Everything you need to know about the São Paulo Grand Prix

Formula One heads below the equator for the second and final time this weekend for the championship’s penultimate round, the São Paulo Grand Prix.

The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, more commonly known as Interlagos, is a firm favourite for drivers and fans alike thanks to its twisting and undulating layout that provides plenty of wheel-to-wheel action alongside various overtaking opportunities.

After having hosting duties split between here and Rio de Janeiro's Jacarepaguá circuit for much of the first two decades of F1 racing in Brazil, Interlagos has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1990, pandemic years aside.

As we get set for the final F1 Sprint of the season, here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s race in Brazil.

The first F1 World Championship race in Brazil was held on Interlagos’ original 26-turn, 7.960km layout back in 1973. The venue has evolved over the decades, leaving us with the 4.309km course we know and love today.

The home fans, who pack the grandstands year in, year out, were treated to three successive Brazilian winners in the first three championship races at Interlagos – two for Emerson Fittipaldi before Carlos Pace made it a hat-trick.

Set in a natural bowl, the climb from the final braking zone at Turn 12 up to Turn 1 is an astonishing 43-metre full-throttle curve before quickly diving back down through the Senna S and into the Curva do Sol, where the Williams Racing Grandstand is located.

Time is won and lost in the eight turns of the twisting middle sector where drivers are constantly working at the steering wheel without a moment's rest.

Only a handful of venues on the planet can lay claim to as many iconic moments as Interlagos, with every corner able to take you to a specific moment in the story of our sport.

Alex Albon has been buoyed by recent races and is certainly looking forward to racing in Interlagos for the first since 2019, saying: “Brazil is a really cool circuit, being one of the old school circuits with a lot of history and character.

“It’s also great how seeing how passionate the fans are there, which makes it a great place to go racing.

“Heading into the last two races of the year, we obviously want to end the season on a good note, so we’ll give it everything we’ve got.

“Also, being a Sprint Race this weekend, it’s important to be on top of everything from the beginning of the week, so let’s see how we go.”

Nicholas Latifi begins his final two races with the team this weekend and is aiming to end his time with us on a high, hopeful that the weather may shake up the order come the chequered flag, sharing: “I’m excited to get back going again for the last couple of races of the season.

“We’re kicking it off with Brazil and getting back into the Sprint Race events which feels like a very long time since we last had one of those.

“I always enjoy the fresh change to the schedule and having one practice session to get on with it before Qualifying.

“On paper, Brazil is not technically the most suited to our car, but the weather always offers a chance, which looks like it could play a factor this weekend, combined with the Sprint Race.

“We’ll be looking to take advantage of any opportunities.”

Logan Sargeant will also be back behind the wheel this weekend, taking Alex’s seat in Saturday’s FP2, an opportunity he is relishing.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the FW44 for FP2 in São Paulo. I can’t wait to keep progressing with the team and building on the experience I gained in Austin and Mexico City.

“To be given the opportunity to drive at such an iconic track like Interlagos with its banked corners and the Senna S is a great feeling.

“A massive thank you once again to everyone at Williams for giving me another chance to get behind the wheel.”

Our Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson, has previewed what Williams fans can expect from the weekend ahead, saying: “Interlagos hosts the final Sprint Event of the season and so practice time before committing the car to Parc Ferme is very limited.

“Although not as demanding as Mexico City, São Paulo is still significantly above sea level and is a tricky circuit for the drivers to optimise.

“We will aim to finalise the power-unit and brake cooling setup early in FP1 and then work on the setup ahead of the evening qualifying session.

“It is likely that a long DRS train will form in the Sprint Race and so overtaking may be difficult.

“Therefore, qualifying is very important, and this will be our primary focus until FP2. The Grand Prix will depend heavily on the performance of the tyres, which this weekend is from the middle of the Pirelli range.

“The track temperature will play a part on the tyre behaviour and, with the forecast currently looking tropical with rain and thunderstorms in the area on most days, it could be difficult to predict the optimum tyre strategy until the race is underway. Overtaking in the Grand Prix should be easier than in the Sprint Race.

“Logan Sargeant continues his run of FP sessions in the FW44 and this weekend will drive Alex’s car during FP2.

“This is unusual for a Sprint Event and is more difficult than usual as Alex’s car will be in Parc Ferme during FP2.

“However, the experience that Logan will get is invaluable, and giving him another opportunity is a good investment in his future.

“He did an excellent job in Austin and Mexico City and we are confident that he will do so again despite the unusual weekend format.”

Building work began on the Interlagos circuit back in 1938, with track designers taking inspiration from three leading circuits of that era: Brooklands in the UK, Montlhery in France and Roosevelt Raceway in the USA.

Interlagos has hosted the seventh-most World Championship Grands Prix with 38, can you name the six venues ahead of it?*

Former Williams driver Rubens Barrichello grew up within a stone’s throw of the Interlagos track, but had wretched luck in his home Grand Prix. In his 19 starts at home, he suffered no fewer than 11 retirements, which are balanced out by a best result of a single third place in 2004.

Five different Brazilian drivers have won at Interlagos: Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, Felipe Massa and Carlos Pace.

Approximately 68% of the 4.309km lap is taken at full throttle, with both Williams cars recording a qualifying lap time of less than 70 seconds in 2021.

*Monza - 72, Monaco - 68, Silverstone - 57, Spa - 55, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve - 41, Nürburgring - 41.