2026 São Paulo Grand Prix
| 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 20 of 23 in the 2026 Formula One World Championship
| |||||
_track_map.svg) Layout of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace | |||||
| Race details[1] | |||||
| Date | 8 November 2026 | ||||
| Official name | Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026 | ||||
| Location |
Autódromo José Carlos Pace São Paulo, Brazil | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 4.309 km (2.677 miles) | ||||
| Scheduled distance | 71 laps, 305.879 km (190.064 miles) | ||||
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026) is an upcoming Formula One motor race scheduled to be held on 8 November 2026 at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo, Brazil. It will be the twentieth round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship.
Background
[edit]The event will be held at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo for the 43rd time in the circuit's history, having previously held thirty-seven editions of the Brazilian Grand Prix, across the weekend of 6–8 November.[2] The Grand Prix will be the twentieth round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship and the sixth held under the name of the São Paulo Grand Prix, having previously been titled the Brazilian Grand Prix.[3]
Championship standings before the race
[edit]Going into the weekend, Kimi Antonelli, who clinched the title at the preceding Mexico City Grand Prix, leads the Drivers' Championship with 380 points, 119 points ahead of Max Verstappen in second and 121 ahead of Lewis Hamilton in third. Mercedes, with 630 points, leads the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari, who are second with 504 points, and Red Bull, who are third with 382 points.[4]
Championship permutations
[edit]Going into the weekend, Mercedes lead Ferrari by 126 points, with 172 points available with four rounds remaining. Mercedes can therefore secure their first Constructors' Championship since 2021 if they outscore Ferrari by at least three points.[5]
Entrants
[edit]The drivers and teams are set to be the same as published in the season entry list[citation needed] with the exception of Esteban Ocon at Haas, who was removed from the line-up following a disagreement with his team at the preceding Mexico City Grand Prix. Ocon is set to be replaced by Rafael Câmara, who will make his Formula One debut.[6]
During the first practice session, five teams will field alternate drivers who have not raced in more than two Grands Prix, as required by the Formula One regulations:[7]
- Dino Beganovic for Ferrari in place of Charles Leclerc.[8]
- Freddie Slater for Audi in place of Nico Hülkenberg.[9]
- Colton Herta for Cadillac in place of Sergio Pérez.[10]
- Luke Browning for Williams in place of Carlos Sainz Jr.[11]
- Gabriele Minì for Alpine in place of Pierre Gasly.[12]
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) will make his 400th Grand Prix entry, making him the second driver to reach that milestone after Fernando Alonso.[13]
Tyre choices
[edit]Tyre supplier Pirelli selected the C3, C4, and C5 tyre compounds (the softest three in their range) designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively, for teams to use at the event.[14]
Practice
[edit]Three free practice sessions will be held for the event. The first free practice session will be held on 6 November 2026, at 12:30 local time (UTC–3).[1] The second free practice session will be held on the same day, at 16:00 local time.[1] The third practice session will be held on 7 November 2026, at 11:30 local time.[1]
Qualifying
[edit]Qualifying will be held on 7 November 2026, at 15:00 local time (UTC–3), and will determine the starting grid order for the race.[1]
Race
[edit]The race will be held on 8 November 2026, at 14:00 local time (UTC–3), and will be run for 71 laps.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 – F1 Race". formula1.com. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- ↑ "Interlagos". Stats F1. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- ↑ "Grands Prix São Paulo". Stats F1. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- ↑ "Mexico City 2026 – Championship". StatsF1. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
- ↑ "How Mercedes can win 2026 F1 Constructors' Championship at Sao Paulo Grand Prix this Sunday with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell". Sky Sports. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ Sarkozi, Kada (3 November 2026). "Haas reveals final Ocon decision and driver to replace him in Brazil". GPBlog. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Formula One Sporting Regulations – Issue 9" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
- ↑ "Charles Leclerc and wife make announcement after birth of daughter". MotorsportWeek. 4 November 2026. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ "Freddie Slater to make F1 weekend debut with FP1 outings for Audi in Mexico City and Sao Paulo". Formula 1. 22 October 2026. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ "Colton Herta to run Cadillac FP1 in Brazil as FIA superlicence quest continues". Motorsport. 4 November 2026. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ "Luke Browning to drive FW48 during FP1 sessions in Mexico and Brazil". Williams. 27 October 2026. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ "Gabriele Minì returns for Brazilian GP FP1 with Alpine". PaddockNews24. 3 November 2026. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ Nichol, Jake (4 November 2026). "Lewis Hamilton key milestones ahead of landmark 400th F1 grand prix". RacingNews365. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- ↑ "Pirelli brings the softer trio back to Interlagos". 3 November 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.