São Paulo GP 2026: Start Time, Schedule, TV and Antonelli's Title

From Friday November 6 to Sunday November 8, 2026, at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos) in São Paulo. It is round 20 of 23, one week after the [Mexico City Grand Prix](/en/f1-mexico-city-gp-2026/) (November 1) and two weeks before Las Vegas (November 19-21). The official event name is the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo. Sources: Formula1.com, The Rio Times.

The race starts on Sunday November 8 at 14:00 local time (Brasília time, UTC-3), which is 12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT, 5 p.m. in the UK and 6 p.m. in central Europe. Both the US and Europe will already be on winter time, so the gaps are simple that weekend. Sources: Formula1.com, The Rio Times.

Local time (UTC-3), with ET and UK times: Friday November 6: FP1 12:30-13:30 (10:30 a.m. ET, 15:30 UK), FP2 16:00-17:00 (2 p.m. ET, 19:00 UK). Saturday November 7: FP3 11:30-12:30 (9:30 a.m. ET, 14:30 UK), qualifying 15:00-16:00 (1 p.m. ET, 18:00 UK). Sunday November 8: drivers' parade 12:00, race 14:00 (12 p.m. ET, 17:00 UK). Timetable subject to change. Sources: Formula1.com, The Rio Times.

No. Interlagos, a regular sprint venue in recent seasons, hosts a standard weekend in 2026: three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday and the grand prix on Sunday. Singapore (October 9-11) hosted the last sprint of the 2026 season. Sources: Formula1.com, The Rio Times.

Only if he has not already done it in Mexico. Before the Mexico City race he led with 365 points, 123 ahead of George Russell (242) and 124 ahead of Lewis Hamilton (241), and he is champion on November 1 with a top-nine finish there, or if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins. If the decision is pushed back, São Paulo becomes his next match point, with the exact maths depending on the Mexico result. Either way, he would be the youngest champion in F1 history, aged 20. Sources: Sky Sports, The Rio Times, F1-Fansite.

Lando Norris (McLaren), from pole, on November 9, 2025, a win that extended his championship lead at the time. Kimi Antonelli finished second, then his best F1 result, and Max Verstappen came from the pit lane to third. Norris had also won the Saturday sprint. Sources: Formula1.com, FIA, Motor Sport Magazine.

Yes: Gabriel Bortoleto, in his second season, now with Audi (the team formerly known as Sauber). He was 15th in the standings with 10 points before Mexico, and Interlagos is his only home race. Reports also mention Brazilian rookie Rafael Câmara for a first-practice outing, but no team has confirmed it. Source: The Rio Times.

The circuit is 4.309 km long and the race runs over 71 laps (305.879 km). It is one of the few anticlockwise tracks on the calendar, with the famous Senna S after the start and a long uphill run to the line. The race lap record is 1:10.540, set by Valtteri Bottas in 2018. The track is named after Brazilian driver José Carlos Pace, winner here in 1975. Sources: Formula1.com, The Rio Times.

In the United States, F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in 2026 (subscription, F1 TV Premium included). In the UK, every session is live on Sky Sports F1, with the race at 5 p.m. Elsewhere, check your national rights holder or F1 TV. Sources: Sports Media Watch, Sky Sports.

On the organisers' price list of October 10, three-day tickets started at R$990 (about US$183) in Sector G, with a half-price R$495 for eligible fans (students, seniors), up to R$4,680 in Sector D and R$20,900 for the Grand Prix Club. A three-day Fanzone pass cost R$620. Sectors R, M and B were already sold out. Buy only through the official ticketing. Source: The Rio Times.