The 2025 Components 1 season has reached spherical 21 — Gabriel Bortoleto’s house race — the São Paulo Grand Prix.
All eyes are on the championship race and the three drivers who may win it — Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
As we strategy the season’s penultimate dash race, there are a most of 116 factors obtainable to a driver with 4 grands prix remaining, so each level is essential.
Climate forecast – thunderstorm
The forecast is a combined bag this weekend. Friday is ready to be cloudy and settled, with highs of 24°C (75°F), earlier than the anticipated thunderstorm is available in on Saturday with a yellow alert. Anticipate rain, wind, thunder and unsettled climate.
Cooler temperatures of 19°C (67°F) are anticipated on Sunday, with potential mild rain.
Soar to: Circuit historical past & stats | Predictions | Learn how to watch | Championship standings
This week’s must-read
NEXT GEN: Oliver Bearman’s fourth place on the Mexico Grand Prix reveals promise that there’s life after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
NEW LEADER: Norris takes the championship lead for the second time this yr. Can he keep it?
W: Williams has gone again to its roots with a brand new brand for the 2026 season — a nod to the staff’s aggressive historical past.
LAWSON ABSOLVED: The FIA absolved Liam Lawson of blame for an incident on the Mexican Grand Prix which noticed the New Zealander almost collide with two marshals operating throughout the race observe.
BUTTON RETIRES (AGAIN): After retiring from F1 in 2016, Jenson Button moved into different racing sequence, however final week determined this weekend’s 8 Hours of Bahrain could be his final race.
UNLAPPED: For extra evaluation hearken to the most recent episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast Unlapped with F1 writers Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson.
How the championship seems to be
With 4 races left, together with two sprints, each level counts.
Norris took the championship lead by ONE level final outing in Mexico, so Piastri stays in touching distance if he can regain his kind for the rostrum.
However Verstappen is catching up and now stands solely 36 factors behind Norris…
As for a breakdown of podiums and wins, that is the way it seems to be for the highest three:
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Norris (357 pts) – 16 podiums, 6 wins
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Piastri (356 pts) – 14 podiums, 7 wins
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Verstappen (321 pts) – 11 podiums, 5 wins.
What number of factors for a race win? Go to our F1 information for a reminder of how the factors system works.
Circuit stats and historical past
Located in a neighbourhood between two synthetic lakes, Interlagos (which interprets to “between lakes”), first opened as a race observe in 1940. Components 1 first raced on the circuit in 1972 as a non-championship race earlier than turning into a part of the calendar from 1973.
The unique circuit was almost twice the size, handing over on itself a number of instances like a karting observe. Nevertheless, its bumpy floor was thought-about harmful within the first ground-effect period and it dropped off the calendar in 1980 when the Brazilian Grand Prix moved to Jacarepagua in Rio de Janiero.
F1 returned to a shortened and up to date model of the circuit in 1990, which coincided with the rise of Ayrton Senna to world stardom. In 2004, the Brazilian Grand Prix was moved from early within the yr in the direction of the tip of the F1 calendar and it witnessed dramatic title deciders in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012.
Circuit: Autódromo José Carlos Tempo; São Paulo, Brazil
First F1 race: 1973
Laps: 71 laps of 4.3km
Lap report: 1:10.540, Valtteri Bottas (2018)
Most wins: Alain Prost six at Interlagos & Jacarepagua (1982-1984-1985, 1987-1988, 1990); Michael Schumacher has 4 at this circuit (1994-1995, 2000-2002)
Earlier winners on the present grid:
– Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2018, 2021)
– Verstappen (2019, 2023, 2024)
– George Russell (2022)
Most poles: Ayrton Senna with six (1986, 1988-1991, 1994)
Earlier pole sitters on the present grid:
– Fernando Alonso (2005)
– Hamilton (2012, 2016, 2018)
– Russell (2022)
– Verstappen (2019, 2023)
– Norris (2024)
What makes it particular: A legendary circuit that has produced a few of F1’s most dramatic moments. Quick, undulating and unpredictable with altering climate, Interlagos is rightfully thought-about one in all F1’s finest venues.
What the drivers say about it: “The power at Interlagos is electrical. You’re feeling the historical past.” — Felipe Massa
The place to look at from: Senna’s S (Flip 1). The perfect overtaking spot on the observe, the place daring strikes into the braking zone typically resolve the race consequence.
Enjoyable details:
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Brazil has produced 33 drivers who made it to F1; three of these turned a number of world champions. Felipe Massa nearly joined them in 2008 however missed out on the title by 1 level to Lewis Hamilton
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Bortoleto is the primary driver since Massa in 2017 to compete at his house race
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That is the fifth São Paulo Grand Prix. It was beforehand often known as the Brazilian Grand Prix till it was cancelled in 2020 through the coronavirus pandemic, and in 2021 got here again with a brand new identify.
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Interlagos is the one circuit to characteristic on each dash calendar because it was launched in 2021; nonetheless it’s going to drop off for 2026.
What occurred final yr?
Final yr’s race was one for the ages as Verstappen took a shocking victory from beginning seventeenth on the grid because the rain poured.
The dramatic race noticed solely 15 drivers end as Alpine triumphed with a double podium.
As Verstappen’s expertise for locating grip in moist circumstances shone by, it was helped by Pink Bull holding their nerve with technique calls to pit for contemporary intermediate tyres below crimson flag circumstances mid-way by the race.
Who will win?
Brazil seems like a fantastic second for Verstappen to proceed his unlikely wildcard title problem behind the battling McLaren drivers.
Pink Bull’s automobile has taken massive strides ahead because the summer time break and may now exploit slower corners higher than its rivals, which needs to be an enormous issue at Interlagos.
As evidenced final yr, rain is Verstappen’s speciality, and forecasts recommend it will likely be scattered by the weekend. Anticipate McLaren to be within the combine, however it is a weekend when Verstappen can flip the screws in each the dash and the grand prix itself.
Learn how to watch the GP
For followers within the U.S. solely, watch stay on ESPN and ESPN+.
Within the UK, stay broadcast protection is on Sky Sports activities F1 and BBC Radio 5 Dwell, with highlights on Channel 4.
For information, evaluation and updates, comply with the protection with ESPN’s F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in São Paulo and on social media.
Session instances beneath in GMT (Greenwich Imply Time). Native time is (BRT) Brasilia Normal Time (GMT-3 hours).
Friday
Observe: 14:30-15:30 GMT
Dash qualifying: 18:30-19:14 GMT
Saturday
Dash race: 14:00-15:00 GMT
Qualifying: 18:00-19:00 GMT
Sunday
Race begins: 17:00 GMT (stay textual content commentary build-up from 16:00 GMT on ESPN.co.uk/F1).
– Standings | Calendar | Groups
– 2025 F1 circuits: Their historical past, stats and why they’re particular
– Key details on drivers, groups, venues, extra
– Causes to root for every F1 driver, questions for each staff
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