São Paulo Track Preview
- therookiereporters
- Nov 5, 2025
- 3 min read
We are now only 4 Grand Prixs away from the finale of this world championship, but who will take the chequered flag at Interlagos? First, let’s learn about the track, recap what happened in 2024, and what we are to expect this year!
São Paulo is a race track with a plethora of history, with home heroes such as Ayrton Senna and Rubens Barrichello being in the hearts of the Brazilian fans. We will have 71 laps, making the race distance 305.939km. In 2018, Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap of 1:10.540s around the 4.309km track. The Senna “S” is a notable overtaking opportunity, especially on the first lap, and with the track being anticlockwise, we will see more left-hand corners that drivers are not so used to. Just to add to the challenge of Interlagos, it’s also known for its heavy rainfall due to being located in the tropics. In 2024, qualifying was a victim of this high precipitation, with it being postponed to Sunday morning. However, even then, we saw 5 red flags plague Interlagos.
2024 Grand Prix Recap
We witnessed 4-time world champion Max Verstappen qualify 17th after being eliminated in Q2 and given a five-place grid penalty. F1 got an unexpected podium of Max Verstappen alongside the two Alpine drivers: Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. That would mark the team’s first double podium in over a decade.
Lando Norris, a contender for that season’s title, began on pole but finished 6th in the classified drivers after finding it difficult to adapt to the ever-changing track conditions, alongside poor strategy calls from McLaren.
Williams would have a weekend to forget after both of their cars crashed in qualifying. Alex Albon received a DNS (did not start) as the damage to his FW46 was extensive and couldn’t be repaired in time for lights out. Meanwhile, the Argentine, Franco Colapinto, got to start the race but went on to get a DNF (did not finish) after a serious crash on lap 32. This caused a red flag, yet the Safety Car had already been deployed to neutralise the refractory rainy racing.
Stroll was one of the five to cause a red flag in qualifying as he crashed in Q2, which prevented drivers, such as Max Verstappen, from completing a flying lap. His teammate, Fernando Alonso, would also suffer a crash in Q3 and hit the barriers at high speed. Stroll would place 10th, with Alonso beside him in 9th. Before the grid had even completed its formation lap, Lance Stroll crashed and got a DNS like Albon; the Canadian driver’s incident was the reason for the aborted start. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso would finish 14th for Aston Martin.
The previous Grand Prix winner, Carlos Sainz, would qualify 13th. He caused the second red flag of qualifying after crashing at Turn 2. The Spaniard held position in the chaotic Grand Prix until he aquaplaned in his Ferrari on Lap 39. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, qualified sixth and finished second for the Maranello-based team.
What to expect this year
Championship leader, Lando Norris, will be looking to extend his one-point winning margin over teammate Oscar Piastri. Having taken pole last year and clinched silver in 2023, he can be hopeful for a strong performance at Interlagos.
Oscar Piastri, having had the championship he had led for 15 Grand Prix stripped away from him, the Australian will be focused on continuing a fairly consistent points-scoring record to pile the pressure on Norris.
Max Verstappen is currently 35 points away from Piastri, and McLaren will have that on their radar as they know how dominant the Dutch driver can be. The Red Bull driver will have his eyes set on catching the Papaya cars this weekend.
Article written by Alice Seager ©️Alice Seager 2025
