Key Facts
- Who. Kimi Antonelli, 20, of the Mercedes team, has won the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' title with four races left.
- What. He finished third in Mexico City on Sunday, 1 November; he needed only ninth place.
- Still open. Max Verstappen of Red Bull is second, two points ahead of Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari.
- When (ET). The São Paulo race starts Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. Brasília).
This story is part of our coverage of the São Paulo Grand Prix 2026. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
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Formula 1 now heads to Brazil with the champion already crowned and the fight for second place wide open. The São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 at Interlagos, the famous circuit in Brazil's largest city, starts Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET, which is 2:00 p.m. in Brasília.
For US fans the clocks matter: the United States went back to standard time on Nov. 1, so Brasília is now two hours ahead of the East Coast. West Coast viewers subtract a further three hours from the ET times below.
Title Settled Before Interlagos
Antonelli, the 20-year-old Italian driver for Mercedes, clinched the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 1 November. He finished third, 4.006 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen and 3.2 seconds behind Hamilton.
At 20 years and 68 days he is the youngest champion in Formula 1 history, about three years younger than Sebastian Vettel was at his first title in 2010. He is also the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and the fourth driver to win the title in his second season.
A Race for Second Place
Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull, won in Mexico City, his third victory in the last four races. He now sits second, two points ahead of Hamilton, the seven-time champion now driving for Ferrari.
Ferrari left Mexico with a problem of its own after Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc collided on the opening lap. Leclerc received a five-second penalty, and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said he was “struggling to swallow it” because it was “a lack of respect for the brand.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said an energy problem had “ruined” the race of George Russell, Antonelli's teammate. Russell started second and finished sixth.
Interlagos Schedule in Eastern Time
The weekend runs from Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, the circuit known as Interlagos. Drivers face 71 laps of a 4.309 km track, and there is no sprint race this year.
First practice starts Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. Brasília) and second practice at 2:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m.). Third practice is Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET (11:30 a.m.), followed by qualifying at 1:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m.).
The race follows Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m.). These times match the official Formula 1 schedule, which lists them in UTC.
What Interlagos History Adds
Lando Norris of McLaren won the 2025 race at Interlagos. Brazil also has a driver of its own on the grid: Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi finished eighth in Mexico City.
With the title decided, attention shifts to who finishes second and to the constructors' order, where Mercedes leads Ferrari. Interlagos has a record of producing surprises, so the order of the top three is hard to call.
What It Means for US Readers
A noon ET Sunday start puts the race in the early afternoon for American fans, and qualifying on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET sets the grid. We have not confirmed which US broadcaster or streaming service carries the weekend.
The Rio Times keeps a live hub with session times, results and updates at our Formula 1 São Paulo hub.
What Is Not Known
We found no poll or prediction-market odds for the São Paulo race itself. We have not confirmed the exact points totals after Mexico City beyond the two-point gap between Verstappen and Hamilton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' championship?
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes clinched it at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 1 November, with four races left. At 20 years and 68 days he is the youngest champion in Formula 1 history.
When is the São Paulo Grand Prix race?
The race is on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET, which is 2:00 p.m. in Brasília. It is held at Interlagos over 71 laps.
What is at stake at Interlagos now that the title is decided?
Verstappen leads Hamilton by two points in the fight for second place. Mercedes also leads Ferrari in the constructors' standings.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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