São Paulo Grand Prix 2026

Giancarlo Fisichella won the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, but did not receive the winner’s trophy until two weeks later, as Kimi Räikkönen had initially been declared the winner. Formula 1 has witnessed several similarly unexpected twists in São Paulo. World championships have been decided at this race, Ayrton Senna twice won in front of his home fans, and Max Verstappen triumphed in the rain after starting 17th.

The São Paulo Grand Prix continues the history of the Brazilian Grand Prix, which has been part of the F1 World Championship since 1973. Since the 2021 season, the event has been held under its current name at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos.

The history of the São Paulo Grand Prix and Brazilian success

The first Brazilian Grand Prix to count towards the Formula 1 World Championship took place in São Paulo on 11 February 1973. Home favourite Emerson Fittipaldi won for Lotus, having claimed his first world title the previous season. He repeated that success a year later, this time driving for McLaren.

Brazilian fans celebrated another home victory in 1975, when José Carlos Pace won the race for Brabham. It was the only victory of his Formula 1 career.

In the years that followed, the race was also held in Rio de Janeiro, where Alain Prost enjoyed particular success. The Frenchman took six victories in Brazil in total and remains the event’s record holder.

In 1990, the Grand Prix returned permanently to São Paulo. The following season brought one of the most emotional moments of Ayrton Senna’s career.

Until then, the Brazilian McLaren driver had never won on home soil. In 1991, however, he managed to hold on to the lead despite serious gearbox problems that left him effectively restricted to sixth gear in the closing stages.

Senna crossed the line ahead of Riccardo Patrese and was so exhausted after the race that he struggled to climb out of the car. He added a second home victory in 1993, again with McLaren.

Michael Schumacher was also a regular winner in Brazil during the 1990s. The German won for Benetton in 1994 and 1995, before adding two further victories with Ferrari in 2000 and 2002.

Controversial results and decisive title battles

The 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix ended in highly unusual circumstances. Heavy rain caused numerous accidents, and the organisers brought the race to an early end following crashes for Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso.

McLaren’s Kimi Räikkönen was initially declared the winner. However, a subsequent review revealed an error in determining the lap on which the result should be based, and the classification was amended. Victory ultimately went to Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella, who only received his trophy ahead of the following Grand Prix in San Marino.

Three years later, it was Felipe Massa’s turn to celebrate in São Paulo. The Ferrari driver won in front of his home fans, becoming the event’s first Brazilian winner since Ayrton Senna.

The 2007 and 2008 editions brought even greater tension, serving as season finales and deciding the world championships.

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton went into the final race leading the championship. Problems left him only seventh, however, while Kimi Räikkönen won ahead of Felipe Massa. The Finn secured his only world title by a single point over Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix delivered an even more dramatic finish. Felipe Massa won his home race, and celebrations of his championship success were already beginning at the finish. But Lewis Hamilton passed Toyota’s Timo Glock in the final corners to move into fifth place.

The British driver secured the points he needed to become world champion by a single point over Massa. Even victory in front of his home fans was not enough for the Brazilian.

Another title was decided in São Paulo in 2012. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was involved in a collision on the opening lap and dropped down the order. Nevertheless, he fought his way back to sixth, which was enough to secure his third consecutive world championship.

McLaren’s Jenson Button won the race ahead of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

Wet races and unexpected podium finishes

Changeable weather has repeatedly influenced the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In 2016, heavy rain caused several stoppages, with the safety car playing a significant role.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took victory ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. Max Verstappen produced one of the standout performances: after losing several positions through an ill-timed pit stop, he pulled off a series of overtakes in the closing stages to finish third.

The 2019 edition brought maiden podium finishes for two more drivers. Max Verstappen won for Red Bull ahead of Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly. Third place went to McLaren’s Carlos Sainz following a penalty for Lewis Hamilton.

For both Gasly and Sainz, it was the first podium finish of their Formula 1 careers.

The race scheduled for 2020 did not take place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Formula 1 returned to São Paulo the following season under a new official name.

Hamilton’s comeback and Russell’s first victory

The 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix produced one of Lewis Hamilton’s finest performances of a season in which he battled Max Verstappen for the world championship.

Although Hamilton topped Friday qualifying, he was disqualified for a breach of the technical regulations relating to his rear wing. He had to start Saturday’s sprint from last place.

The British driver fought his way up to fifth. However, a further penalty for changing a power unit component meant he started Sunday’s race only tenth.

Hamilton nevertheless worked his way past his rivals, overtaking race leader Verstappen on lap 59. He went on to win by more than ten seconds, with Valtteri Bottas finishing third.

A year later, George Russell celebrated the first victory of his Formula 1 career. The Mercedes driver won Saturday’s sprint and repeated the feat in the main race.

