#F1 #MSCCruises Sao Paulo GP 2025 Preview. #BrazilGP #SaoPauloGP
Formula 1 Lenovo Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2024 Race Start, Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Image credit to Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images. 2025 Brazil GP Preview, 2025 Sao Paulo GP, F1 Sao Paulo Preview, Sao Paulo GP.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – After Lando Norris captured the World Driver’s Championship lead with a solid victory at the Mexico City GP, round 21 of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season heads straight to the famous Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025. This marks the 52nd running as a round of the world championship since its inception in 1950 and the 41st event to be held at Interlagos. This is the penultimate race of the season that will feature the F1 100km Sprint Format.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – A look at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, known by its former name Interlagos is a permanent racing circuit located in the city of Sao Paulo in the neighbourhood of Interlagos. The circuit was renamed after Brazilian Formula 1 driver Carlos Pace who was tragically killed in a plane accident.
In 1938 a huge plot of land was bought in Sao Paulo by two property developers whose intention was to build accommodation. Following difficulties partly due to the 1929 stock market crash and one part of the land not being suitable for housing, they decided to build a racing circuit instead. Construction began in 1938, and the track opened in 1940. Sao Paulo grew at a rapid rate and the circuit was quickly surrounded by houses.
In the 1970s when legend Emerson Fittipaldi began to have international success, the Brazilians wanted to host a Grand Prix. In 1971 and 1972 Interlagos hosted non-championship races but in 1973 the track staged its first Grand Prix as part of the world championship.
The track quickly became the locals’ lucky charm, with Fittipaldi and Carlos Pace claiming victories in the 1970s. Interlagos was the scene of Pace’s first and only Formula One victory and following his death in a plane crash the circuit was renamed in his honour.
In 1978 it moved to the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro, but in 1979 Interlagos reclaimed the race back for a couple of years. By 1981 however, Rio de Janeiro had taken the Grand Prix back. When an agreed $15m investment to shorten and smoothen the circuit was made due to recent success of Sao Paulo native Ayrton Senna, the race made its return to Interlagos in 1990 and has stayed as the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix ever since.
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Paces’ natural contours provide a challenging combination of technically demanding medium and low-speed turns linked with high-speed straights and bends. The topography of the circuit means many of these are off camber, increasing the challenge.
A major car setup consideration is the altitude. At 800m, Interlagos is the second highest altitude circuit of the year after the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico and the thinner air in the past led engines to produce 7-8 per cent less power but the 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrains have the advantage over its naturally aspirated predecessors due to the turbochargers being able to spin faster to compensate for lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. The altitude levels also effect aerodynamic performance too as such teams will run higher downforce packages to cope with inefficiencies. The lack of aerodynamic grip also means that the importance of good mechanical grip is emphasised. The other variable is the weather and conditions at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace which can be hard to predict at times.
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace is 4.309km (2.677 miles) in length with 15 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.
Race distance is 305.909km (190.067 miles) in length with 71 laps in total.
Valtteri Bottas holds the fastest lap record at the circuit with a 1:10.540 set at the 2018 event in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport F1 W09 EQ Power+.
Four-time World Champion Alain Prost holds the record for most Brazilian Grand Prix victories with six.
McLaren are the most successful constructor at the Brazilian Grand Prix with 12 victories.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – Onboard lap of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace set at the 2024 event by Lando Norris in his McLaren Formula 1 Team-Mercedes MCL38 racer, with the Briton posting a 1:23.405. You can watch the footage right here at the link: Lando Norris’ Pole Lap | 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Pirelli
2025 Brazil GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2024: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2020: Not Held. 2019: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – Tyres
Sole-tyre supplier Pirelli will be bringing with them to Brazil the C2 white side-walled Hard rubber, the yellow-marked C3 P-Zero Medium tyres and the C4 red-branded Soft compounds along with the green-branded Intermediate and blue-marked Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.
There will be two sets of C2 Hards, four C3 Mediums and six sets of C4 Soft tyres for all drivers.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be two DRS Zones at Interlagos. The first detection point is at the apex of turn two, with the activation point 20 metres after turn three. The second detection zone is 30 metres after turn 13 with the activation point 30 metres after the final corner.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Norris takes title lead with dominant Mexico GP victory
Lando Norris stormed to a solid Mexico GP victory to take the World Driver’s Championship lead by a point over McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri who finished fifth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came home second ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to complete the top three.
