The 2025 Formula 1 season has reached its 21st round – Gabriel Bortoletto’s home race – the São Paulo Grand Prix.
All eyes are on the championship race and the three drivers who have won it – Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
As we approach the final sprint race of the season, there is a maximum of 116 points available for a driver and four Grands Prix remaining, so every point counts.
Weather forecast – Thunderstorm
The forecast this weekend will be mixed. Friday will be cloudy with a high of 24°C (75°F), before a storm is expected on Saturday with a yellow alert. Expect rain, wind, thunderstorms and unstable weather.
A cool temperature of 19°C (67°F) is expected on Sunday with light rain.
jump to: Circuit history and statistics , predictions , how to see , Championship standings
Must read this week
Next Generation: Oliver Bearman’s fourth place in Mexico Grand Prix Promise shows there’s life after this Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Ferrari.
New leaders: Norris has taken the lead in the championship for the second time this year. Can he maintain this?
W: Williams has gone back to its roots With a new logo for the 2026 season – a nod to the team’s competitive history.
Lawson acquitted: FIA clears Liam Lawson of blame Blamed for an incident at the Mexican Grand Prix that saw the New Zealander almost collide with two race marshals on the race track.
Retire button (again): After retiring from F1 in 2016, Jenson Button moved on to other racing series, but was decided last week at this weekend’s 8 Hours of Bahrain This would be his last race.
Unwrapped: Listen to the latest episode for more analysis ESPN’s F1 podcast unwrapped With F1 writers Nate Saunders and Lawrence Edmondson.
What does a championship look like?
With four races remaining, including two sprints, every point counts.
Norris took the championship lead by one point last time out in Mexico, so if Piastri can regain his form he will be within striking distance of a podium.
But Verstappen is making progress and is now just 36 points behind Norris…
as far as a Breakdown After podiums and wins, the standings for the top three are as follows:
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Norris (357 points) – 16 podiums, 6 wins
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Piastri (356 points) – 14 podiums, 7 wins
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Verstappen (321 points) – 11 podiums, 5 wins.
Circuit statistics and history
Located in a neighborhood between two artificial lakes, Interlagos (which translates to “between the lakes”), was first opened as a race track in 1940. Formula 1 first raced at the circuit in 1972 as a non-championship race, before becoming part of the calendar from 1973.
The original circuit was almost twice the length, looping around itself several times like a karting track. However, its rough surface was considered dangerous earlier in the ground-effect era and it was removed from the calendar in 1980 when the Brazilian Grand Prix moved to Jacarepagua in Rio de Janeiro.
F1 returned to a shortened and updated version of the circuit in 1990, coinciding with Ayrton Senna’s rise to global stardom. In 2004, the Brazilian Grand Prix was moved from the beginning of the year to the end of the F1 calendar and 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012 saw dramatic title decisions.
Circuit: Autódromo José Carlos País; São Paulo, Brazil
First F1 race: 1973
Lap: 71 rounds of 4.3 km
Lap Record: 1:10.540, Valtteri Bottas (2018)
Most wins: Alain Prost six on both circuits (1982–1984–1985, 1987–1988, 1990); Michael Schumacher has four in São Paulo (1994–1995, 2000–2002)
Previous winners on the current grid:
– Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2018, 2021)
– Verstappen (2019, 2021, 2024)
– George Russell (2022)
Most Poles: Ayrton Senna with six (1986, 1988–1991, 1994)
Previous pole sitters on the current grid:
-Fernando Alonso (2005)
– Hamilton (2012, 2016, 2018)
– Russell (2022)
– Verstappen (2019, 2023)
– Norris (2024)
What makes it special: A famous circuit that has given rise to some of F1’s most dramatic moments. Short, windy and unpredictable with changing weather, Interlagos is considered one of F1’s best venues.
What drivers say about it: “The energy of Interlagos is electric. You feel the history.” — Felipe Massa
Where to watch: Army’s S (Turn 1). The best overtaking spot on the track, where bold moves in the braking zone often decide the outcome of the race.
Fun Facts:
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Brazil has produced 33 drivers who have made it to F1; Three of them became multiple world champions. Felipe Massa almost joined him in 2008 but missed the title by 1 point to Lewis Hamilton
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Bortoletto is the first driver to contest his home race since Massa in 2017
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This is the fifth São Paulo Grand Prix. It was previously known as the Brazilian Grand Prix until it was canceled in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, and returned with a new name in 2021.
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Interlagos is the only circuit to appear on every sprint calendar since its introduction in 2021; However it will close by 2026.
What happened last year?
Last year’s race was one for the ages Verstappen won brilliantly Starting on the 17th as soon as the rain started on the grid.
Only 15 drivers finished the race in a dramatic race, with Alpine taking victory with a double podium.
As Verstappen’s talent for finding grip in wet conditions shone through, Red Bull helped him keep his nerve with a strategy call to pit for new intermediate tires under red flag conditions midway through the race.
Who will win?
The Brazilian feels it is a great moment for Verstappen to continue his unexpected wildcard title challenge behind the struggling McLaren drivers.
Red Bull’s car has made huge progress since the summer break and can now take advantage of slower corners better than its rivals, which should be a big factor at Interlagos.
As proven last year, rain is Verstappen’s speciality, and forecasts suggest it will remain scattered throughout the weekend. Hopefully McLaren will be in the mix, but this is a weekend when Verstappen could turn the screw in both the sprint and grand prix.
how to see a gp
For fans in the US only, watch live on ESPN espn+,
In the UK, live broadcast coverage is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4.
For news, analysis and updates, follow coverage with ESPN’s F1 Team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Sao Paulo and on social media.
Session times are listed below in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). local time (BRT) brasilia standard time (GMT-3 hours).
Friday
Practice: 14:30-15:30 GMT
Sprint qualifying: 18:30-19:14 GMT
Saturday
Sprint race: 14:00-15:00 GMT
Eligibility: 18:00-19:00 GMT
sunday
Race start: 17:00 GMT (live text commentary build-up from 16:00 GMT) ESPN.co.uk/F1,
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