly 22 km out of the city centre and sits just next to the Jurubatuba river. The closest train station is the Estacao Autodromo.
How to get there – By road or public transport?
It is common to find heavy traffic and long delays in São Paulo so many spectators choose alternative means of transports. Taking the metro is the cheapest option for getting to and from the track. The closest metro station is the Autodromo station in Interlagos which is only 600 metres from the entrance of the circuit.
If you don’t fancy the metro, there are multiple bus lines which stop nearby to the track and Uber is available, but take into consideration the possibility of traffic.
Where’s the local airport?
São Paulo has multiple airports, the main being Guarulhos (GRU). The second-busiest is Congonhas (CGH) whereas, the smallest is Viracopos (VCP). If you are looking to go on from the Formula 1 to explore other parts of Brazil, Guarulhus airport has a large number of domestic flights to other cities in the country.
Featured hotel
Interlagos doesn’t have as much going on for tourists so many recommend travelling back into the city where there is sure to be something for everyone. There are many hostels with lots of character, mid-range hotels, and five-star luxury accommodation.
The São Paulo Nações Unidas Affiliated by Meliá hotel offers 4-star luxury with air-conditioned rooms and private parking. According to booking.com, guests have rated it 8.6/10 and you are looking at around $570 for the race weekend.
Featured eatery
A fantastic Brazilian food experience is a Churrascaria, which is an indoor BBQ. You will be given a two sided panel, one side is red meaning ‘stop’ and the other side is green meaning ‘keep the food coming!’ Waiters will continue to bring cuts of meat to you until you want a break.
Churrascaria Souths Place is close-by to the São Paulo Nações Unidas Affiliated by Meliá hotel and has a 4.2/5 star rating on Google.
This article does not include any promotions or partnerships. It only includes the writer’s opinions.
