The Circuit — Interlagos
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, known to everyone as Interlagos, is one of the few circuits Formula 1 runs counter-clockwise, and it is the most characterful lap on the calendar. At roughly 4.31km it is short, but it packs in elevation, rhythm corners and two genuine overtaking spots. If you want to bet this race well, you start by understanding the lap, because every market here is downstream of the circuit's DNA.
A lap of Interlagos
The lap opens with the downhill plunge into the Senna S (Turns 1 and 2), a left-right that drops away from the start line and is the prime first-lap chaos and overtaking spot. Out of the S the cars run flat through Curva do Sol and onto the first DRS zone, then down the back Reta Oposta straight to the Descida do Lago braking zone. From there the lap climbs and twists through the Ferradura and Laranja section before the slow, critical Juncao (Turn 12). Juncao is the corner that makes or breaks a lap: a clean exit launches the car up the long uphill pit straight, where the second DRS zone waits and the next move into the Senna S is set up. The circuit's near 40-metre elevation swing, concentrated in that final climb, is why traction and a stable rear matter more here than raw top speed.
What the layout means for betting
Two DRS zones plus real braking events into the Senna S and the lake mean track position is worth less than at a processional circuit, so you should be wary of overpaying for pole. The counter-clockwise direction and the physical demand reward drivers who are strong on neck load and confident attacking kerbs. The damp, off-camber exit at Juncao is a classic spin trap, which feeds straight into the high safety-car probability that shapes in-play markets. Carry this lap knowledge across to the qualifying and Sao Paulo Grand Prix race winner guides, and back to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix guides or the wider Formula 1 betting section.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Interlagos circuit and how many corners does it have?
Interlagos is approximately 4.31km per lap with 15 corners. It is one of the shorter laps in Formula 1, which means lap times are low and traffic is constant, both of which feed into how the race plays out.
Where are the overtaking spots at Interlagos?
The main passing zones are into the Senna S at Turn 1 off the long pit straight, and into the Descida do Lago at the end of the back straight. Both follow DRS zones, which is why the race usually delivers plenty of position changes rather than a procession.