The lights go out, and the most waited weekend starts for Formula 1 fans! The São Paulo Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated races of the year, as it is thrilling and full of surprises. Rain, rivalries, and a winding track are just a few of the aspects that make for a weekend full of excitement.
Free Practice Sessions
The week began with the first free practice — an official track session in which drivers and teams can drive freely around the circuit to test the car, collect data, and adjust settings, with no points awarded toward the championship.
Free Practice 1 was marked by two interruptions, with a red flag caused by Freddie Slater’s Audi suffering a mechanical failure and a later yellow flag after Alex Albon reported a loss of power steering. McLaren also drew attention by testing a new front wing concept linked to its 2027 development program.
At the front, Lando Norris topped the session with a 1:11.717, setting the fastest times in Sectors 1 and 2. Kimi Antonelli finished just 0.082s behind in second, while also impressing with a special Ayrton Senna-inspired helmet and the quickest Sector 3. Max Verstappen completed the top three, making it a closely contested battle among the leading contenders.
Among the Brazilians, Gabriel Bortoleto secured eighth place with a 1:12.614, while Rafael Câmara ended the session in 18th after posting a 1:13.696.
During the second free practice session, the battle for the fastest time was between Norris, Verstappen, and Antonelli. Nico Hülkenberg did not participate in the session due to a persistent mechanical issue with his car that was discovered during FP1. The Italian driver set the fastest time, followed by Norris and Verstappen, respectively.
Bortoleto posted the eighth-fastest time, and rookie Rafa Câmara finished in sixteenth place.
The final practice session was marred by a problem in the cockpit of Lewis Hamilton‘s car. Over the radio, the Ferrari driver complained of smoke in the cockpit and headed straight for the pits.
Max Verstappen set the fastest lap, with Kimi in second and Norris in third. Gabriel Bortoleto finished in 10th place, while Rafael Câmara finished ahead of his Haas teammate Ollie Bearman for the first time, ending the session in 15th.
Interlagos: Storm and Qualifying
The qualifying session had barely begun when a red flag brought the action to a halt after only five minutes.
After nearly an hour and a half of downtime, the cars returned to the track. Despite the storm and the long wait, the Brazilians remained unfazed and continued cheering enthusiastically — even for the Safety Car, which was assessing track conditions before qualifying restarted.
Lando Norris secured his third consecutive pole position at Interlagos in a Q3 session once again marked by bad weather.
The British driver set the fastest time in Q1 and maintained a strong pace in the subsequent sessions. When the rain intensified again in Q3, Norris had already set the fastest lap and benefited from the wet track, which prevented other drivers from improving their times.
Rafa Câmara spun out during Q1, punctured a tire, and damaged his front wing, but the team had time to repair the car. Fortunately, he was able to improve his lap time and advanced to Q2 in his Formula 1 debut. In the second stage of qualifying, the Haas driver was on a fast lap that could have placed him among the top 10. However, he lost control of the car in a turn and crashed straight into the wall at Interlagos. Rafa finished qualifying in 13th place.
Gabriel Bortoleto, who had performed well in free practice, was hampered by the rain; he spun out and crashed into a wall while attempting a fast lap. With damage to his rear wing, he did not return to the track and was eliminated in Q1, recording the session’s slowest time and starting the race in 19th place on Sunday.
Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, and Lewis Hamilton were placed at the back of the grid due to changes to engine components. Charles Leclerc lost 10 positions, while George Russell dropped five spots, also due to grid penalties.
At the front of the grid, behind Lando Norris, were Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson.
Lights Out: The São Paulo Grand Prix Begins
Sunday began with a lot of excitement even before the start. In light rain, Rubens “Rubinho” Barrichello had the opportunity to drive the 2011 Williams car at Interlagos and bid a symbolic farewell to Brazilian fans, nearly 15 years after his retirement from Formula 1. At the end of the lap, the driver waved to the fans with a Brazilian flag in hand — a gesture that moved everyone because it carried so much history and meaning.
The race began with all drivers on intermediate tires due to wet track conditions.
