News Summary
- Rubens Barrichello will drive a Williams FW33 at Interlagos on November 8, nearly 15 years after his final Formula 1 Grand Prix.
- The car features a 2.4-litre Cosworth V8 engine, and Barrichello will wear his original 2011 race suit for the demonstration.
- The special appearance celebrates 45 years of his racing career, with the Brazilian hoping to give fans the farewell he never expected to need in 2011.
Rubens Barrichello will return to the cockpit of his 2011 Williams FW33 during the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 8, completing a special demonstration at Interlagos almost 15 years after he drove the same model in his final Formula 1 race.
The 54-year-old Brazilian announced the event on Tuesday, October 20, during a presentation organised by fuel company ALE in São Paulo. The demonstration, named Volta Histórica — Historic Lap — will take place before Sunday’s Grand Prix and celebrate Barrichello’s 45 years in motorsport.
The Williams FW33 will be powered by its 2.4-litre Cosworth V8 engine, bringing the sound of Formula 1’s previous engine generation back to Interlagos. Barrichello will also wear his original race suit from the 2011 season, although he will use a new helmet for the occasion.
Barrichello returns to the car that ended his F1 career
The choice of the FW33 carries particular significance because it was the last Formula 1 car Barrichello raced before leaving the championship.
The Brazilian joined Williams in 2010 after helping Brawn GP win the Constructors’ Championship the previous year. He remained with the British team in 2011, competing alongside Pastor Maldonado during a difficult season for the organisation.
Williams struggled for competitiveness throughout the championship, with Barrichello scoring just four points.
The Brazilian finished 14th at the season-ending Grand Prix at Interlagos, unaware at the time that it would be his final Formula 1 appearance.
He subsequently lost his seat to Bruno Senna for 2012, bringing an end to a career that had begun with Jordan in 1993.
Barrichello explained that the opportunity to drive the Williams again would allow him to experience the farewell he never had.
“I didn’t think it would be my final goodbye when I waved to my fans at Interlagos in 2011,” he wrote in a message announcing the demonstration.
The Brazilian also invited supporters to attend the event and share the moment with him.
The planned appearance is not a return to competitive Formula 1 racing. It is a demonstration intended to celebrate his career and his relationship with the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Barrichello describes emotional return to Interlagos
Barrichello has repeatedly described Interlagos as one of the most important circuits in his career.
The venue hosted his home Grand Prix throughout his Formula 1 career and provided several memorable moments, including pole position in 2003 and 2009.
The Brazilian acknowledged that returning in the FW33 would be an emotional experience.
“Interlagos has always held a very special place in my story,” Barrichello said during the announcement.
“Returning to the track with a car that is part of my journey and experiencing this moment alongside Brazilian fans is very emotional.”
He explained that the demonstration would be an opportunity to celebrate his achievements and create another memory at the circuit.
“I want to take this opportunity to celebrate everything I’ve experienced in motorsport and create a memory in a place that means so much to me.”
Barrichello also revealed that the idea had been discussed for several years, although the necessary arrangements had not previously come together.
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix will finally provide an opportunity to organise the demonstration during an official Formula 1 weekend.
Williams FW33 brings Cosworth V8 sound back to São Paulo
The Williams FW33 competed in the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship and was powered by a naturally aspirated Cosworth CA2010 2.4-litre V8 engine.
The car was designed under the technical regulations that preceded the introduction of turbocharged V6 hybrid power units in 2014.
Its engine operated at substantially higher rotational speeds than modern Formula 1 combustion engines, producing the distinctive sound associated with the V8 era.
Williams used the FW33 during a particularly difficult period in the team’s history.
The car lacked the performance required to challenge regularly for points, and the organisation finished ninth in the 2011 Constructors’ Championship.
Barrichello scored the majority of Williams’ points, while Maldonado added one.
Despite the car’s limited competitiveness, the FW33 remains historically significant because it represents the final chapter of Barrichello’s Formula 1 career.
