Qualifying Q3 sets the grid for Sunday's race. Antonelli arrives at Interlagos leading the championship with 380 points, against 261 for Verstappen and 259 for Hamilton. The track's lap record is 1:10.540, set by Valtteri Bottas in 2018.
Formula 1: the Brazilian Grand Prix, session by session
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Interlagos, November 6 to 8: what decides qualifying and the race, with the championship standings.
The weekend's thesis
Antonelli arrives at Interlagos with 380 points and 9 wins, against Verstappen's 261 points. But Verstappen won in Singapore and Mexico, and Antonelli in the United States: the weekend is being read for who leaves São Paulo in the best form.
What is at stake
In the drivers' standings, Antonelli has 380 points, Verstappen 261, Hamilton 259, Russell 250 and Leclerc 245. Among the constructors, Mercedes has 630 points, Ferrari 504, Red Bull 380 and McLaren 371. The fight behind the leader is tight: Verstappen and Hamilton sit on 261 and 259 points, and Russell and Leclerc on 250 and 245.
What decides the weekend
The race is 71 laps. Antonelli leads the championship with 380 points and 9 wins; Verstappen has 261 points and 3 wins, and won in Singapore and Mexico. Hamilton has 259 points, Russell 250 and Leclerc 245: the race shakes up the fight for the places just behind the leader.
Will there be a safety car during the 2026 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix?
Haverá safety car durante o Grande Prêmio do Brasil de F1 2026? 0%
Haverá safety car durante o Grande Prêmio do Brasil de F1 2026? 0%Weekend schedule
All times are Brasília time (UTC−3).
Friday, November 6
- 12:30 — Free Practice 1
- 16:00 — Free Practice 2
Saturday, November 7
- 11:30 — Free Practice 3
- 15:00 — Qualifying Q1
- 15:22 — Qualifying Q2
- 15:42 — Qualifying Q3
Sunday, November 8
- 14:00 — Race · Haverá safety car durante o Grande Prêmio do Brasil de F1 2026? 0%
The circuit
Interlagos, the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, began construction in 1938 and hosted its first world championship Grand Prix in 1973. The lap starts on a sort of half-oval, goes through the Senna S, enters a twisty infield with camber changes and climbs back uphill to a banked final corner. The lap record belongs to Valtteri Bottas, 1:10.540, set in 2018, and the race is 71 laps. The first three Brazilian Grands Prix were won by home drivers: Emerson Fittipaldi in 1973 and 1974, Carlos Pace in 1975. This year, Gabriel Bortoleto is the local driver on the grid.
The weekend's news
Rafael Câmara's debut is the Brazilian story of the weekend: ge reports that he will race for Haas at the São Paulo and Las Vegas GPs, and that he is already confirmed as a Haas race driver for 2027. Lewis Hamilton reaches 400 GPs in Formula 1, and Ferrari posted a message from Neymar, who confirmed he will be at Interlagos. Charles Leclerc announced the birth of his first daughter, Bianca, a few days before the race.
After the race
Lando Norris won at Interlagos, his third win of 2026, with Max Verstappen second after starting 21st and Isack Hadjar third. George Russell finished fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth, enough for Mercedes to clinch the constructors' title; Antonelli was already the drivers' champion. The totals in this page's tables are from before the race. The next Grand Prix is Las Vegas, on November 20.
Scenarios
- ✗ Max Verstappen wins the Brazilian Grand Prix. (missed) Norris won the race and Verstappen finished second, 14.602 s behind.
- ✗ Max Verstappen starts from pole position. (missed) Norris took pole position in Qualifying Q3; Verstappen started 21st.
- ✗ A Mercedes driver (Kimi Antonelli or George Russell) finishes on the podium. (missed) The podium was Norris, Verstappen and Hadjar; Russell finished fourth and Antonelli fifth.
- ✗ There will be at least one safety car during the race. (missed) F1's lap-by-lap report of the 71 laps records no safety car.
Drivers' championship
Constructors' championship
Recent form of the championship top ten
Results
What the market sees for the Brazilian Grand Prix
What the market says
Sources
- Official source: Fórmula 1 2026
- Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2026, Brazil - F1 Race (formula1.com)
- F1 | Últimas Notícias, resultados de corridas e próximo GP | ge (ge.globo.com)
- 2026 Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix report: Lando Norris beats Max Verstappen in wet Sao Paulo GP thriller as Mercedes win title (formula1.com)