This was Norris’s tenth-career victory as he led from start-to-finish as the World Driver’s Championship is 357-356 between the Briton and team-mate Piastri with Verstappen a further 36 points behind Norris as the sport heads to Brazil in a fortnight for the penultimate Sprint round of the season.
The result sees Ferrari jump back into second place in the Constructor’s Championship by one point over Mercedes (356-355) with Red Bull ten points behind the Scuderia as the battle intensifies.
When the 71-lap Mexico GP began, pole-sitter Norris had an even start with the Ferrari of Leclerc as the former covered the two SF-25 entries as they ran down to the opening corner.
Verstappen was three-wide with the two Ferrari’s as the Dutchman was forced into the run-off area running across the grass at turn one.
Leclerc also jumped in-front of Norris to take the lead after cutting the corner, but the former gave the place back.
Verstappen also gave the place back to Hamilton.
Behind them Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and RB’s Liam Lawson made contact.
On lap two – Norris held a 1:870 second lead over Leclerc with Hamilton third, Verstappen fourth, Russell fifth, Bearman sixth, Antonelli seventh, Tsunoda eighth, Piastri ninth as Ocon completed the top ten runners.
Lawson had been in for a lengthy stop – he has shed some debris out on-track.
Replays of the start showed there was almost contact between the two Ferraris. Hamilton was ahead of Leclerc when the latter ran wide, whilst Verstappen was clear of Russell before he ran wide.
On the fourth lap – Piastri was looking at Tsunoda, but he cannot find a way past the Red Bull in the battle for eighth place.
Norris’s lead on the fifth tour was at two seconds over Leclerc with Hamilton third, Verstappen fourth, Russell fifth, Bearman sixth, Antonelli seventh, Tsunoda eighth, Piastri ninth as Ocon rounded out the top ten.
But now there was a multi-car fight out there. Verstappen made a move on Hamilton, and that had a knock-on effect behind. Hamilton ended up on the turn four escape road into turn 4 and somehow was still third as Bearman was up into fourth place.
On the seventh lap – Verstappen lunged on Hamilton into the opening corner last time around, and the two banged wheels. Verstappen then ran-wide over the grass and came onto the track in-front. But then Hamilton tried to get the position back and ran wide over the grass himself. He re-joined the track in third, whilst Verstappen got all out of shape and allowed Bearman to slide through quietly as Russell ran wide too.
Hamilton was under investigation by the race stewards for not using the escape road correctly, and now Verstappen and Hamilton were also under investigation for the turn 1 contact.
Lawson was the was retiree of the race.
On lap 10, Norris’s lead was at 2.5 seconds over Leclerc with Hamilton holding third, Bearman fourth, Verstappen fifth, Antonelli sixth, Russell seventh, Tsunoda eighth, Piastri ninth as Ocon rounded out the top ten.
The 11th tour – Norris lead by three seconds over Leclerc. The Briton could now manage his tyres and his pace. Piastri was stuck behind Tsunoda and then finally using DRS assistance he got past the Red Bull on the main straight to take eighth place.
Through all the Championship permutations, and all the collisions, spins and grass-cutting moments, Bearman was up into fourth place on merit. And the Haas driver was 1.4 seconds ahead of Verstappen with no threat of the Dutchman at this stage of proceedings.
On lap 12 – Tsunoda could not keep up with Piastri, and he was starting to come under pressure from Haas’s Esteban Ocon. His mediums were not working, and nor are Verstappen’s – he could not close up to the other Haas.
Lap 13 – Race leader Norris was all over at this stage – he had already broken past the undercut threat. He led by 3.5 seconds from Leclerc, who had a comfortable gap to his teammate Hamilton behind.
On lap 14 – Further back – Piastri was trying to close two seconds to challenge Russell for seventh place. The championship leader needed to make some ground today after a difficult weekend thus far – unless he could make up some time in the pit lane.
Norris’s lead was at 4.9 seconds on lap 15 over Leclerc with Hamilton third, Bearman fourth, Verstappen fifth, Antonelli sixth, Russell seventh, Piastri eighth, Tsunoda ninth as Ocon completed the top ten.
