F1 São Paulo Grand Prix Stats 2026 - 10 Numbers That Decide the Race
A Safety Car has come out in 86% of recent races at Interlagos, and Max Verstappen once won here from 17th on the grid. No track left on the calendar is more likely to throw the script out the window.
The title is settled after Kimi Antonelli clinched it in Mexico City, but the fight for second is wide open, with Verstappen two points ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, is 71 laps of a short 4.309 km track, run anti-clockwise.
There's no Sprint this year, and rain is in the forecast. These are the numbers I'm watching before the 2026 Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix, the race still known to most fans as the Brazilian Grand Prix.
São Paulo Grand Prix start time in Canada: Sunday, November 8 at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT. Qualifying is Saturday at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Every session is live on TSN in English and RDS in French, with streaming on TSN+.
Race Predictions for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix
Race Predictions for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix
Expertpicks Track Scorecard - Interlagos
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Matters | 5/10 |
| Safety Car Chance | 9/10 |
| Overtaking Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Strategy Swing | 8/10 |
| Chaos Rating | 7/10 |
This is the highest Chaos Rating we've given a track so far. Safety Cars are almost a given, passing is easy, and rain in the forecast pushes it up another point.
10 Numbers That Decide the São Paulo Grand Prix
86% - The Safety Car Rate
Interlagos has had a Safety Car in 86% of recent Grands Prix, and there was another one last year after a restart went wrong at Turn 1. With barriers close by and the weather changing fast, plan for at least one.
7 of 10 - Winners Who Started at the Front
Seven of the last 10 winners here started first on the grid, including George Russell in 2022 after he won the Sprint. When the race runs clean, the leader usually stays there.
19 of 42 - Pole's All-Time Record
Over the full history of Interlagos, pole has won only 19 of 42 races, which is 45%. The recent run of front-runners winning is the exception. Rain and Safety Cars have a habit of breaking it.
17th - The Lowest Winning Grid Slot
Verstappen won the wet 2024 race from 17th on the grid, the furthest back anyone has won from at Interlagos. That's the clearest sign of what can happen here once the rain arrives.
4 of 10 - Race Days With Rain
It rained on four of the last 10 race days here, with real downpours in 2016 and 2024. This week's forecast has heavy rain around qualifying on Saturday and showers possible on Sunday.
3 Wins - Verstappen and Hamilton
Verstappen (2019, 2023, 2024) and Hamilton (2016, 2018, 2021) have each won here three times. Michael Schumacher holds the Interlagos record with four, so either driver can match him on Sunday.
3 of 4 - Verstappen's Last Four Races
Verstappen has won three of the last four Grands Prix (Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico City) and has finished on the podium at seven straight events. He won in Mexico from fifth on the grid after a penalty.
2nd - Antonelli's Result Here Last Year
The new champion qualified second here in 2025 and finished second in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, behind Lando Norris. He's also been on the podium in each of his last three races.
2 Points - The Fight for Second
Verstappen has 261 points, Hamilton has 259, Russell has 250 and Charles Leclerc has 245. That's four drivers within 16 points of each other with four rounds left.
0 - Ferrari Finishers Last Year
Both Ferraris retired from the 2025 race, with Leclerc taken out on the lap 5 restart. The
official F1 report from Mexico City shows how Hamilton and Leclerc's opening-lap battle cost Ferrari the win, so they need a clean weekend more than anyone.
What the Numbers Point To
Interlagos is the race where the stats point to chaos. A Safety Car is close to certain, passing is easy, and rain could scramble qualifying.
That favours the driver who's best in the wet and best at coming through the field, and Verstappen is both. He's also the driver in the best form right now. I break down every market in my full São Paulo Grand Prix picks before lights out on Sunday.
São Paulo Grand Prix FAQ
- What time does the São Paulo Grand Prix start in Canada?
The race starts Sunday, November 8 at noon ET, which is 9 a.m. PT. Qualifying is Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
- Is the São Paulo Grand Prix a Sprint weekend in 2026?
No. Interlagos hosted a Sprint every year from 2021 to 2025, but in 2026 it's a standard weekend with three practice sessions.
- How often is there a Safety Car at the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Very often. A Safety Car came out in 86% of recent races at Interlagos, and last year's race had one as well.
- Who won the São Paulo Grand Prix last year?
Lando Norris won from pole for McLaren in 2025, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.