Niki Lauda opened the 1976 Formula One season with a dominant victory at Interlagos, 28 seconds ahead of second place.
Key Facts
- Winner
- Niki Lauda (Ferrari 312T)
- Winning margin
- 28 seconds
- Race distance
- 315 km over 40 laps
- Circuit length
- 7.87 km
- Season round
- Opening round of 1976 F1 season
- Lauda's GP win number
- 8th career Formula One victory
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1976 Formula One World Championship season opened at Interlagos, São Paulo, with defending world champion Niki Lauda entering as the leading title contender aboard the Ferrari 312T, a car that had proven highly competitive in the prior season.
On 25 January 1976, Niki Lauda won the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos over 40 laps of the 7.87-kilometre circuit. Patrick Depailler in a Tyrrell 007 finished second, 28 seconds behind, with Tom Pryce third in a Shadow DN5B for his second career podium.
Lauda's victory set an early championship tone for the 1976 season. For Tom Pryce and Shadow Racing Cars, the podium proved to be their sole highlight of the year, as Pryce did not podium again and the team secured no further podium finishes in 1976.