“Nada ultrapassa essa emoção,” is the slogan greeting followers at Interlagos’ entrances. Nothing surpasses this emotion.
Stroll via the tunnels beneath the Autodromo Carlos Tempo and it is apparent why. The bowl-shaped venue in the midst of Sao Paulo’s bustling metropolis is one in every of motor racing’s most revered cathedrals, its historical grandstands steeped in historical past.
Ayrton Senna memorials within the grandstands
Picture by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Photos
The occasion posters lining the doorway tunnels date all the best way again to the inaugural race in 1972, timeless reminders of the various title deciders Interlagos has hosted and the house wins that propelled the recognition of legendary world champions like Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna.
Naturally the late Senna remains to be revered like a deity, along with his trademark blue Nacional caps sported by throngs of Brazil’s passionate followers. A large mural of the three-time World Champion adorns the primary paddock constructing, whereas Sebastian Vettel travelled to the occasion to host a tribute and Lewis Hamilton was scheduled to carry out a demo in his hero’s 1990 McLaren after Saturday qualifying, which had to be postponed due to heavy rain.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st place, celebrates with a Brazilian flag on the rostrum
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
One thing is lacking
Following a long-standing streak of Brazilians on the grid, the nation’s final full-time F1 driver Felipe Massa is but to discover a successor after his retirement on the finish of 2017. The 2018 season was the primary in 48 years with no Brazilian, with simply two cameos by Fittipaldi’s grandson, Pietro (Fittipaldi), since then.
Brazilians have not been capable of switch all their power and ’emoção’ onto a house hero for seven years, as a substitute adopting Senna apostle Hamilton as one in every of their very own, the seven-time World Champion being awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship in 2022.
That void was much more placing this weekend whereas hundreds of Argentinians flocked to their neighboring nation to cheer on Williams sensation Franco Colapinto. The 2024 version had been largely bought out for some time, however Colapinto followers nonetheless managed to search out tickets on the resale market to look at the 21-year-old on the closest they should a house race in the intervening time.
The Argentinian’s arrival has led to a surge of curiosity in South America, however F1 followers from the one nation within the continent really internet hosting a race can solely watch on with envy for now, with hopes that F2 title protagonist Gabriel Bortoleto can break that streak subsequent 12 months if he’s signed by Sauber, as is now extensively anticipated.
An emotional Felipe Massa proudly slaps the Prancing Horse insignia on his chest as he celebrates victory and a properly fought season in entrance of his dwelling followers.
Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Photos
Who can be subsequent?
However why has it taken so lengthy for Massa to have a successor? The previous Ferrari driver suggests a tough patch at grassroots degree is a big a part of the reason. “Sadly, it is taking actually so lengthy to have one other Brazilian in Method 1 and it is very troublesome to say why,” Massa, a two-time winner of his dwelling grand prix, informed Motorsport.com.
“We did not have any class prior to now like Method 4 and perhaps the bottom of Brazil was not so robust as in comparison with the previous. After I was racing in Europe in Method Renault, in each class we had a Brazilian profitable races, combating for the championship. And now it is troublesome to have the identical outcomes as we had prior to now. However within the final three years issues are altering. Now we have some good Brazilians round and I hope to see Bortoleto in F1 quickly.
“An important factor is that children must go to Europe on the proper time when they’re prepared, with some expertise in automobiles right here in Brazil. That is why Brazil wanted to have a great [single-seater] class and now now we have Method 4. It is changing into extra aggressive 12 months by 12 months and that is essential.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Staff, 2nd place, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Staff, 1st place, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, third place, obtain their Dash trophies from Emerson Fittipaldi
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
Two-time F1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who was in attendance at his dwelling race as a McLaren ambassador, concurred with Massa that every thing begins on the backside. “The bottom of motorsports, karting, is essential,” he informed Motorsport.com. “And the Brazilian federation is at present encouraging karting in Brazil. I am certain new abilities will emerge, however there was an absence of encouragement on the grassroots degree in Brazil.
“While you’re already in Method 1, it is simple for sponsors to seem. Nevertheless it’s very troublesome for the drivers to get there. So, we want extra assist on the grassroots degree and the brand new president of the confederation, Giovanni Guerra, is doing that. He is doing an excellent job.
“However we want much more assist. The most important instance of that is Telmex [in Mexico], which is why now we have Sergio Perez. Colapinto joined now, however within the final 5 years we solely had one driver from Latin America.”
Observe element
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
“Discovering sponsors has by no means been straightforward…”
Brazil is the world’s seventh largest economic system by GDP however can also be affected by big inequality and a comparatively risky foreign money. The previous is already making the prices of entry-level karting a severe stumbling block for a big a part of the expertise pool. The latter is not serving to Brazilian sponsors fund drivers as soon as they begin competing oversees and enter the feeder system into F1 or IndyCar.
“Discovering sponsors has by no means been straightforward for Brazilian drivers,” stated Massa. “In my time, it was so troublesome to search out sponsors, but additionally it was a bit cheaper than it’s now, which could make the scenario much more troublesome.”
IndyCar has seen the same Brazilian void in comparison with F1, with the profitable technology of Helio Castroneves, the late Gil de Ferran and Tony Kanaan, combining for a complete of six Indianapolis 500 wins, by no means actually changed.
“The foreign money, the greenback to actual trade is basically unhealthy for getting sponsors to speculate,” Kanaan defined to Motorsport.com. “It is six to 1, so if you need to make investments one million US {dollars}, it is six million of our cash. That’s positively not serving to.
“The Brazilian motorsports scene is wholesome for certain and since Massa it is very recognised, however clearly we’re missing an F1 driver proper now. We nonetheless had some in IndyCar, however apart from the foreign money you additionally should be in the proper place on the proper time to have the ability to be aggressive and win races.
Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing
Picture by: Invicta Virtuosi Racing
“We do have a pair good guys, like [Aston Martin reserve] Felipe Drugovich that has been ready endlessly, and likewise Bortoleto now, however the timing has been unhealthy.”
Kanaan stated it might be unrealistic to anticipate Brazil’s glory days in F1 to return, however he is nonetheless optimistic over the nation’s long-term future in worldwide single-seater racing.
“I believe we’re by no means going to have a Senna once more, the identical means I believe [Germany] is rarely going to have a Michael Schumacher, and the identical means they don’t seem to be going to search out one other Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen,” he stated.
“However ultimately, I believe we’ll come again. Motorsports remains to be extraordinarily common in Brazil. Not simply F1 but additionally IndyCar.”
Kanaan, Massa and Fittipaldi have all been impressed by McLaren junior Bortoleto, who’s properly positioned to convey the Brazilian flag again to the beginning grid, being on the verge of a Sauber deal for 2025.
“I hope he will get into F1,” Fittipaldi stated. “We’re rooting for him. He is very proficient and really succesful, a superb driver.”
Massa added: “Gabriel did an incredible job profitable Method 3 within the first 12 months, perhaps profitable Method 2 within the first 12 months. That is positively one thing that we’ve not seen currently with a Brazilian driver. It is going to be actually optimistic to have a robust Brazilian in Method 1 for a very long time, elevating our Brazilian flag. I am supporting him rather a lot.”
If Bortoleto does make it onto the grid subsequent 12 months, the wait will lastly be over and Brazilian followers will not should envy their Argentinian rivals.
Discovering a approach to have each South American nations represented on the grid could be a lift to Method 1, and it’s sure to accentuate the standard “emoção” of Sao Paulo’s cherished occasion.
Extra reporting by Joey Barnes