Result, 8 November: Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen, who started 21st, and Isack Hadjar. Mercedes clinched the 2026 constructors’ title. Full classification: São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 results.
Max Verstappen starts the São Paulo Grand Prix from 21st on the grid this afternoon, after Red Bull fitted new power unit components beyond his allocation. He is not the only Verstappen who races for wins. His father Jos, who drove in Formula 1 himself, is the reigning Belgian rally champion.
The race at Interlagos starts at 14:00 local time, which is 17:00 UK, 18:00 CET and 12:00 ET. Why Max starts so far back is explained in our grid penalty story; the full starting grid is on our São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 results page.
From Formula 1 to rally champion
Jos Verstappen raced in Formula 1 from 1994 to 2003. Years later he found a new challenge on special stages. “Since I have found rallying in 2022 it has become my passion,” he said when he announced his 2026 programme on verstappen.com.
In 2025 that passion brought him a title. With co-driver Renaud Jamoul he won the Belgian Rally Championship in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and they clinched it at the East Belgian Rally in September 2025, one round before the end of the season.
Jos Verstappen’s 2026 rally season
For 2026, Jos and Jamoul planned about fifteen rally events, with the Belgian championship at the centre. They started the season third in the Haspengouw Rally in a Citroën C3 Rally2 prepared by Sarrazin Motorsport. “It’s going to be a challenging and tough year, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Jos said afterwards.
In June they won the Rally of Wervik in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, more than 39 seconds clear. “We are very satisfied with this win,” Jos said. Two weeks later their Ypres Rally ended in a ditch, without injuries, and at the East Belgian Rally around Sankt Vith on 26 September a technical problem hit the number 1 Škoda.
Our photographer at the East Belgian Rally
Our photographer Adrian Jeziorski was on the stages of the East Belgian Rally and photographed Jos and Renaud Jamoul in action. His full set from the rally is on RNT Media.
Max: from 21st at the track of his comebacks
Fighting back runs in the family too. Interlagos is where a 19-year-old Max made his name in the rain in 2016: after a late stop for wet tyres he dropped to 14th, then gained 11 places in the last 16 laps to finish third, according to formula1.com. He later called it “almost as beautiful as the race I had in Barcelona”.
He has come from the back at this track twice more since, with a win from 17th in 2024 and a podium from the pit lane last year. How those races went is in our grid penalty story.
Our view
Two generations, two disciplines, one family trait: neither Verstappen gives up a position without a fight. Jos has had a mixed season after his 2025 title, and Max starts today with only Sergio Pérez behind him. For both, the next result is what counts.
Follow the race on our São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 results page, and read more about Max on his driver profile.
Would you like to see Max and Jos share a rally car one day? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: formula1.com (official starting grid, 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix), news.verstappen.com (Jos Verstappen rally results 2025 and 2026).
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