After a dramatic race in Mexico, the points gap in the two championships has narrowed.
The battle between Red Bull and McLaren is much closer, and Ferrari has emerged as a quiet contender to win the constructors’ championship.
With just four races left in the season, F1 heads to São Paulo for the penultimate sprint weekend.
From Friday onwards, the weather is expected to be cloudy and dry with maximum temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius.
Latest news
Max Verstappen was handed a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix for choosing a fifth engine. He also brushed off criticism of his driving style following incidents that earned him two 10-second penalties last week in Mexico.
Lando Norris said Verstappen ‘knows he did wrong’, and Lewis Hamilton said we’ve been here before with the 2021 title battle.
Hamilton will drive one of Ayrton Senna’s McLarens on Saturday at Interlagos.
Christian Horner has refused to confirm whether Sergio Pérez will finish the F1 season after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
McLaren has told Norris there is no need to change the way he drives in the F1 title battle with Red Bull’s Verstappen.
Did the F1 stewards get Verstappen’s decisions right in Mexico?
Can Ferrari catch McLaren in the constructors’ championship? Plus a preview of the Brazilian Grand Prix | Listen to the latest episode of ESPN Unlapped’s F1 podcast.
1:42
Has Ferrari become a legitimate competitor to manufacturers?
Laurence Edmondson assesses Ferrari’s sudden rise in the championship race.
What the championships look like
The drivers’ championship is the closest since the Monaco Grand Prix in May. Verstappen leads Norris by 47 points and Charles Leclerc by 71.
McLaren, for its part, remains leader of the constructors’ championship with 29 points. Ferrari’s double podium, back-to-back races in Austin and Mexico, increased its points total to overtake Red Bull, who trail by 54 points.
Leading Verstappen could mathematically win the championship in two weeks if he leads Norris by 61 points after Las Vegas.
If Verstappen finishes third in the last four races and both sprints, including this weekend, Norris must win and set the fastest lap each time to take the title by one point.
(Statistics: ESPN Stats and News Group)
Rankings | Calendar | Teams
Circuit statistics and history
Located in an area between two artificial lakes, Interlagos (meaning “between the lakes”) opened as a race track in 1940. Formula 1 first raced at the circuit in 1972 as a racing non-league before becoming part of the calendar. from 1973.
The original circuit was almost twice as long and twisted several times like a go-kart track. However, its bumpy surface was considered dangerous during the first era of ground effect and it disappeared from the calendar in 1980 when the Brazilian Grand Prix was moved to Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro.
F1 returned to a shortened and updated version of the circuit in 1990, which coincided with Ayrton Senna’s rise to global stardom. In 2004, the Brazilian Grand Prix was moved from the beginning of the year to the end of the F1 calendar and was the scene of decisive finals in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012.
Towers: 71 laps of 4.3 km. Total distance 305km.
Lap record: 1:10.540 Valtteri Bottas (2018)
More wins: Michael Schumacher with four (1994-1995, 2000, 2002). On the current grid, Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2018, 2021), Verstappen (2019, 2023) and George Russell (2022) have all won here.
Most poles: Senna at his home race with five (1986, 1988-1991, 1994). On the current grid, Fernando Alonso (2005), Hamilton (2012, 2016, 2018), Bottas (2017, 2021), Verstappen (2019, 2023) and Russell (2022) are all on pole here.
What happened last year?
It’s no surprise that Verstappen took another dominant win at Interlagos, his 17th of the season, from lights to flag. Norris took his sixth podium of the year, while Fernando Alonso edged Perez into third place.
Norris managed to challenge Verstappen for the lead on lap 8 with DRS, but his brief glimmer of hope was extinguished under braking into Turn 4 as the Dutchman continued to lead the race.
Who will win?
Ferrari are the team in form heading into the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, with wins in three of the last five races.
McLaren remains a threat – Norris showed promising pace towards the end of last weekend’s race in Mexico – but based on the overall result of the last two races, it’s hard to look beyond a victory of Ferrari.
Although Carlos Sainz won in Mexico, Leclerc has been the better player this year and should be considered the favorite.
How to watch the GP
Watch on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ (US only) – check the schedule.
Live coverage in the UK is provided on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For news, analysis and updates, follow coverage with ESPN’s F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in São Paulo and on social media.
Friday
First free practice: 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. GMT
Sprint qualifying: 6:30 p.m.-7:14 p.m. GMT
SATURDAY
Sprint race: 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. GMT
Qualifying: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. GMT
Sunday
Race start: 5:00 p.m. GMT.
