Interlagos is a short lap that never lets you rest. It runs anti-clockwise, it goes up and down all the time, and the middle sector is one slow corner into the next.
Then you have Juncao. From that corner you are flat out up the hill, all the way to turn 1. This setup is built to get you through the middle sector and out of Juncao fast. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2019 Brazil setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 4 | 5 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 3 | 4 |
| Anti-roll bar | 3 | 11 |
| Ride height | 2 | 4 |
| Tyre pressure | 24.2 psi | 21.9 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 65% |
| Differential off throttle | 60% |
| Brake pressure | 80% |
| Front brake bias | 55% |
In F1 2019 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2019 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
The lap on board
Why this setup works at Interlagos
The lap is 4.309 km with 15 corners. The first and last sectors are about straight line speed. The middle sector is slow and twisty, and that is where the car has to turn.
The wings. 4 and 5. I run the same pair in Austria and in the USA. It is a compromise. More wing would be faster from Ferradura to Juncao, but you would pay for it on the long climb to the line and on the run to Descida do Lago.
The differential. 65% on throttle and 60% off. The on throttle value is on the high side. Only a few of my setups go higher. The exit of Juncao is a long acceleration uphill, and a more locked differential drives both rear tyres up that hill. The 60% off throttle is the lowest in my list. It lets the car rotate on the way into the slow corners.
The brakes. 80% pressure and 55% front bias. Low pressure for this game. The braking for turn 1 is downhill and the car is turning left as you release, so the inside front locks easily.
The geometry and tyres. Camber -2.50 and -1.00, toe 0.05 and 0.20. All four are the least angle the menu allows. Pressures are 24.2 at the front and 21.9 at the rear.
Soft front, stiff rear
The anti-roll bars are 3 and 11. That is a big split, and it is on purpose.
A soft front bar gives the front tyres grip when you turn in. A stiff rear bar makes the rear rotate. Together they make a car that points into the corner. In the middle sector, from Ferradura to Bico de Pato, that is all you want.
The price is traction. With the rear bar at 11 the rear is nervous when you go on the throttle in a slow corner. Be progressive with your right foot out of Bico de Pato and Juncao.
Springs are 3 and 4. Slightly stiffer at the rear, which goes in the same direction as the bars.
Ride height is 2 and 4. Low at the front, with some rake. Stay off the big kerbs in the Senna S.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The rear snaps on the exit of Juncao | Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 9 | A softer rear bar gives traction |
| Wheelspin out of Bico de Pato | On throttle differential 65% to 55% | An open differential is gentler on the inside rear tyre |
| Understeer in Ferradura | Front wing 4 to 5 | More front downforce in the long right |
| The rear moves into the Senna S | Off throttle differential 60% to 65% | More lock keeps the rear stable when you lift |
| Front tyres lock into turn 1 | Brake pressure 80% to 77% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold downhill |
| The car bottoms on the kerbs | Front ride height 2 to 3 | More room under the floor |
| Too slow on the climb to the line | Rear wing 5 to 4 | Less drag. Less grip in the middle sector |
For a race
The rear tyres do the hard work here, with the slow exits and the long climb. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Rear wing 5 to 6. Better traction, and the rear tyres last longer.
- Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 9. A calmer rear when the tyres are worn.
- On throttle differential 65% to 55%. Less wheelspin on a heavy car.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would go to brake pressure around 75%, the on throttle differential at 50% and the rear anti-roll bar at 8.
F1 2019 has manual ERS modes. Spend the battery from Juncao to turn 1, that is where it pays back the most. Save in the middle sector, where you are grip limited anyway. You pass into turn 1 and into Descida do Lago.
Where the lap time is at Interlagos
- Senna S. Downhill braking into a left, then a right. Give up a little in the first part. The second part leads onto a straight, so the exit is what counts.
- Curva do Sol. A long left, flat out. Keep the car tight so you are straight for the run that follows.
- Descida do Lago. A hard stop into a left, downhill. Brake a touch earlier than you want to and carry the speed through the second left.
- Ferradura. A fast, long right that climbs. Turn in with confidence and let the car run out to the exit kerb.
- Laranjinha and Pinheirinho. A right that tightens, then a slow left. Do not rush the first one, you will pay for it in the second.
- Bico de Pato. The slowest corner on the lap. Late apex, straighten the car, then throttle.
- Mergulho. A fast left, downhill. The car feels light on the way in. Short lift, then commit.
- Juncao. The most important corner. Sacrifice the entry, get the car turned early and go on the throttle once. You carry that exit all the way to turn 1.
If you take one thing from this page: the lap is decided at Juncao. A clean exit there is worth more than any risk you take in the middle sector.
Interlagos in 2019
The 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix was round 20 of 21, on 17 November, over 71 laps. Max Verstappen took pole position in 1:07.508.
Verstappen won, and he had to pass Lewis Hamilton twice to do it. After a pit stop he was held up in the pit lane by Robert Kubica, came out behind Hamilton and took the place back into turn 1. After a safety car he did it again at the restart, in the same corner.
Late in the race the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel touched on the back straight and both retired. Pierre Gasly finished second and Carlos Sainz was classified third. It was the first podium for both of them, and the first for McLaren since 2014. Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap, a 1:10.698, before he retired.
More F1 2019 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2019 setups page. Brazil is round 20. The round before it is the F1 2019 USA setup and the next one is the F1 2019 Abu Dhabi setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 Brazil setup, my F1 2020 Brazil setup and my F1 25 Brazil setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2019 setup for Brazil?
Front wing 4, rear wing 5, differential 65% on throttle and 60% off, suspension 3 and 4, anti-roll bars 3 and 11, ride height 2 and 4, brake pressure 80% with 55% front bias, and tyres at 24.2 and 21.9 psi.
What wing levels should I run at Interlagos in F1 2019?
4 at the front and 5 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would run 6 at the rear for traction and tyre life.
Can I use this Brazil setup in a race?
Yes, with small changes. Rear wing to 6, rear anti-roll bar to 9 and the on throttle differential to 55%.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would lower the brake pressure to around 75%, open the on throttle differential to 50% and soften the rear anti-roll bar to 8.
Why is the rear anti-roll bar at 11?
For rotation. A stiff rear bar helps the car turn in the slow middle sector. If the rear is too nervous on the throttle, go down to 9.
Where can I overtake at Interlagos in F1 2019?
Into turn 1 at the end of the main straight, and into Descida do Lago after the second straight.
How long is Interlagos in F1 2019?
4.309 km with 15 corners, and it runs anti-clockwise. The real race is 71 laps.