2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix schedule set for Interlagos

The 2026 Formula 1 season heads from Mexico City straight to Interlagos in Brazil for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, from 6-8 November. Italian Kimi Antonelli is the new drivers’ world champion after sealing the title with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver is now the youngest world champion in the history of F1. Lights out for the 71-lap grand prix on Sunday is at 17:00 GMT.

When and where is it?

The event takes place at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in the Interlagos neighbourhood of Sao Paulo.

Grande Premio reported that the race begins at 14:00 local time on Sunday, corresponding to 17:00 GMT in the United Kingdom and 12:00 EST on the United States East Coast.

Racing News 365 noted that the event has been formally known as the Sao Paulo Grand Prix since 2021, to reflect the support of the local government, with the last formal Brazilian Grand Prix being held in 2019. 9km.

Who is taking part?

Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives in Brazil as Formula 1’s newly crowned world champion following his historic title triumph in Mexico. BBC Sport reported that he is the youngest world champion in the history of F1 at 20 years old.

How does it work?

The weekend follows a conventional format with three practice sessions and a single qualifying session, and there is no sprint race. Grande Premio said lights out for the 71-lap grand prix on Sunday is at 17:00 GMT.

Why it matters

BBC Sport reported that Antonelli is now the youngest world champion in the history of F1 at 20 years old.

Sky Sports said Mercedes have not won the Constructors’ Championship since 2021 but can secure the title at Sao Paulo if they outscore Ferrari by three points or more. Ferrari trail Mercedes by 126 points with four rounds remaining.

There are now only a maximum of 172 points remaining for a team to score this season heading to Brazil and only 129 points will be left after the Sao Paulo weekend. If Mercedes outscore Ferrari by three points, or more, they will be world champions.

Several ways exist for them to do this but the most simple scenarios involve either Antonelli or Russell winning the race, with the other driver finishing fourth or better. Sky Sports lists scenarios where Mercedes finish first and second, first and third, or first and fourth.

Things will become much trickier for Mercedes if Ferrari win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, but it is possible if Antonelli and Russell finish high up the order, with the other Ferrari finishing lower down the order.

What happens next

Sky Sports said that even if Mercedes do not win the Constructors’ Championship this weekend, they will have three more opportunities in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Grande Premio said the Sao Paulo Grand Prix begins a demanding final phase of the season, with Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi scheduled to follow. Although the Drivers’ Championship has been decided, several battles remain open.

Mercedes continues to lead Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, while Red Bull and McLaren are fighting for third place.

Session start times in UK time

Related on Apex Sports News

• Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 qualifying results revealed

• F1 Mexican Grand Prix 2026: Race start time and TV coverage in Mexico City

• Antonelli closes in on F1 title at Mexican Grand Prix

Sources

• BBC Sport

• skysports.com

• grandepremio.com

• racingnews365.com

• Wikipedia: Brazilian Grand Prix (background)

• Photo: Eustace Bagge, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)