Home of High Drama and Brazilian Spirit

The Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo, or São Paulo Grand Prix, takes place from November 7 to 9 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, which is more commonly known as Interlagos. It is the 21st round of the 2025 F1 season. One of the most popular and historic tracks in the calendar, Interlagos, has earned its reputation due to its incredible atmosphere, emotional history, and most importantly, its unpredictable weather. This late-season race is guaranteed to be a major talking point in the title fight, especially as the weekend uses the Sprint format, which adds crucial championship points to Saturday's action and compresses preparation time.

Race Weekend Schedule

The São Paulo Grand Prix uses the Sprint format, shifting the traditional schedule. All times are local.

Circuit Information: Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)

The Interlagos circuit is unique: a short, flowing, anticlockwise layout that rewards aggressive driving and excellent car stability. Its blend of high-speed sections and tricky infield corners makes it a perennial favorite for drivers.

Key Circuit Characteristics and Statistics

• Circuit Length: 4.309 km (2.677 mi)
• Number of Laps: 71
• Race Distance: 305.879 km
• Turns: 15
• Race Lap Record: 1:10.540 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2018).
• Most Wins (Driver): Michael Schumacher, 4.
• Most Wins (Constructor): McLaren 12.
• Safety Car Probability: 86% (from the previous seven races).
• Overtakes Completed (2024): 72
• Pit Stop Time Loss: 20.8 seconds - the long pit lane increases the penalty for non-Safety Car stops.

The Interlagos Unpredictability Factor

Interlagos' location nestled between two artificial lakes guarantees two major strategic headaches:

• Variable Weather: Suddenly tropical rain showers appear over the weekend are highly likely, up to a 70% chance of rain, according to some forecasts, during the Sprint race. This forces teams to dedicate setup time to running in the wet, further complicating a schedule already compressed by the Sprint format.
• High Safety Car Likelihood: The narrow section leading up the hill, plus high-speed corners and slippery asphalt, gives Interlagos one of the highest Safety Car probabilities on the calendar-a full 86%. This virtual certainty of a race interruption often throws strategies out the window and creates chaos.

History of the Brazilian Grand Prix and Previous Winners

The Brazilian GP is the spiritual home of Ayrton Senna, and the circuit itself takes its name from Brazilian racer José Carlos Pace, winner here in 1975.

History of the Grand Prix

A Brazilian Grand Prix was first held at Interlagos in 1972 as a non-championship race. The race officially joined the Formula 1 World Championship calendar in 1973, with home hero Emerson Fittipaldi victorious. Interlagos famously hosted several season finales, including the unforgettable 2008 and 2012 championships where the title was decided on the very last lap. The circuit's anticlockwise layout and undulating profile cements it as a historical high point.

Previous Winners Table (Since 2018)

Key Storylines & Driver Preview

With this race being the penultimate one on the 2025 calendar, the pressure is immense, especially in the three-way fight for the Drivers' Championship.

• Title Tussle: Lando Norris leads teammates Oscar Piastri by a hair's breadth, while Max Verstappen is charging in the latter half of this season. This weekend is imperative, with 33 points available throughout the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Piastri needs a big result, and urgently, given he has not stood on the podium in his last four races.
• Max Verstappen has a great record at Interlagos, having won three of the last five races there. One of those wins was in 2024, when he came back from 17th to win in very wet conditions. He is the biggest threat because he can handle chaos and find speed on the surface with low grip.
• Mercedes' Momentum: George Russell and Lewis Hamilton both won at Interlagos recently, with Russell winning his first F1 race there in 2022. The infield section is often medium-speed and technical, which is good for Mercedes' car packages and makes them a regular podium contender.
• The Brazilian Spirit: The excitement of the Brazilian fans, especially with local rookie Gabriel Bortoleto on the grid, makes the atmosphere electric, which makes the drama even more intense.

Current Betting Odds via Stake.com and Donde Bonuses

The betting market is very tight, reflecting the balance between Verstappen's track expertise and McLaren's overall 2025 dominance.

São Paulo Grand Prix Race - Winner Odds

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Prediction & Final Thoughts

Strategic Prediction

With the high chance of rain-50% on Sunday-and Safety Car-86% historical probability-this is a strategic lottery of a race. Teams will need to prioritize strong Wet Weather set-ups; the Sprint Race will be key to gathering competitive wet/dry data. The 20.8-second time loss in the pit lane means that any Safety Car intervention offers a massive strategic gain.

Winner Pick

The betting odds, as well as recent form, point to Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. While Norris has the overall advantage in a dry scenario, the Interlagos Specialist Factor allied to the high probability of rain gives a crucial edge to the defending race winner. The forecast has the odds for Max Verstappen using his superiority in chaotic conditions to win both the Sprint and the main race victory, reducing the gap in the Championship.

Overall Outlook

The São Paulo Grand Prix is the ultimate test of resilience, strategy, and sheer will. Rarely does Interlagos present a simple race, so a chaotic, thrilling, and perhaps title-deciding weekend awaits with a tight championship on the line.