Antonelli in sixth had DRS on Verstappen, along with Russell. They were hunting down Verstappen at this stage. Antonelli was dragging team-mate Russell along, which meant Russell could keep Piastri at bay.
The race stewards hit Hamilton with a 10-second timed-penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at turn four.
On lap 16 – Norris held a 6.6 second lead over Leclerc, as he continued to extract all the pace his MCL39 had to offer in the clean air. Leclerc had over five seconds on his team-mate Hamilton, plus the penalty. Hamilton’s penalty would drop the seven-time would champion to around eighth at this stage of proceedings.
Lap 18 – Piastri had closed the gap to Russell and had DRS assistance. Russell had to drop back to cool his softer tyres and thus did not have DRS himself.
Sainz behind had pitted but suffered a slower stop.
The 19th tour – Norris grew his lead again – it was now over eight seconds. Verstappen could get close to Bearman in the battle for fourth place. Antonelli no longer has DRS, neither did Russell and now McLaren were debating undercutting Piastri past Russell’s Silver Arrow.
On lap 20, Norris’s lead over Leclerc was at 8.445 seconds over Leclerc with Hamilton third, Bearman fourth, Verstappen fifth with the two Mercedes of Antonelli in sixth and seventh respectively as championship leader Piastri held eighth.
On lap 22 – Hamilton was told about his penalty. “We don’t agree,” the Briton was told. The Ferrari driver was unhappy with that call saying there was no grip in that corner.
On lap 23 – Norris was cruising out-front. He led by over 10 seconds from Leclerc, who also seems to be content cruising for second place. Behind, Antonelli was the first of the big hitters to pit from sixth. Mercedes about to split strategies around Piastri here with two cars battling the McLaren. Antonelli emerged in 13th.
Hamilton stopped on lap 24 from third, served his ten-second-timed-penalty and emerged in 14th place on the mediums down behind Williams’ Alexander Albon.
Both Bearman and Piastri pitted for a set of the C4 medium rubber on lap 25 and came out in ninth and 13th places respectively.
On lap 26, Russell stopped for his fresh set of mediums from fourth and came out in 11th place and crucially ahead of Piastri. Antonelli made his way ahead of Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto to take eighth place.
Lap 27 saw Williams’ Carlos Sainz given a five second penalty for speeding in the pit-lane as the other Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg was forced to retire due to a power-unit issue. Hamilton overtook Albon for 11th place down the main-straight with DRS assistance.
On the 28th tour – Norris was leading the Mexico City GP still and looked pretty comfortable at this stage. He was now 13 seconds in-front of Leclerc. Verstappen was a further 12 second adrift in third place.
Tsunoda was up to fourth, ahead of Hadjar. None of that pack have pitted.
Bearman did, and he ran in sixth place.
On the 29th tour – Bearman was in a de facto podium place before the pit-stop period. But now he had Antonelli for company, the rookie having DRS assistance.
Norris’s lead on lap 30 was over 16 seconds to Leclerc with Verstappen third, Tsunoda fourth, Bearman fifth, Antonelli sixth, Russell seventh, Piastri eighth, Hadjar ninth as Hamilton rounded out the top ten.
On the 32nd tour Leclerc took his pit-stop for his fresh set of the C4 mediums and came out in third place behind the yet-to-pit Verstappen as Bearman breezed past Tsunoda to take fourth place.
On the 33rd lap – Norris led by a huge 28 seconds. Verstappen had effectively been undercut by the Mercedes duo as it stood, depending on how these tyre offsets work out.
The situation on lap 34 – Norris had a pit stop in hand so he could be able to come in and return comfortably in the lead. The yet-to-pit Verstappen in second place was not so fortunate. Leclerc is third had already pitted, ahead of Bearman and Antonelli – who had fallen back a bit.
On lap 35, Norris boxed for his fresh set of the C4’s and came out comfortably ahead of Verstappen out-front by over seven seconds.
Lap 36 – Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was the third retiree of the race also with a brakes problem.
On lap 37 – Tsunoda stopped from ninth for his fresh set of softer tyres to emerge down in 15th place behind Hadjar.