The lights went out and the race started. Kimi Antonelli passed Lando Norris and took the lead before the first turn. At the back of the grid, Lewis Hamilton gained 11 positions, moving up from 20th to 9th in less than one lap. Max Verstappen also made his way through the grid, moving up from 21st to 11th in two laps.
On lap 17, George Russell spun out as he exited the pit lane due to the wet track, ultimately hindering the exit of several drivers.
One of the biggest challenges of the race was the famous “Senna S,” the first turn on the Interlagos track. Countless cars spun out while trying to navigate the turn, and Kimi Antonelli was one of them. On lap 20, he lost the rear end while braking and went off the track, which allowed Norris to take the lead and open a comfortable gap over the reigning World Champion.
On lap 63, the rain returned, forcing all the drivers to change their tires. Lewis Hamilton spun out — still on soft tires — near the pit lane entrance. He managed to avoid damaging the car and immediately headed to the pits to change tires.
Lando Norris won, followed by Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, who secured his third Formula 1 podium finish.
The race was extremely competitive among the Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing cars. Scuderia Ferrari had a lackluster performance, with Leclerc finishing seventh and Hamilton ninth.
With this result, Mercedes clinched the Constructors’ Championship early. The team needed to finish the race with at least a three-point lead over Ferrari, and Antonelli’s 4th-place finish, combined with Russell’s 5th, secured the points needed to seal the title.
Brazilian Passion Fills Interlagos
Interlagos once again demonstrated why it is one of the most special races on the Formula 1 calendar. From the packed grandstands to the cheers for drivers from different teams, Brazilian fans turned the weekend into a grand celebration of motorsports. The crowd’s energy drew attention both inside and outside the racetrack, reinforcing the São Paulo Grand Prix’s reputation as one of the most vibrant events in the series.
According to official data released by Formula 1, 317,096 people attended the Autódromo José Carlos Pace over the three days of the Grand Prix, setting a new attendance record for the Brazilian race and surpassing the mark set the previous year. The number is impressive, but it doesn’t fully capture what was seen in the stands: thousands of fans who braved hours of travel, sun, rain, and long lines just to experience firsthand the thrill of watching the world’s premier motorsport series.
This connection goes beyond the race itself. With every lap, flags were waved, chants echoed through the stands, and any battle on the track was met with enthusiasm by those in attendance. On a weekend marked by the presence of Brazilian drivers on the grid and the battle for the season’s Constructors’ Title, Interlagos once again demonstrated that its greatest asset is not just its historic track layout, but its ability to transform a Formula 1 race into a collective celebration. It is this passion that makes the São Paulo circuit one of the most eagerly anticipated stops on the calendar and one of the most special settings for drivers and teams.
This passion was also reflected in the brand activations held during race week. The partnership between Nubank and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team took center stage with the creation of Nubank House, an immersive experience held in São Paulo. The venue featured an official replica of the team’s car, simulators, pit stop challenges, and historic items from the team, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at Formula 1. The organizers expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors throughout the event, highlighting Brazilians’ growing interest in the sport.
Another example of the connection between the Grand Prix and the public was Lacoste’s event featuring Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. At an event held at the JK Iguatemi shopping mall in São Paulo, the French driver met with Brazilian celebrities such as Gustavo Kuerten (Guga) and Cafu, as well as fans and guests of the brand. The initiative brought together sports, fashion, and entertainment right in the middle of Grand Prix week, further expanding Formula 1’s presence in the city and demonstrating how Brazilians’ enthusiasm extends far beyond the boundaries of Interlagos.
Looking Ahead to Interlagos 2027
According to the schedule released by the series in September, the São Paulo Grand Prix will take place on the weekend of November 5–7, 2027.
This Monday (the 9th), at 12 p.m., exclusive presales will open for Porto Bank cardholders. Then, on November 12, at the same time, tickets will go on sale for American Express cardholders. Tickets can be purchased through the official São Paulo Grand Prix website on the Eventim platform.
General ticket sales begin on November 16, so stay tuned and speed up so you don’t miss your chance to experience this historic weekend next year!
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The article above was edited by Luiza Chucre.
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