5 November 2026 18:35 (UTC)
A carnival atmosphere awaits at one of Formula 1’s most exciting venues
The São Paulo Grand Prix has delivered some of Formula 1's most iconic moments and is held in high esteem by fans and drivers alike.
Our history, both recent and vintage, takes on a special golden hue in the Brazilian sunlight, with previous editions serving plenty of thrilling moments even in the face of adversity.
This weekend, another chapter will be written. Here are five things to know before the lights go out.
Everyone has their favourite memories of racing in Brazil, but no one has as many as we do. We are the most successful constructor in the history of the race, with 13 victories, including Lando’s brilliant drive from Pole last year.
The reigning World Champion became the ninth McLaren driver to claim victory at one of Brazil’s two iconic Grand Prix venues, Interlagos and Rio’s Jacarepaguá, joining a stacked roll call that also includes David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jenson Button.
Two Brazilians have won their home race for us, with Emerson Fittipaldi clinching our first victory in 1974 while the great Ayrton Senna famously finished first in both 1991 and 1993.
No driver has enjoyed Brazil as much as Alain Prost, who is the race’s most successful driver with six wins. Four of those came with us, including an opening round victory en route to his first World Championship in 1985.
Winning in Brazil also helped Mika Häkkinen to back-to-back World Championship titles in 1998 and 1999. The Flying Finn is part of an elite club of consecutive winners at Interlagos, doing so from Pole both times and clinching a McLaren 1-2 with Coulthard in 1998.
With the battle for third in the Constructors’ Championship likely to go down to the wire, a healthy points haul in São Paulo will be crucial as we look to usurp the 17-point lead held by Red Bull.
Interlagos’ elevation changes and long uphill section, combined with its famous corners, mean the team is aiming to strike a balance between straight-line speed and proficiency through the corners. Add in the weather factor, and the teams that are most adaptable will stand the best chance of reaping the full rewards.
Key to our hopes is a number of upgrades to the MCL40 targeted at improving aerodynamic performance and balance, which we hope will further increase competitiveness. Upgrades to the front wing, rear wing, and floor will be rolled out in Brazil, as the team looks to finish the season as strongly as possible.
The tropical Brazilian weather has claimed many retirements over the years, but it makes for some of the most entertaining racing on the calendar.
The 2016 and 2024 races both saw Red Flags in treacherous conditions, but our drivers have demonstrated superhuman control in the wet throughout the years.
In 1993, Ayrton Senna qualified second but pulled out all the stops to overtake Damon Hill for the second home race victory of his career, while in 2012, Jenson Button famously stayed out on slick tyres during rain showers, eventually racing away for his final Formula 1 victory in the season finale.
This weekend’s forecast also looks highly changeable, with an orange storm alert issued in the region this week meaning all teams will need to be ready for all eventualities out on track.
Jenson’s remarkable victory isn’t the only time our drivers have produced moments of brilliance when the odds were against them.
By 1991, Ayrton Senna was already a two-time World Champion, but victory on home soil had so far eluded him. His chances looked good during the race in ’91 when his main rival on the day, Nigel Mansell, was forced to pit for new tyres after a puncture. That was, until Senna lost fourth gear. With just two laps to go, he lost fifth and third as well, leaving him to ease the car round Interlagos in sixth gear. Miraculously avoiding stalling, Senna held on to victory over Riccardo Patrese by just 2.991s.
Then in 2008, Lewis Hamilton appeared to have missed out on winning his first World Championship as he ran sixth in the season finale, with Felipe Massa believing his victory had secured him the title. Instead, just moments after the Brazilian had crossed the line, Lewis famously passed Timo Glock on the last lap, taking the fifth-place finish he needed to win an historic title.
At 23 years and 300 days, it made him the youngest Formula 1 World Champion in history – a record that has only subsequently been beaten by Sebastian Vettel, and the 2026 champion Kimi Antonelli.
Tickets for the 2026 race sold out within hours of going on sale, as the Brazilian public continues to show their undying support for motorsport.
There will be plenty of papaya in the stands, with strong support for McLaren having built up in Brazil over the years, thanks in part to popular wins for home heroes Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna. Viewers can also expect huge roars for home hero Gabriel Bortoleto, a former member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and honorary Brazilian Lewis Hamilton.
A total of 304,000 fans turned up for last year’s race, the most in the race’s history at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. The passionate home crowd always delivers a fantastic carnival atmosphere over the weekend, generating a football-like energy at Interlagos, and we are expecting a similarly vibrant crowd this year.
