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Round 2: 26 March
The Brazilian circuit is a tough nut to crack - and McLaren have been kings of Interlagos over the past two years.
There are a number of reasons why this atmospheric outpost of the F1 world - now the championship's only South American round - provides difficulties for the teams and their drivers.
Circuit facts |
Lap length: 2.684m (4.325km)
Race length: 71 laps
Total distance: 190.807 miles
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But the nature of the circuit on the outskirts of Sao Paolo adds to the headache of jet-lag.
The surface is very bumpy. And while a family car could cope at normal motoring speeds a stiffly-sprung F1 car literally bounces along the track at 150mph.
Drivers find the steering wheel even harder to grip than usual - and this is not helped by the fact that they feel they are going the wrong way all the time.
Form guide |
Fond memories: Hakkinen king for the last two years
Must do better: M Schumacher has not won since 1995
Look out for: The Sao Paolo smog
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One crucial difference leaps from the page, since the Brazilian track is anti-clockwise, one of only two on the calendar.
Drivers - and their neck muscles - are used to travelling around a circuit where right-hand corners are dominant.
And the constant left-hand turning of Interlagos adds to the discomfort caused by the uneven surface.
The main straight calls for a high top speed while the rest of the circuit needs extra downforce to cope with the many bends.
The atmosphere generated by the enthusiastic fans is welcomed by the drivers, although the actual air is often heavy with the smog generated by the city of Sao Paolo.
Roll of honour |
1995: Michael Schumacher, Benetton
1996: Damon Hill, Williams
1997: Jacques Villeneuve, Williams
1998: Mika Hakkinen, McLaren
1999: Mika Hakkinen, McLaren
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Not since the death of Ayrton Senna has a Brazilian took the wheel of a top class car, and Rubens Barrichello is also the first full-time Ferrari driver in F1.
What price the man the locals call "Rubinho" gaining a debut win on his home circuit?
1999 result |
1. Mika Hakkinen, McLaren
2. David Coulthard, McLaren
3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
4. Alexander Wurz, Benetton
5. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jordan
6. Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton
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Mika Hakkinen is bidding for a third straight win while David Coulthard followed him home in 1998.
But the Scot had a nightmare last year suffering an engine failure while still on the starting grid.
It looked as though team-mate Hakkinen would follow him when his gearbox faltered on lap four but the problem righted itself and McLaren took their first win of the year.
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