5 Interesting Things You Might Not Know About This Weekend's Brazilian GP

Here are 5 interesting facts you might not have known about the last race of the 2013 F1 season

18 May 2015

Image source: Getty Images

After 18 rounds, a whole lot of dominance and plenty of excitement, the F1 paddock heads to São Paulo, Brazil, this weekend for the 2013 season finale. Here are five things you might not know about the event:

1. Cut down

Image source: Getty Images

The first F1 race to be held at the Interlagos circuit in 1973 took place on the old 4.975-mile layout that was notoriously bumpy. It was eventually taken off the calendar at the end of 1980 due to safety concerns. It returned in 1990 on the shorter, safer 2.676-mile track that the 2013 field will tackle this weekend.

2. Up high

Image source: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Altitude is a factor at Interlagos as the circuit sits 800m above sea-level. Cars require more wing than they would at sea-level but the thinner oxygen reduces drag, but results in a 13 per cent loss of engine power.

3. Winning on home turf

Five Brazilian drivers have won their home race. Emerson Fittipaldi won the first two championship rounds in 1973 and 1974 before Carlos Pace emerged victorious in 1975.

Nelson Piquet took his two victories on home turf at the Jacarepaguá circuit, which hosted the race between 1981 and 1989. Home hero Ayrton Senna took victory in 1991 and 1993 and Felipe Massa won for Ferrari in 2006 and 2008.

4. Last minute

The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix was one of the most dramatic races in recent F1 history. Rain, which is also forecast for this weekend, played its part as Lewis Hamilton snatched the drivers’ title from race winner Felipe Massa in the final sector of the last lap of the season.

5. Kissing goodbye to the V8s

This weekend's race will be the last powered by 2.4-litre V8 engines. The current specification engines replaced the V10s in 2006. They were originally limited to 19,000rpm but that was reduced to 18,000 in 2009, which was also the year that the eight engine per season limit was introduced.

1.6 litre V6 powerplants limited to 15,000rpm will make their debut in 2014. Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes will produce engines for next year before Honda returns as McLaren's supplier in 2015. Drivers will be limited to five engines over the course of the season.

The Brazilian Grand Prix will also be the final F1 race for Mark Webber as he moves on to a new challenge, tackling the World Endurance Championship with Porsche.