The Highs And Lows Of Brazil

The good, the bad and the ugly from the Team’s races at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace

The

São

Paulo

Grand

Prix

always

provides

excitement

thanks

the

iconic

Interlagos

track

with

its

challenging

corners,

banked

turns

and

long

straights;

you’re

never

going

disappointed

watching

the

race.

The Brazilian Grand Prix (now renamed the São Paulo Grand Prix) has been on the F1 calendar since 1972, only missing out for one year in 2020 due to the global pandemic, and has provided fantastic and thrilling races over the years.

Oracle Red Bull Racing has enjoyed the fly away race to Brazil and in the last 20 years has had quite a few highs and lows…

Last Time: São Paulo

17! And More To Come!

The Team

The RB19

Two Seconds And Back Out

The Brazilian Sun

Champagne Time

Full Send

Chase The Champ

Leading The Way

Foot To The Floor

Slow

Start

São

Paulo

The Bulls didn’t have the best start when it came to the Brazilian Grand Prix. The first four years in Formula One would see the team unable to collect a single point at Interlagos. But the pain didn’t stop there, as every year between 2005 and 2008 one of the two Red Bull’s would retire from the race.

In the first year, David Coulthard retired after a collision on the opening lap and Christian Klien finished in P9, missing out on points by one place. The following year, DC’s gearbox failed on lap 14 and Robert Doornbos could only bring his RB2 home in P12. Year three saw DC finish in P9 and Mark Webber retiring due to gearbox issues.

In 2008 it was Mark’s turn to finish P9 and Coulthard retired on the opening lap after being hit from behind by Nico Rosberg, spinning the Bull and then he was hit again by Kazuki Nakajima. Forcing an early end for what was DC’s final race in Formula One.

From

Nothing

Everything

After four years without any points, the Bulls began to flex their muscles in Brazil. In 2009 Mark Webber qualified in second with Rubens Barrichello on pole. Barrichello held his position, but after the first round of pit stops, was unable to keep the pace and Mark overtook the Brazilian at his home race and was able to maintain the lead taking the chequered flag and collecting the Team’s first win at Interlagos.

And it got even better from there. In the two following years the Bulls completed one-two finishes in both Grands Prix, with Mark and Sebastian Vettel taking one win each.

The 2013 race was probably the pinnacle for the Team in the first era of dominance. It was the final race of the season and Sebastian Vettel took the win which was his record-breaking ninth in a row. Mark finished behind his teammate in P2, perfectly wrapping up a season of domination from the Team.

Not

Dry

Eye

The

House

During the early days of Oracle Red Bull Racing the Brazilian Grand Prix was often the last race of the season, meaning it was also where two of the greatest Bulls retired from the sport. David Coulthard retired after the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix which unfortunately ended early for the Scotsman, after he was wiped out on the opening lap. Afterwards he said he was gutted to end his career that way and he wanted to do some doughnuts for the crowd – something discouraged in Formula One at the time. DC retired after 15 years with 246 race starts and 13 wins.

The 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix was Mark Webber’s final race in F1. The Aussie driver was able to finish the race in P2 and claim the fastest lap as well. At the end of the race Mark removed his helmet whilst still in his car to wave to the fans. The crowds cheered and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Mark retired after collecting nine wins for the Team, 41 podiums and 13 pole positions. He finished the 2013 season third in the drivers’ standings

Back

Top

From 2013 until 2019, there wasn’t too much to cheer about in Brazil for the Team. Max collected a P3 in 2016 – the sixth podium of his career – and he then claimed P2 in 2018. But it was 2019 when he took the top step on the podium for the first time.

Max was leading on lap 52 when the Safety Car was deployed due to the hydraulics failing on Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes forcing him to stop on track. The Team called Max into the pits, whilst Lewis Hamilton, who was in P2, stayed out to take the lead. Max came back out in P2 and once the Safety Car returned to the pits, and the race restarted, Max was able to overtake Hamilton to regain the lead and take the win. The win also pushed Max up to third in the drivers’ standings, where he was able to stay until the end of the season!

Record

Breaking

Brazil

When Formula One rolled into Brazil for the 2023 São Paulo Grand Prix it was already a record-breaking season for the Team, but they weren’t done yet.

It was a Sprint Weekend and Max won both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix; this gave him the record for the highest percentage of wins in a single season. The record had stood for 71 years and was held by Alberto Ascari who won 75% of his races in 1952. When Max crossed the finish line in Brazil it was his 17th Grand Prix win of the year and brought his win percentage to 85% (including his Sprint wins as well).

This 17th win of the season extended Max’s own record for most wins in a season and it also helped the Team topple Mercedes as the Constructor to collect the most points in a season.

The Bulls will return to the Interlagos track on Friday at 11:30am track time (14:30 UTC), for the only practice session as it’s another Sprint weekend. Make sure you keep coming back to our Race Hub for all the up to the minute, news, images interviews and videos.