Brazilian Grand Prix preview: Interlagos ready for Lewis Hamilton’s title party

It was all the way back in 1938 that building work first began on Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, its designers taking inspiration from the original layout of New York’s Roosevelt Field Raceway.

Interlagos joined the F1 calendar in 1973 and basked in the glory of local hero Emerson Fittipaldi taking the chequered flag two years running. Racing later switched to Rio de Janeiro’s Jacarepagua track for nine years before returning to Interlagos in 1990.

The 4.309km circuit runs anti-clockwise and at high altitude, so any thoughts of an undemanding penultimate grand prix are out of the question.

A wildly enthusiastic crowd are crammed up against the track as the cars hurtle past, navigating 15 corners, a snaking in-field section, numerous elevation changes and a lap just over a minute long.

Drama is also never far away thanks to several overtaking opportunities and two DRS zones. Throw in a heavy rainstorm or two – thundery showers are forecast for Friday’s practice sessions – and anything can happen.