The 2026 Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the São Paulo Grand Prix, held from Friday, November 6, to Sunday, November 8. The event takes place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, commonly known as Interlagos, in Brazil. This marks Round 21 of the 24-race Formula 1 calendar.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives in São Paulo as the newly crowned 2026 Drivers’ World Champion. The Mercedes driver secured his maiden title at the preceding Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest champion in Formula 1 history at 20 years, two months, and seven days old.
Antonelli is the first Italian driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship in 73 years. He achieved this milestone with four races remaining in the season, finishing third in Mexico City behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
The São Paulo Grand Prix will follow a conventional weekend format, featuring three practice sessions and a single qualifying session. There will be no sprint race at Interlagos this year.
Practice 1 is scheduled for Friday, November 6, from 12:30 to 13:30 local São Paulo time (BRT). Practice 2 will follow later that day, running from 16:00 to 17:00 BRT.
Saturday, November 7, will see Practice 3 from 11:30 to 12:30 BRT. The crucial qualifying session, which determines the grid for Sunday’s race, is set for 15:00 to 16:00 BRT.
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix itself will commence on Sunday, November 8, at 14:00 local time. This corresponds to 17:00 GMT in the United Kingdom and 12:00 EST on the United States East Coast.
The race is scheduled for 71 laps of the 4.309-kilometer Interlagos circuit, covering a total distance of approximately 305.879 kilometers.
Antonelli will wear a special helmet design at Interlagos, paying tribute to Ayrton Senna. This commemorates 35 years since Senna’s historic 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix victory.
Antonelli’s car number, 12, also connects him to Senna, who used the same number when he secured his first World Championship in 1988. Antonelli has confirmed he will retain number 12 for the upcoming season due to personal superstition and humility.
Following the Mexican Grand Prix, the Constructors’ Championship standings show Mercedes leading with 639 points. Ferrari holds second place with 504 points.
Red Bull is currently third with 380 points, closely followed by McLaren in fourth with 371 points. Mercedes is nearing the Constructors’ title, aiming for a double championship season.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Antonelli leads with 380 points. Max Verstappen moved into second place after his victory in Mexico, accumulating 261 points.
Lewis Hamilton is third with 259 points, just two points behind Verstappen. George Russell is fourth with 250 points, and Charles Leclerc is fifth with 245 points.
Lando Norris holds sixth position with 221 points, while Oscar Piastri is seventh with 144 points. Isack Hadjar is eighth with 107 points, and Liam Lawson is ninth with 83 points.
Pierre Gasly completes the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship with 42 points.
The Mexican Grand Prix saw several incidents and penalties. Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for Ferrari, his first since 2023.
Charles Leclerc received a five-second time penalty for cutting a corner and failing to yield the position. George Russell was also penalized ten seconds for contact with Isack Hadjar.
Oscar Piastri incurred a ten-second penalty for causing a collision with Arvid Lindblad. Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto also received penalties for yellow flag infringements.
The São Paulo Grand Prix initiates a demanding final phase of the 2026 season. It will be followed by races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