Out-front Norris led on the mediums, 10 seconds clear of Verstappen on the same rubber who still had yet to pit. Leclerc was third in-front of Bearman and Antonelli. Russell had DRS on his team-mate, and Piastri likewise was all over the back of the Mercedes driver.
Hamilton was eighth in the order; his race was undone by a time penalty.
Lap 38 – Russell was not let past his team-mate Antonelli. And now he had to cool his brakes as ordered by his race engineer. And the Mercedes driver had Piastri on his tail for company.
Lap 39 – Russell was pleading with his team to be let past Antonelli. He said he’ll give the place back if he could not pass Bearman.
It did not happen, and instead he was forced to defend from Piastri who was crawling all over the back of the Briton at this stage.
On lap 40 – Antonelli was fourth, 1.2 seconds behind Bearman since Verstappen did finally make his pit-stop for a fresh set of the C5 softs, dropping into eighth place behind Hamilton. His strategy was now to overtake on track on better tyres compared to out in-front of him.
So, the podium fight was Bearman, Antonelli, Russell and Piastri who was all over the back of Russell.
On lap 41 – Russell was still pleading with his race engineer. With some colourful language. And they finally swapped place, with Piastri coming so close to getting Antonelli in the midst of all that drama.
Lap 42 – Norris was 19 seconds clear of Leclerc, who had four seconds over Bearman. Russell was fourth, a further two seconds back ahead of Antonelli and Piastri.
Then followed Hamilton, Verstappen, Sainz and Ocon.
On the 43rd tour – Norris was asked to “help the other side” whether he preferred the soft or the medium. Norris confirmed the soft was the better option.
Lap 44 – Piastri could find a way through Antonelli here in sixth place. The championship leader was six tenths back and had DRS but could have been overheating his tyres. His rubber was only two laps fresher than the Italian in-front of him too.
On lap 46 – Norris’s gap over Leclerc was a solid 20.7 seconds with Bearman holding third, Russell fourth, Antonelli fifth, Piastri sixth, Hamilton seventh, Verstappen eighth, Sainz ninth as Ocon rounded out the top ten.
On lap 47 – Piastri was told to box and ignored team orders as the Australian attempted to overtake Antonelli into turn one – but the latter covered the former and done the same once again into turn four as behind them – Verstappen picked off Hamilton for seventh place.
The 48th lap – Antonelli, Piastri and Hamilton all boxed for a set of the C5 softer compounds as Piastri past the Mercedes with a quicker pit-stop to end in seventh place behind Ocon.
Lap 49 – Bearman and Russell also reacted and came in for a set of the softs and emerged in fourth and fifth respectively releasing Verstappen into third.
On lap 50 – Norris led from Leclerc by a huge 23 seconds and Verstappen. Bearman was holding fourth, in-front of Russell whilst Piastri picked off Ocon – as Antonelli also overtook Ocon.
Hamilton was down in ninth ahead of Hadjar.
The 51st tour – Norris was long gone out-front – barring reliability problems. Leclerc was 12 seconds ahead of Verstappen on the unfavoured medium compounds. Bearman was 16 seconds behind the Dutchman. And Russell was just 1.2 seconds behind.
On the 53rd lap – The front three were on a one-stop strategy, but on different compounds. Verstappen was rapidly catching Leclerc.
Behind, Bearman in fourth was on a two-stop strategy but had Russell in DRS range behind.
Whilst further back, Sainz was under investigation again by the race stewards for speeding in the pits.
Lap 55 – Verstappen was chasing second-placed Leclerc but that was a slow charge, and it remained to be seen if when he catches the Ferrari, the Dutchman will have the tyre life left with which to overtake.
But behind them, Russell was hovering in DRS range of Bearman. But he had just dropped back to cool his tyres.
In the battle for the final points place on lap 56 – Bortoleto was the only Sauber left in this Grand Prix, and he was in 11th and doing everything to fight into the points-paying positions – he had DRS on Hadjar in-front.
Sainz was given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit-lane a second time.
On lap 58 – Sainz came in for his drive through – as further ahead – Verstappen had taken seven tenths out of Leclerc last time around. And the Dutchman was being given the hurry up over the radio by race engineer Giampiero Lambiase.
