F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Live updates, starting grid, results, best bets, weather and more

Formula 1 concludes its second of three triple-headers of the 2026 season this weekend in Brazil with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 

Interlagos and the Autódromo José Carlos Pace are a favorite of drivers and fans alike for its unique twisting layout and elevation changes that follow the natural contours of the landscape. That combined with the typically unpredictable weather in southeastern Brazil have produced some of the most memorable grands prix in the history of the sport.

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Kimi Antonelli already clinched the world drivers’ championship last weekend in Mexico City, becoming the youngest ever to do so. But behind him, quite an intense race is developing as just 16 points separate Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second place (261) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth (245) with four rounds remaining. 

On the constructors’ side, Mercedes can clinch that title by merely out-scoring Ferrari by three points in Brazil this weekend. The Scuderia do have a healthy 122-point edge over Red Bull in third place, but defending champion McLaren are just 17 points behind in fourth.

Ferrari drama persists

Despite being in the second in the constructors’s standings, all is not harmonious in the Ferrari camp.

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The latest incident between teammates Hamilton and Leclerc came during the first lap in Mexico City as going into Turn, they held the top two spots. But two aggressive moves from Leclerc, first into Turn 1, then into Turn 4, set off a chain of events that handed Verstappen the lead and eventual race win.

Hamilton lamented on the radio in the closing moments of the race that “serious” talks need to be had. Mexico City was just the latest in a series of incidents between the teammates that began at Zandvoort and continued at Monza, costing the team valuable results.

“Well, I’ll speak with Lewis,” Leclerc said. “I could be also unhappy with how much he pushed me off the track out of Turn 1, but I think it’s racing. When you are fighting for a win, it’s the way it should be.”

Hamilton continued to fume this week: “When I was at Mercedes, I watched and witnessed the back and forth between Charles and Carlos [Sainz] several races, where they were battling so much that the person ahead just pulled away, and they had the pace to actually win.

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“But it is one thing when that’s happening in fourth and fifth, as opposed to first and second, and you lose the win. That’s significant.

“The guy is 28 years old, so I don’t think it’s an age thing. I think it’s a mentality thing.

“It’s like, ‘Do or die. Either I win or none of us do’, and it shouldn’t be that. It should be us getting that one-two.”

Here’s what else to know ahead of Sao Paulo Grand Prix and remember, you can stream all three practice sessions and qualifying right here on Yahoo Sports:

Sao Paulo Grand Prix streaming schedule

All times Eastern

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Friday
10:10-11:30 a.m.: Free practice 1 (Yahoo Sports, Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)
1:40-3 p.m.: Free practice 2 (Yahoo Sports, Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)

Saturday
9:10-10:30 a.m.: Free practice 3 (Yahoo Sports, Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)
12:25-2 p.m.: Qualifying (Yahoo Sports, Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)

Sunday
10:50-11:55 a.m.: Pre-race show (Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)
11:55 a.m.-2 p.m.: Sao Paulo Grand Prix (Apple TV, F1 TV Pro)

Sao Paulo Grand Prix details

Track: Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos) | 2.677-mile, 15-turn permanent racing facility in Sao Paulo
Race length: 71 laps for 190 miles
Lap record: 1:10.540 (Valtteri Bottas, 2018, Mercedes)
Tire compounds: Hard (C3), Medium (C4), Soft (C5)
2025 winner: Lando Norris, McLaren-Mercedes

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Top drivers and best bets for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Three-time race winner Max Verstappen has the best moneyline entering the weekend at +125, followed by already crowned champion Kimi Antonelli at +225. Just six more drivers have better than 50-to-1 odds, followed by the rest of the field at 400-to-1.

Best odds to win

F1 world drivers’ championship standings

F1 world constructors’ championship standings

Sao Paulo Grand Prix weather 

The Yahoo Weather forecast for Sao Paulo this weekend is wildly variable. Rain is likely for Friday morning, but figures to be out of the area by the time free practice sessions roll around. Saturday’s forecast for qualifying is clear entering the weekend, but with temperatures in the mid-80s it will be 10+ degrees warmer, rendering data from Friday’s practices less reliable.

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Sunday calls for more early rain that will be out of the area by race time, but temperatures will only be in the mid-60s, which should make for some fascinating strategy decisions in terms of which tire compound to start on and switch to.