São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 start times: Verstappen, Hamilton and Russell fight for second at Interlagos
Antonelli races as champion for the first time, Verstappen leads Hamilton by two points for second, and Mercedes can seal the constructors' title
The São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 starts on Sunday 8 November at 14:00 local time, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CET and 12:00 ET, and it is the first race with Kimi Antonelli as world champion. The title is settled, but behind the Mercedes driver four men are split by 16 points in the fight for second place, and Mercedes can clinch the constructors’ crown at Interlagos.
Haas news: Rafael Câmara replaces Esteban Ocon this weekend (Câmara makes his F1 debut). Live results all weekend: São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 results. Current points: F1 standings 2026.
The race starts at 14:00 local, 18:00 CET and 12:00 ET
| Session | Day | Local (São Paulo) | UK (GMT) | CET | US Eastern (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri 6 Nov | 12:30 | 15:30 | 16:30 | 10:30 |
| Practice 2 | Fri 6 Nov | 16:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 14:00 |
| Practice 3 | Sat 7 Nov | 11:30 | 14:30 | 15:30 | 09:30 |
| Qualifying | Sat 7 Nov | 15:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 13:00 |
| Race (71 laps) | Sun 8 Nov | 14:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 12:00 |
Interlagos is a regular weekend, with no sprint. The race runs over 71 laps of the 4.309-kilometre Autódromo José Carlos Pace, a total of 305.879 kilometres. Brazil does not use daylight saving time, so São Paulo is three hours behind the UK this weekend, and the US has been back on standard time since 1 November.
Sixteen points between second and fifth
Antonelli has 380 points after his title in Mexico City. Behind him the order is tight: Max Verstappen 261, Lewis Hamilton 259, George Russell 250 and Charles Leclerc 245. Lando Norris is sixth on 221. With four races left and 25 points for a win, all five drivers from second to sixth can still finish the year as runner-up.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 380 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 261 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 259 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 250 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 245 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 221 |
Drivers’ standings after round 19, Mexico City. Source: formula1.com.
How the title was decided last Sunday: Verstappen wins in Mexico City as Antonelli is crowned.
Mercedes can seal the constructors’ title
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 126 points, 630 to 504, with Red Bull Racing third on 382 and McLaren fourth on 365. A team can score at most 43 points per race, with a win and second place, so after Interlagos there are 129 points left for each team. If Mercedes outscores Ferrari by four points or more in São Paulo, its lead grows past 129 and the constructors’ championship is decided as well.
How to watch: F1 TV and the national broadcasters
Every session is shown live by the Formula 1 rights holder in each country, and F1 TV Pro streams the whole weekend where it is available. Formula 1 lists the broadcaster per country on its official São Paulo Grand Prix page.
Our hunch
Without a title to protect, Antonelli can race in Brazil with nothing to lose, and that makes him the man to beat again. The real story is behind him. Verstappen is second by only two points after his win in Mexico, and Ferrari has two drivers in the fight in Hamilton and Leclerc. Russell, eleven points off second, needs a big weekend to keep pace. We expect second place to change hands more than once before Abu Dhabi.
After Interlagos: Las Vegas on 21 November
Two weeks after São Paulo, the season moves to the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night 21 November local time, followed by Qatar on 29 November and the finale in Abu Dhabi on 6 December.
Sources: official Formula 1 timetable, circuit data and standings, formula1.com.
Who finishes the 2026 season as runner-up behind Antonelli: Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell or Leclerc? Tell us in the comments.
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