The 59th lap – Verstappen was now 6.3 seconds behind Leclerc. Russell did not have DRS range on Bearman. Piastri was in DRS range, not that he had found a way past using it on Russell for the last few tours.
Antonelli and Hamilton were not really moving, and Ocon looked solid for ninth so Haas could be on for a double points haul.
On lap 60 – With DRS assistance – Piastri made the move on the inside of Russell into turn one to move up into fifth place.
With nine laps remaining – Norris’s lead over Leclerc was at 28 seconds with Verstappen third and only 4.1 seconds behind the Ferrari, Bearman fourth, Piastri fifth, Antonelli sixth after being given the place back from Russell, Hamilton down in eighth, Ocon ninth as Bortoleto picked off Tsunoda to take tenth place.
Lap 64 – Verstappen was just 3.2 seconds behind Leclerc now and was encouraged on by his race engineer. Norris was clean and free out-front.
On the 65th lap – Piastri was now just 2.2 seconds behind Bearman, and the Australian was lapping half a second a lap quicker than the Haas driver. This was going to be tight for the Briton. Antonelli was now closing up to those two, and Bortoleto in tenth place had dropped Tsunoda, who had also overtaken Hadjar.
Lap 66 – Verstappen was now 2.5 seconds behind Leclerc and lapping four or fifth tenths quicker per tour. The Dutchman would be right on Leclerc in the last few laps. Leclerc’s medium tyres are 34 laps old and Verstappen’s soft’s three laps younger.
The 67th lap – Piastri was now just 1.5 seconds behind Bearman. He only lapped one tenth quicker last time around.
Lap 68 – Verstappen took another half-a-second out of Leclerc, and he was 1.9 seconds back. But Piastri only took a tenth out of Bearman again. Behind, Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton and Ocon look settled for their points paying places.
Bortoleto was on course for the final points positions as Tsunoda had not made much progress in 11th.
The 69th lap – Piastri had taken a chunk out of Bearman, Verstappen had DRS on Leclerc next time around.
Lap 70 – Double-waved yellows were waved for Sainz’s Williams who’s FW47 entry was parked in the stadium section as the Virtual Safety Car was deployed.
The VSC ended on the last lap as Norris crossed the line to take the Mexico GP victory by 30.324 seconds over Leclerc who just held onto finish ahead of Verstappen to complete the podium.
Bearman finished a career-best impressive fourth in-front of Piastri who settled for fifth whilst the two Mercedes of Antonelli and Russell followed in sixth and seventh respectively.
Hamilton crossed the line eighth as Ocon and Bortoleto completed the top ten runners.
2025 Brazil GP Preview – The Situation
The Formula 1 circus heads to Interlagos for a crucial F1 Sprint weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as the title fight intensifies with four rounds to go.
Lando Norris leads the World Drivers’ Championship standings for the first time since the Saudi Arabian GP after a dominant win in Mexico City last time out whilst his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri continued to struggle.
Piastri is only one point behind his team-mate Piastri and Verstappen is still in the championship battle at 36 points off the Briton.
Interlagos has a history of title-defining moments and this weekend could see more drama, given the number of twists in this year’s campaign.
The last F1 Sprint weekend in Texas saw Ferrari score their best team result of the season as Charles Leclerc came home third and seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton in fourth.
Hamilton, who amazingly came through the field to take victory in 2021 Sao Paulo GP is still on the hunt for his first Ferrari podium.
There will be massive support for Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in the rookie drivers’ initial home outing, which comes after scoring more points at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Bortoleto was born and raised in Sao Paulo, so it promises to be an exciting weekend for the 21-year-old
Lando Norris returns to Brazil on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 357 points and a one-point lead over McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri who is second on 356 points whilst Max Verstappen is a further 36 behind the Briton in third on 321 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team comes to Sao Paulo with the World Constructors Championship wrapped up with 713 points and a 357-point advantage over nearest rivals Scuderia Ferrari who are second on 356 points whilst Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team are third and a further 358 behind the Woking based-outfit on 355 points.
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings
The Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025 weekend begins Friday November 7 with Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, followed by the 100km F1 Sprint Shootout and Qualifying Saturday November 8 and the 71 lap Race Sunday November 9.