Russell finished ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton to secure a Mercedes one-two. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was third.

Max Verstappen returned to the top step in 2023. The Dutch Red Bull driver won both the sprint and the main race, finishing ahead of Lando Norris in the latter.

Third place was settled by a battle between Fernando Alonso and Sergio Pérez. Alonso reclaimed the podium position on the final lap, beating the Mexican to the line by 0.053 seconds.

2024 São Paulo Grand Prix: Verstappen wins from 17th

The 2024 event took place in exceptionally difficult conditions. Heavy rain disrupted qualifying, which had to be moved from Saturday to Sunday morning.

After a disappointing qualifying session and a penalty for changing a power unit component, Max Verstappen started only 17th.

The Dutchman began working his way through the field from the opening laps. He also benefited from Red Bull’s strategy, with the team opting not to change tyres during a virtual safety car period.

A subsequent red flag allowed Verstappen to change tyres without losing track position. After the restart, he passed race leader Esteban Ocon and gradually built a commanding lead.

Max Verstappen won the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, finishing 19.477 seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon. Pierre Gasly took third place.

It was an unexpected success for Alpine. The French team secured a double podium finish and climbed from ninth to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Verstappen’s victory strengthened his world championship lead and ended a run of ten Grands Prix without a win.

2025 São Paulo Grand Prix: Norris wins sprint and main race

The 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix took place from 7 to 9 November as the 21st round of the season. McLaren’s Lando Norris dominated the weekend, taking pole position, winning the sprint and then claiming victory in the main race.

The British driver arrived at the weekend leading the world championship and underlined his strong form in Friday’s sprint qualifying. The fastest time secured him first place on the grid ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri.

Sprint disrupted by Oscar Piastri crash

Saturday’s sprint began on a partially wet track. Norris held on to the lead, while his team-mate Oscar Piastri crashed on lap six after running over a wet kerb.

Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto also ran into trouble at the same part of the circuit. The race had to be red-flagged.

Norris continued to lead after the restart, but came under pressure from Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the closing stages.

Lando Norris won the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix sprint, beating Antonelli by 0.845 seconds. George Russell finished third, with Max Verstappen fourth.

Norris therefore added eight points to his world championship tally, while Piastri left the sprint empty-handed after retiring.

Verstappen eliminated in Q1 as Norris takes pole position

In qualifying for the main race, Norris followed up his sprint victory by setting the fastest time of 1:09.511.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli took second, 0.174 seconds adrift, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third. Oscar Piastri qualified fourth.

The biggest surprise was Max Verstappen’s elimination in the first part of qualifying. The Dutchman struggled for grip and could manage only 16th.

Red Bull subsequently decided to change the car’s set-up and replace power unit components. Verstappen therefore had to start Sunday’s race from the pit lane.

Norris wins ahead of Antonelli and Verstappen

In Sunday’s race, Lando Norris retained the lead at the start and again at the subsequent safety car restart, following a crash for home driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

A key moment came shortly after the restart, when Oscar Piastri, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc were involved in a collision. The Ferrari driver had to retire with damage to his car, while Piastri received a ten-second penalty.

Norris, meanwhile, controlled the race. Despite his rivals adopting different strategies, he retained the lead and faced no serious threat in the closing stages.

The battle for the remaining podium places was far more dramatic. Having started from the pit lane, Max Verstappen worked his way past several rivals and, despite a tyre problem, climbed to third.

In the final laps, he began attacking Antonelli for second. The young Mercedes driver held firm, however, and defended his position.

Lando Norris won the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, finishing 10.388 seconds ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen took third, 10.750 seconds behind the winner.

Mercedes driver George Russell finished fourth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri fifth. Oliver Bearman took sixth for Haas, followed by Liam Lawson in seventh and Isack Hadjar in eighth.

Norris claimed his seventh victory of the season and extended his lead at the top of the world championship. After the São Paulo race, he led team-mate Piastri by 24 points, while Verstappen was 49 points adrift.

Second place marked Antonelli’s best Formula 1 result to that point. Verstappen, meanwhile, delivered another impressive recovery drive in Brazil for the second year running, this time ending on the podium.

The most successful São Paulo Grand Prix drivers

Alain Prost remains the most successful driver in Brazilian Grand Prix history, with six victories. The Frenchman won in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.

Michael Schumacher took four victories, while Carlos Reutemann and Sebastian Vettel each won three times.

Among the home drivers, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa each won the Brazilian Grand Prix twice.

Since the introduction of the São Paulo Grand Prix name in 2021, Max Verstappen has taken the most victories, winning in 2023 and 2024. Lewis Hamilton won in 2021, George Russell in 2022 and Lando Norris in 2025.