Brazilian Grand Prix 2026
One of Formula 1's most iconic and unpredictable races, held at the legendary Interlagos circuit in São Paulo — a counter-clockwise rollercoaster that has delivered some of the sport's greatest moments and carries the spirit of Ayrton Senna in every corner.
Circuit Facts & Map
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, known worldwide as Interlagos (meaning “between the lakes”), sits 800 metres above sea level on the outskirts of São Paulo. It is one of only two counter-clockwise circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, a quirk that places unusual stress on the left-hand side of the tyres and demands a completely different physical approach from drivers, whose necks are loaded to the right throughout the lap.
Interlagos runs anti-clockwise, one of only two on the F1 calendar. Left-hand tyres take the brunt of lateral forces — a key strategic consideration throughout the race.
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
- Full name: Autódromo José Carlos Pace
- Direction: Counter-clockwise
- Altitude: ~800 m above sea level
- Corners: 15
- DRS zones: 2
Circuit layout © Wikimedia Commons
About Interlagos
Interlagos has hosted Formula 1 since 1973 and carries a weight of history that few circuits can match. Named after Brazilian racing hero José Carlos Pace — who won the 1975 Brazilian Grand Prix here — the circuit will always be most closely associated with Ayrton Senna, who grew up just miles away and won his home race twice. The site of some of F1’s most dramatic finales, Interlagos witnessed Nigel Mansell’s 1986 title dream unravel, Michael Schumacher’s 2006 farewell, and the extraordinary last-corner drama of the 2008 title decider between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.
The circuit itself is a compact but intense challenge. At just 4.309 km, it packs elevation changes, a sweeping first sector, and a technical final sector into a layout that never lets drivers relax. The opening Senna S demands commitment from the very start, while the long back straight provides F1’s most reliable overtaking opportunity under DRS. Pirelli consistently brings soft and medium compounds to São Paulo, where the combination of altitude, abrasive asphalt, and variable weather creates a strategic melting pot.
The São Paulo weather is notoriously unpredictable. Tropical downpours can arrive with almost no warning, transforming a dry race into a chaotic wet-weather event within minutes. This unpredictability is one of the reasons Interlagos produces so many memorable races — no team or driver can truly plan for every scenario, making adaptability and raw racecraft more valuable here than almost anywhere else on the calendar.
Key Corners
Interlagos condenses a huge variety of corner types into its compact layout. These are the turns that define the lap — and often the race result.
Turns 1–2 — Senna S
Named in honour of Ayrton Senna, the opening sequence is a fast, flowing chicane taken flat-out in modern F1 cars. Drivers arrive from the start-finish straight at over 300 km/h and must commit to the right-left flick without lifting. Misjudgements here regularly trigger safety cars and shape the entire race.
Turn 4 — Descida do Lago
A steep, downhill right-hander following the first DRS detection point. Cars drop several metres in elevation as the driver brakes on the crest, making it physically demanding and unpredictable under braking. One of the circuit’s most striking visual corners for trackside spectators who can see the car stepping over the brow.
Turns 8–9 — Curva do Sol
A fast right-hand sweeper taken at high speed in the mid-section of the lap. The Curve of the Sun is a test of aerodynamic balance — any instability in the car’s rear end is brutally exposed here, and it is a key indicator of overall car set-up quality throughout the weekend.
Turn 11 — Ferradura
The “Horseshoe” is a slow, tightening hairpin that feeds onto the back straight — Interlagos’ main overtaking zone. Getting the exit right under hard acceleration is critical; a poor line through Ferradura costs significant time on the straight and hands an opponent a DRS opportunity.
Turn 12 — Laranja
A tight left-hander at the end of the back straight where the majority of overtaking attempts are completed under braking. The entry speed is high, braking distances are long, and the track surface is bumpy, making late-braking moves an exciting gamble that can backfire spectacularly.
Race Atmosphere
The Brazilian Grand Prix generates a unique emotional charge that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in Formula 1. The fans of São Paulo are among the most passionate in the world — knowledgeable, loud, and deeply invested in the sport’s history. They fill the grandstands and the hillside spectator banks in their hundreds of thousands, and when a Brazilian driver reaches the podium, the noise from the crowd is deafening. The memory of Senna hangs over every Brazilian GP; his face adorns flags, T-shirts, and banners throughout the circuit, and his home race remains a pilgrimage for F1 fans from across the globe.
The physical setting adds to the drama. Interlagos sits in a valley surrounded by urban São Paulo, and the compressed, intimate layout means fans can see multiple sections of the circuit from almost any vantage point. Combined with the near-constant threat of a tropical rainstorm and the high-altitude air that tests both man and machine, the Brazilian Grand Prix has all the ingredients for the kind of race that ends up in highlight reels for decades.
Tyre Strategy
Counter-clockwise layout stresses left-hand tyres heavily. Sprint weekend format in 2026 reduces practice data. Unpredictable weather can invert the entire strategic picture at a moment’s notice.
Pirelli nominates soft and medium compounds for Interlagos, reflecting the circuit’s moderate tyre demands under dry conditions. However, the counter-clockwise direction loads the left-hand tyres significantly more than a conventional layout, which can accelerate left-rear wear in a way that catches teams off guard. The high-altitude air reduces aerodynamic downforce slightly, affecting mechanical grip requirements and making car set-up a delicate balancing act. Under the 2026 sprint weekend format, teams arrive with less free-practice data than usual, increasing the likelihood of strategic miscalculations.
The wild card is always the weather: a sudden downpour can wipe out entire pit-stop windows and force teams into reactive strategy, handing advantage to those who read the conditions quickest. In mixed conditions, the transition between intermediate and full wet tyres — and the timing of the switch back to slicks — has decided the outcome of Brazilian Grands Prix on multiple occasions.
How to Watch the Brazilian Grand Prix in the UK
Sky Sports F1 — Live
Full live coverage of every session — practice, sprint, qualifying, and the Grand Prix itself. Available via Sky TV subscription, Sky Go app, or NOW TV day/month pass. The most comprehensive F1 broadcast in the UK with extensive pre and post-race analysis.
Channel 4 — Highlights
Free-to-air highlights of qualifying and the race, broadcast on Channel 4 and available on Channel 4 streaming. No subscription required. Check the TV guide for exact broadcast times, which can vary depending on Channel 4’s scheduling.
F1 TV Pro
F1’s own streaming platform offers live coverage, onboard cameras, team radio, and multi-channel viewing. Available as a standalone subscription — a strong option for fans who want complete control over how they watch every session.
The Brazilian GP typically races around 18:00 GMT, making it one of the more convenient South American broadcasts for UK audiences. Check our full TV schedule for confirmed session times.
Previous Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2021 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |