‘Why São Paulo is the Best Grand Prix on the F1 Calendar’

“Formula 1 has always been part of my life,” Giulia explains.

“Many of my childhood memories involve waking up to the sound of the cars on Sunday morning while my dad was watching it on TV.

“I determined that living in São Paulo and not going to Interlagos was a complete waste of privilege, especially when so many people travel across the country to see it every year.

“I was a stubborn teenager with no money, but I was already considering studying journalism at university to be a sports reporter. My stepdad, who is also a huge F1 fan, decided it was a good experience for me to see if I loved it or not.

“The buzz was inexplicable, everything was so loud, and the floors would shake, but I just sat watching the cars go by feeling so incredibly lucky to be able to experience that live.”

São Paulo is the ‘best city ever’

Nestled in the outskirts of São Paulo, Interlagos is located 45 minutes from the centre of the city – traffic depending of course!

That means, as well as being one of the best permanent circuits we race at, it is also close to one of Brazil’s biggest city centres for excellent entertainment or delicious food.

“I might be biased but São Paulo is the best city ever,” Giulia says.

“There is so much to see and so much to do. The people are just very focused and know the right time to show their fun and passionate side!

“We see a lot of that during Formula 1 week, everyone is walking the streets with merch, talking at bars, and just enjoying everything they can.

“The city can be very chaotic sometimes, but if you just embrace the chaos and let yourself enjoy the space around you, it can be very warm and lead you to amazing experiences! The best place to race and to call home.”

The perfect recipe for racing

An incredible layout, passionate fans, unpredictable weather, and that ‘je ne sais quoi.’ Interlagos has it all, and by the bucketload.

“Despite the amazing circuit, for me, Interlagos produces the best races for two reasons: the atmosphere and the climate,” Giulia says.

“There is so much passion here in Brazil for Formula 1, the whole place just vibrates, and it becomes impossible not to feel it and get excited too. If I were a driver, it would definitely make me want to give my all.

“The elevation change is also insane. It may seem crazy on television, but it is something else entirely when you’re there. I never thought it was that big of a deal, but walking the track after the podium, it goes so high and so low, it is incredible the cars can do it all at such speed.

“Also, it always rains at Interlagos. We don’t know why it happens; it can be sunny for weeks but F1 week comes and suddenly, it’s pouring!” adds Giulia.

“Maybe, being the king of rain, Senna thinks the drivers need a little extra push! Who knows?

“But when you factor the chaos from a wet race to the elevation of the track, it is the perfect recipe for a good race with loads of overtakes and unexpected results!”

Best Seats in the House

“My first experience in 2023 was completely insane,” Giulia recalls.

“I sat at the G Grandstand, which is located along the back straight, between Turns 3 and 4 or what we Brazilians call ‘Reta Oposta’.

“’l’ll never forget how anxious but happy I was when I heard the first car! My whole body was shaking, and I felt like I could cry. We always talk about passion in Formula 1, but I don’t think there is a word for when you have cars actually in front of you.

“It feels like your heart is about to burst from your chest! I never wanted it to end. For every car that passed, I could only think “I love this sport so much and this is the best thing ever!”

Last season Giulia sat in Grandstand A, in her mind, the general admission ticket you can buy.

“It is located along the main finish straight and the curve leading into it, since it is a very high spot, you can watch almost the whole circuit from there!” she says.

“You’re also close to the fan village and can take a picture with the huge silver statue of Senna’s head! There’s always a very long line but just being able to see it is completely worth it.”

Every F1 Fan Needs to Go to Interlagos

Brazil holds a special place for us motorsport fans, as it has given us some of the greatest drivers of all time. One name that is synonymous with São Paulo is Ayrton Senna. Born here on 21 May 1960, the three-time champion left a permanent imprint on this country and motor racing forever.

“For me, every F1 fan should see the paintings from Eduardo Kobra,” Giulia says.

“There’s a lot to see about Senna in São Paulo, but there’s something about the murals that is so special. It incorporates him into the city, as if he’s still alive and a big part of its history.

“There’s two of them in São Paulo: a huge one at the Interlagos racetrack and an even bigger one you can see from Avenida Paulista.

“This one is my favourite, as it is very bright and colourful, and seems like a very cheerful memorial when a lot of Brazilians chose to remember him with sadness.

“It works as a reminder of all the good he did during his time here. If you’re a Senna fan, or just a F1 fan, coming to São Paulo, you have to see it!

“Because of my age, I never got to see Senna race,” says Giulia.

“But growing up in São Paulo, I always heard so many stories about him as a driver and a person - from people who watched him race or had their lives intertwined with his somehow. He always felt like a long-lost relative.

“After falling in love with F1, I went back to watch him race and fell in love all over again. I know there’s so much work and practice behind a Formula 1 driver’s work, but Senna’s felt like magic.

“There’s pure talent in every lap. After that, his legacy just got brighter in my eyes.”