2012 Brazilian Grand Prix
Variable rain and a dramatic title decider: Vettel clinches his third championship in São Paulo.
The 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil 2012) was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil, on 25 November 2012. The race was the twentieth and final round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship, and marked the forty-first running of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The race was won by Jenson Button driving for McLaren, scoring the 15th and last victory of his Formula One career, as well as McLaren's last Grand Prix victory until Daniel Ricciardo's victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix and the last win for a British driver for McLaren until Lando Norris won the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.
It was at this race that Sebastian Vettel won the 2012 World Drivers' Championship, his third title in a row. Fernando Alonso finished second in both the race and the championship and had the provisional championship lead at a late stage of the race, before Vettel moved up the order to have a three-point cushion. The race also marked the 306th and final one for Michael Schumacher, after he announced his retirement for the second time. He also scored his final Formula One points by finishing seventh just behind eventual champion Vettel.
Quick Facts
- Weather condition
- Heavy Rain
Lore & Background
The race featured variable weather conditions with intermittent rain and a drying track. With only light rain just 10 minutes before the start, all teams opted to start on slick tyres. Rain began to fall during the next few laps and the first cars made pit stops for intermediate tyres, while Button and Hülkenberg stayed out. The rain decreased shortly afterwards and cars on intermediates were forced to pit for slick tyres once again. Later, when the rain started again, Vettel was one of the first to pit for intermediates. The race ended after Paul di Resta crashed on the start/finish straight shortly before the end, bringing out the safety car once again until the conclusion of the race.
Reader's Guide
The race was the twentieth and final round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Sebastian Vettel needed to defend a 13-point advantage over Fernando Alonso to become world champion. Lewis Hamilton secured his last pole position with McLaren. Vettel and Bruno Senna collided at turn 4, causing Vettel to spin and suffer damage to his left sidepod. Hamilton retired from the lead on lap 54 after contact with Nico Hülkenberg. Vettel took sixth position from Michael Schumacher, which proved sufficient to retain the title even with Alonso finishing second. This was Button's 15th Formula One victory.
Did You Know?
- The race marked Michael Schumacher's 306th and final Formula One race, and he scored his final points by finishing seventh.
- Vettel became the 2012 world champion despite starting 4th and dropping to 22nd after a first-lap collision.
- The race was the last for Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov, Timo Glock, Pedro de la Rosa, Narain Karthikeyan, and the HRT Formula 1 Team.
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