Estoril opened in 1972 and brought the Portuguese Grand Prix back to Formula 1 in 1984. Safety work and a new chicane followed the accidents of the early 1990s, but further required upgrades were not completed and the race left after 1996.
Niki Lauda secured the 1984 title here by only half a point. In torrential rain in 1985 Ayrton Senna took his first Formula 1 victory, while Jacques Villeneuve's outside pass on Michael Schumacher highlighted the 1996 farewell.
Across 4.360 km, its 13 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a permanent racing circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
