Few countries share a legacy in F1 as rich and emotionally charged as Brazil. The sport has long been woven into the fabric of a sports loving country like Brazil. From Ayrton Senna to Felipe Massa, generations have grown up idolizing F1 stars as their heroes.
Brazilian drivers have consistently shaped F1 history. The South American nation has produced three world champions and a host of talented drivers who helped define entire eras of the sport. Here are seven Brazilian drivers who left a lasting mark on F1 history.
Chico Landi
Francisco Sacco Landi, better known as Chico, is perhaps one of the least known Brazilian drivers in history, but nonetheless, important. He was the first ever driver from Brazil to compete in F1, paving the way for every Brazilian that entered the sport after him. Chico competed for Maserati in all his four seasons in the series.
Emerson Fittipaldi – 2x F1 World Champion
Emerson Fittipaldi is the first ever Brazilian F1 world champion. He cemented his name in history when he won the title with Lotus in 1972. He also won a second world championship in 1974, with McLaren. The Brazilian won 14 Grands Prix, and even had a successful IndyCar career later on, winning the 1989 title and two Indy 500s.
Carlos Pace
Jose Carlos Pace spent six seasons competing in F1, during which he managed to claim one race win and six podiums. He was tragically killed in a plane accident in 1977, at the age of just 32. His legacy lives on, and may well be one of the most permanent parts of Brazilian F1 history, as the Sao Paulo circuit was renamed to the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, in his honor.
Nelson Piquet – 3x F1 World Champion
Nelson Piquet is one of the most successful Brazilian F1 drivers of all time. He won three world championships, claiming 23 race wins during a 14 year career. Piquet is also remembered for his part in two of F1’s most iconic rivalries, first with Alan Jones, and later with Nigel Mansell.
Ayrton Senna – 3x F1 World Champion
Ayrton Senna isn’t simply just a Brazilian legend, but one of F1’s greatest ever drivers. The Brazilian won 3 world titles, and claimed 41 wins in just 161 races. But his legacy goes far beyond these incredible numbers. Even three decades after his tragic demise, he is still one of the most influential sportspeople in the world.
Rubens Barrichello
Rubens Barrichello is often remembered as Michael’s Schumacher’s teammate, and Ferrari’s #2 driver for years. But his own records are largely overlooked. He is most experienced Brazilian F1 driver in history, with 322 race starts. He also won 11 races, and finished runner up in the world championship twice.
Felipe Massa
![Felipe Massa at the 2007 Bahrain GP. [Image via Instagram/@massafelipe]](https://visionf1.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-14-at-5.14.28-PM-1024x707.jpeg)
The 2008 world champion for 38 seconds. Although heartbreaking for him, the story of Felipe Massa losing out on the title that year is now part of F1 folklore. During his career, Massa won 11 races, and finished on 41 podiums.
