Vamos, Papaya Army! Just four rounds of the Formula 1 season remain, and we’re en route to the lively Autódromo José Carlos in São Paulo for the final standalone race of the year, before a decisive triple header brings the campaign to a close. 

The Autódromo José Carlos, or Interlagos, as it is commonly known, is adored for its frenetic racing, lively carnival atmosphere, and the numerous historic title deciders that have unfolded there. 

As we look ahead to the São Paulo Grand Prix, we’ll explore what makes this venue so special, the unique challenges it presents, and we’ll hear from Oscar, Lando, and our Team Principal, Andrea Stella, on what to expect this weekend.

“I’m excited to race at Interlagos again. The São Paulo Grand Prix is always a fun weekend, and a great city to come to. It’s also a Sprint weekend, so I’ll be aiming to go for maximum points. 

“Last week I was back with the team in Woking. We debriefed the double-header, and I spent time back on the Sim preparing for this weekend. I’m feeling good and looking forward to being back out on track. Bring it on!”  

“Brazil is a great opportunity to score some big points, especially with the Sprint race. There is everything still to play for, and preparation for this weekend has been very productive.  

“It’s a track that I enjoy with its elevation changes and the mix of long straights and tight sections. We’ll also have to keep an eye on the weather as always.” 

“It’s now time to head to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix. This is the exciting part of the year as we start closing out the 2025 season. We’re proud to have our two drivers leading the Championship, separated by only one point. However, we’re fully aware that we have a very strong opponent in our quest for the Drivers’ title, and it’s no coincidence that he is the reigning Champion and a four-time World Champion. We’ll give our maximum effort in the remaining four events to ensure that the title stays Papaya.   

“In Mexico City, the MCL39 was the fastest car, but we must not assume it will be the same in São Paulo, as the competition around us is very tight. We’ll stick to our mindset of taking it race by race and extracting as much performance as possible to give our drivers the chance to fight for top positions. This is also a Sprint weekend, which gives us more opportunities to score points. At the same time, we’ll need even greater attention to detail to find the right car set-up, especially given the limited amount of Free Practice running. As usual in São Paulo, we’ll be prepared to face the unpredictability of the weather, which has often been a decisive factor here.” 

Why we love the São Paulo Grand Prix 

Among the most celebrated circuits on the F1 calendar, Interlagos is steeped in history. The São Paulo-based circuit has staged many of the sport’s most thrilling and dramatic Grand Prix, including several title deciders.  

We’ve played a starring role in two of the most memorable, including arguably the most theatrical title-decider in history at this circuit in 2008. After dramatically missing out on the title to Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen in the 2007 season finale in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton clinched his first World Championship in São Paulo on the last lap of the race in 2008. In a rain-soaked 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap to claim fifth place - enough to clinch his first World Championship by a single point ahead of Felipe Massa. 

Interlagos also holds a special place in McLaren’s history as the home circuit of two of our most revered drivers: Emerson Fittipaldi, our first World Champion, and Ayrton Senna, the most celebrated driver in our history. Both delivered unforgettable victories on Brazilian soil, with Fittipaldi taking McLaren’s first win at the circuit in 1974 on his debut for the team. 

Senna’s long-awaited home triumph in 1991 remains one of Interlagos’ most iconic moments. After years of near misses, he finally won in front of his home crowd – despite suffering a gearbox failure that left him stuck in sixth gear for the closing laps. Against all odds, Ayrton held off Riccardo Patrese to finish first by 2.991 seconds. After the race, he had to be helped out of the car due to exhaustion and was barely able to lift the winner’s trophy in an emotional podium ceremony 

Today, McLaren remain the most successful team in Brazilian Grand Prix history, with 12 victories courtesy of Fittipaldi, Alain Prost, Senna, Mika Häkkinen, David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Jenson Button.

What are the challenges?

The Autódromo José Carlos Pace provides a demanding and highly physical lap. Coming off the back of another gruelling race in Mexico City, the drivers arrive well-prepared for the challenge, but Interlagos has its own unique tests. 

While its altitude of 800 metres above sea level is far lower than Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, it’s still higher than any other circuit on the calendar. 

Although the impact is less significant, the high altitude makes it an exhausting lap, with less oxygen in the air. It also impacts the aerodynamic performance, reducing downforce and grip while placing greater stress on the turbo and cooling systems. 

It’s also a relatively short track, at 4.309km, which impacts racing more than you might expect. Like racing at high altitude, there is a greater demand placed on cooling, as drivers are braking and accelerating more frequently than on longer tracks, where the gaps between corners are larger.  

At shorter tracks, there is less room and fewer opportunities to gain time, meaning the field often runs closely together, and getting stuck in dirty air becomes a real challenge. With roughly 68% of the lap taken at full throttle, it’s an intense and physically draining lap for those inside the car.   

Despite a recent resurfacing, Interlagos remains notoriously bumpy, which adds to the track’s physicality – as do the banked corners, which increase the vertical G-forces on entry and exit. 

The season so far

Lando achieved his 10th win and our 13th of the season last time out in Mexico. It was a good recovery drive from Oscar, with the Aussie finishing 5th. 

With four races remaining, Lando leads the Drivers’ standings, with Oscar behind by one point in second. 

The fit

What do you mean you still haven’t picked up something from our Constructors’ Championship Collection? You’re missing out. The range features a selection of stylish, versatile pieces in a variety of colours, from the iconic McLaren papaya to understated white and classic black. Each one pairs perfectly with your favourite joggers for a relaxed look, or can be dressed up with jeans and a flannel shirt for effortless everyday style.