Memorable F1 moments from the Brazilian Grand Prix

A deep dive into the archives takes us on a tour of the most memorable F1 moments from the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Lewis Hamilton's first-ever World Championship victory.

Previously the final race of the F1 season, Interlagos has seen more than its fair share of dramatic moments over the years, from high-profile crashes to unforgettable title wins - and we're revisiting the very best of them.

Below, Ladbrokes explores four of the most memorable F1 moments from the Brazilian Grand Prix - so read on!

Heading back more than 20 years to 2003, we reach one of the most dramatic F1 moments from Sao Paulo, with two huge crashes cutting the race short after 55 laps. Mark Webber was the first to collide with the wall, with the Aussie spinning out on the pit straight and smashing into the barriers - which sent debris and three of his tyres strewn across the track.

Yellow flags were waved, but they didn't stop Renault's Fernando Alonso driving straight into one of the stricken tyres, with his car subsequently hurtling into the wall and spinning across the entirety of the track. This is still one of the biggest crashes of Fernando Alonso's illustrious career, and it was no surprise to see the race stopped prematurely in Brazil. The spectacular sight of debris, tyres and smoke flooding the scene instantly made this an unforgettable Formula One moment.

After a second-place finish in the 2007 Drivers' Standings in his rookie season, Lewis Hamilton immediately went one better in 2008 - and it was at the Brazilian Grand Prix that he clinched his first ever World Championship. The 23-year-old became the youngest F1 champion in history at the time, pipping Felipe Massa by a single point to claim the first of a record-equalling seven world titles.

Massa seemed to be in the driving seat in his home race, crossing the finish line in first and seemingly preparing to lift his first ever world title - but Lewis Hamilton just would not give up. His late overtake of Toyota's Timo Glock saw the Brit climb back up to fifth, which was enough to clinch the F1 World Championship on the final lap of the final race of the season, setting the wheels in motion for one of the sport's most iconic careers.

Another of the Brazilian Grand Prix's most memorable moments, and another race deciding a world champion, with Sebastian Vettel taking the crown in 2012. The German clinched his third title in as many years at the Brazilian GP - but it certainly wasn't straight forward, with the Red Bull driver spinning out and dropping to the bottom of the field in the very first lap.

Vettel started the race from P2, and only needed a top-four finish in the final race on the F1 calendar to be crowned world champion, but his early collision with Bruno Senna left the German facing the wrong way - and he suddenly had it all to do. To make matters worse, Fernando Alonso - his direct rival - had avoided the chaos and raced into third, which would have been enough to see him win the World Championship instead.

Alonso ultimately came home in second, but a huge fight back from Vettel saw the Red Bull man cross the line in sixth and win the World Championship by just three points - a fitting number for his third consecutive title.

Rounding off our look at the most memorable F1 moments from the Brazilian Grand Prix, we're revisiting the 2019 race, where Ferrari hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Lap 66 of 71, Charles Leclerc made a move and darted past his teammate Sebastian Vettel, moving up into fourth - but Vettel fought back immediately, with DRS helping the German move back up alongside his teammate.

But that's where the day fell apart for Ferrari, with a nick of contact between the pair suddenly ending both of their races. Leclerc lost his front-right wheel, causing sparks and debris to fly, while Vettel's rear-left tyre was punctured - resulting in his third retirement in just five races. The double DNF was Ferrari's first in more than two years, and put a huge dampener on what was otherwise a decent year - despite finishing more than 200 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship.

So that concludes our look at the most memorable F1 moments from the Brazilian Grand Prix. For more Formula One content, why not check out some of our 2025 F1 season predictions, or see which drivers we think will impress in the coming races.

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