Fernando Alonso secured both world championships at Interlagos without winning either race. Across nine podium finishes, the same circuit has delivered his biggest celebrations and some of his hardest afternoons.
Fernando Alonso finished third at Interlagos in 2005 and became world champion. A year later, second place secured another title.
When he finished second again in 2012, he left three points short.
Similar finishing positions. Completely different consequences. That is what makes Alonso’s relationship with Interlagos so compelling: a circuit where he has never won has helped define his career.
Ahead of the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, his record stands at nine podium finishes, spread across four teams and 20 years. None came from the top step.
Third was enough. Then second was enough.
In 2005, Alonso arrived in Brazil with a 25-point championship lead over Kimi Räikkönen. With ten points available for a victory, he had room to finish behind his rival and still settle the championship.
That is exactly what happened.
Juan Pablo Montoya won ahead of Räikkönen, giving McLaren a one-two. Alonso finished third, leaving Brazil 23 points clear with only 20 still available. At 24, he became the youngest world champion the sport had seen.
The following year brought a different opponent: Michael Schumacher.
Alonso reached the finale ten points ahead. Felipe Massa won for Ferrari, while Schumacher recovered from a puncture to finish fourth. Alonso’s second place secured his second championship.
Twice, somebody else had won the Brazilian Grand Prix. Twice, Alonso had achieved everything he needed.
When another podium wasn’t enough
Interlagos reversed that experience in 2007.
Driving for McLaren, Alonso finished third as Räikkönen won for Ferrari. The final standings put Räikkönen on 110 points, with Alonso and Lewis Hamilton on 109.
Five years later, Alonso returned with Ferrari and another championship within reach.
He started the 2012 finale 13 points behind Sebastian Vettel. An opening-lap collision left Vettel’s Red Bull damaged and facing the wrong way, but the German recovered to sixth. Alonso finished second behind Jenson Button.
The gap fell to three points. It never disappeared.
Second place had secured Alonso’s title in 2006. In 2012, it confirmed how narrowly another had escaped.
Nine podiums across four teams
His Interlagos podium record spans several versions of his career:
Renault
2003: third
2005: third
2006: second
2008: second
McLaren
2007: third
Ferrari
2010: third
2012: second
2013: third
Aston Martin
2023: third
Even the first came with an unusual distinction. Alonso was classified third in the red-flagged 2003 race after a major crash, but could not attend the podium ceremony.
The ninth arrived two decades later.
In 2023, he beat Sergio Pérez to third by 0.053 seconds, returning to the Interlagos podium for the first time since 2013. That finish features in our Brazil GP: Five Stats. Five Stories, but its place in Alonso’s record goes beyond the narrow margin: Aston Martin became the fourth team with which he had earned a podium here.
Grand Prix results through 2025. Sprint results excluded.