The demonstration will provide fans with an opportunity to hear the Cosworth V8 at Interlagos once again, although the exact number of laps has not been formally confirmed.
Organisers expect the appearance to last approximately ten minutes.
Barrichello celebrates 45 years in motorsport
Barrichello began competing in karting as a child before progressing through the European single-seater categories.
He made his Formula 1 debut with Jordan at the 1993 South African Grand Prix, becoming one of the youngest drivers on the grid.
His early performances attracted attention, particularly after he secured his first podium at the 1994 Pacific Grand Prix.
Barrichello subsequently joined Stewart Grand Prix before moving to Ferrari in 2000, where he became Michael Schumacher’s teammate during one of the most successful periods in the Italian manufacturer’s history.
He won nine Grands Prix with Ferrari and finished runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship in 2002 and 2004.
After leaving Ferrari, Barrichello competed for Honda and Brawn GP, winning twice during the 2009 season and helping the latter secure the Constructors’ Championship.
His final two seasons came with Williams in 2010 and 2011.
Barrichello’s Formula 1 career in numbers
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Formula 1 seasons | 19 |
| Grand Prix starts | 322 |
| Victories | 11 |
| Pole positions | 14 |
| Podium finishes | 68 |
| Championship runner-up finishes | 2 |
| First F1 season | 1993 |
| Final F1 season | 2011 |
| Teams | Jordan, Stewart, Ferrari, Honda, Brawn GP, Williams |
Barrichello’s longevity made him one of Formula 1’s most experienced competitors, holding the record for Grand Prix starts when he retired.
The Brazilian remains particularly associated with his victories at Hockenheim in 2000, Monza in 2002 and 2004, and Valencia and Monza during the 2009 season.
Barrichello continued winning after leaving Formula 1
Barrichello’s departure from Formula 1 did not mark the end of his racing career.
The Brazilian moved to IndyCar in 2012, competing with KV Racing Technology and participating in the Indianapolis 500.
He subsequently returned to Brazil to race in Stock Car, becoming one of the championship’s leading drivers.
Barrichello won the Brazilian Stock Car title in 2014 and 2022, adding further achievements to his career.
He continues competing in the series and recently returned to the Full Time operation after leaving Scuderia Bandeiras.
His participation in Brazilian motorsport has also allowed him to share the grid with younger drivers, including his son Fernando Barrichello.
The Interlagos demonstration therefore celebrates not only his Formula 1 achievements but also a career that has continued across several categories since 2011.
São Paulo GP prepares historic F1 celebrations
Barrichello’s appearance will form part of a São Paulo Grand Prix weekend featuring several celebrations of Formula 1’s history.
The event has also unveiled a new titanium trophy inspired by the exhaust manifolds and sound of the championship’s legendary V10 engines.
Barrichello’s FW33 demonstration will provide another opportunity for spectators to experience machinery from a previous technical era.
The 2011 Williams uses a naturally aspirated V8, while the trophy celebrates the earlier V10 generation, creating two distinct references to Formula 1’s engine history.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has long been associated with emotional home appearances, particularly those involving Senna, Nelson Piquet and Felipe Massa.
Barrichello’s return adds another chapter to that tradition, nearly 15 years after he completed his final Formula 1 race at the same venue.
When will Barrichello drive the Williams at Interlagos?
The demonstration is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, before the São Paulo Grand Prix.
The organisers have not announced an exact start time for Barrichello’s appearance.
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo GP weekend begins | Friday, November 6 | According to official programme |
| Barrichello’s historic demonstration | Sunday, November 8 | To be confirmed |
| São Paulo Grand Prix | Sunday, November 8 | 14:00 BRT |
The demonstration is expected to last approximately ten minutes, with the number of laps dependent on the final event schedule.
The São Paulo Grand Prix follows the Mexican round of the championship, which takes place on November 1.
