Andrea Innocenti The 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, November 8th, at the famous Interlagos circuit , officially known as the São Paulo Grand Prix. The event, now in its sixth year under this name, stems from a long-running dispute between the São Paulo city government and the Brasilia government, but the track remains unchanged and ready to welcome the world's best drivers.
The Interlagos track: evolution and characteristics
The current layout is the result of a redesign in the late 80s, when the length was reduced to about four kilometers and the famous Senna "S" was created, a link connecting two previously separate segments. Changes to the radii of corners like Subida do Lago and Juncao have made the circuit more technical while maintaining the latest safety standards.
The track, originally inaugurated in 1940 with a length of eight kilometers, is today considered one of the most unpredictable due to its uneven terrain, caused by the proximity of two artificial lakes.
Statistics of winners and pole positions
In the long run at Interlagos, the driver with the most victories is Michael Schumacher , who achieved four triumphs (1994, 1995, 2000, 2002).
The pole position standings are more evenly matched: five drivers have three poles each, but none have more than three. These include Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello, and Lewis Hamilton. Among the active drivers, Lewis Hamilton (three wins) and Max Verstappen (three wins) dominate the standings, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris with one win each.
Active drivers with victories and poles at Interlagos
Hamilton has also collected three poles, while Verstappen has two, joined by Valtteri Bottas and the young Norris, who has two from 2024 to 2025. The constant presence of these names on the podium (Hamilton 7, Verstappen 7, Norris 2, Bottas 2) testifies to the difficulty of the track, where only 48,6% of victories come from pole position, but 77,1% of winners start from the front row.
Recent Performances: Verstappen, Hamilton, and the Record Chase
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen returned to Interlagos in impressive form: after his victory in Mexico, he secured two more consecutive triple podium finishes, totaling seven consecutive wins this season. His most memorable moments include overtaking Nico Rosberg in the wet (2016), the incident with Esteban Ocon (2018), and two epic comebacks (from 17th to 1st in 2024 and from 19th to 3rd in 2025). Hamilton, despite a slightly inferior Mercedes, remains close to Schumacher's record, with three poles and two recent victories, ready to challenge the Dutchman in the final standings.
Impact of qualifications on results
During the turbo-hybrid era, 72,8% of winners started from pole, and 81,8% from the front row. However, Verstappen remains the furthest from pole position to win at Interlagos, starting from the 17th grid in 2024, proving that race strategy can outweigh starting position.
Drivers' and constructors' standings before Sao Paulo
After the Mexican Grand Prix, the title is in the hands of Kimi Antonelli (380 points). Second place is hotly contested: Verstappen has 261 points, just two more than Hamilton (259), followed by George Russell (250) and Charles Leclerc (245). Among the teams, Mercedes leads with 630 points, Ferrari is second with 504, Red Bull is third with 380 and McLaren follows with 371 points, nine points behind third place. The battle for the constructors' podium promises to be exciting in Sao Paulo.
Historical curiosities of the circuit
The Interlagos site was originally intended for construction, but the terrain's morphology prevented residential construction, so a racetrack was chosen. The first Formula 1 race was held in 1973, thanks to the success of Emerson Fittipaldi, and since then, Interlagos has become the heart of the Brazilian Grand Prix, especially after the rise of Ayrton Senna, a local icon.
In 2025, McLaren's Lando Norris took the win, with Antonelli second and Verstappen third, once again demonstrating the track's ability to produce unexpected twists and turns, including Ferrari's rare accident-related retirements. As the season nears its end, the São Paulo Grand Prix represents the final opportunity for the protagonists to come close to Schumacher's legendary record of four victories.