Some trophies are exquisite works of art; the Australians tend to produce something special.

Some are dull; the Banco Santander silver steaming turds that are recycled for every race they sponsor.

But who in their right mind thought that the Brazilian trophies were in any way suitable for anything other than a proctologist's weirdest fantasies?

(little pic until a proper one emerges)

Cheap, nasty, tacky looking things. Was there really no-one in Brazil who could have produced something better? Or did the real ones get stolen and that was the best they could do at short notice? Grab some spare aerials and paint them turquoise?

I think they are pretty sophisticated and certainly unique. More work of art than the typical ornaments that get given out. It's a concept isn't it recycled bottle tops machined on site. It's humble. None of that glittery tin that requires a load of brasso. I know what you mean though in years to come they will either be valued by the drivers as unique or stick out like a sore thumb. My bet is on it being Jenson favourite whatever.

I think they are pretty sophisticated and certainly unique. More work of art than the typical ornaments that get given out. It's a concept isn't it recycled bottle tops machined on site. It's humble. None of that glittery tin that requires a load of brasso. I know what you mean though in years to come they will either be valued by the drivers as unique or stick out like a sore thumb. My bet is on it being Jenson favourite whatever.

Castilho de Andrade

Mythical architect Oscar Niemeyer, 100 years old, has designed the trophy which will be presented to the winners of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Braskem – a leading petrochemical industry, one of the race’s sponsors – has produced the material which will be used in the trophy. Also known as “green plastic”, it is the first 100 per cent renewable polymer, produced with sugar cane ethanol and fully conversant with environmental protocols.

Brazil is a pioneer in developing alternative sources of energy, such as ethanol fuels. This is a priority of the country’s authorities and has attracted substantial levels of investment. The trophy of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, created with renewable materials, is a result of these efforts.

The trophy Oscar Niemeyer designed is inspired on another of his masterpieces, the Alvorada Presidential Palace: “Architecture follows the path of a work of art, and what characterizes art is emotion, surprise. The Alvorada pillars are one of the pinnacles of Brasilia. We could have chosen any other form, rectangular, straight, not complex. But instead we chose something which had never been used before in the structure of a pillar.”

First, second and third placed drivers, in addition to winning constructor, will receive different sized versions of the trophy. The winning driver trophy weights 5 kilos.

The work of architect Oscar Niemeyer has always been marked by stirring curves, just like those of the trophy. This is how he defined his love of curves: “It is not the right angle that attracts me. Nor is the straight line, cold and inflexible, created by man. What attracts me is the free and sensual curve. These are curve that I see in the mountains of my country. In the sinuous rivers, the sea waves. They are in clouds in the sky, the body of a woman. The universe is curve. The curve universe of Einstein.”

* Castilho de Andrade, a leading sports journalist, is the National Press
Officer of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Jenson didn't win one.

Jenson didn't win one.