Formula 1 is holding its Grand Prix in São Paulo at the Interlagos circuit this weekend. With the champion already established, this event marks the first time in ten years that two Brazilian drivers will compete on the grid.
The São Paulo Grand Prix, which corresponds to the 20th round of the 24-race championship, will begin this Friday (the 6th) with the first two free practice sessions. The main race is scheduled for Sunday (the 8th) at 2 PM. Unlike recent editions, the weekend will follow the traditional format, without a sprint race.
Kimi Antonelli, the Italian driver for Mercedes, arrives in São Paulo as the current world champion driver. He won the unprecedented title by finishing third in the Mexican GP, held last Sunday (the 1st), making him the youngest driver in the category's history.
The battle for second place involves Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who won in Mexico and has accumulated 261 points, surpassing Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) by two points. George Russell (Mercedes) has 250 points, and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) completes the group with 245 points, maintaining a difference of only 16 points among the four leaders.
Regarding the track, there are two new features for spectators: Gabriel Bortoleto, in his second season with Audi, and Rafael Câmara, 21 years old, leader of Formula 2, who will make his debut for Haas replacing French driver Esteban Ocon.
The last time Brazil had two drivers on the F1 starting grid was in 2016, when Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr participated.
Globo will broadcast Saturday's qualifying session and Sunday's race on open television. All sessions will be available on sportv3, in addition to being accessible via Globoplay and F1 TV, which is the category's official streaming service.
According to the organization, tickets for the racetrack have already sold out. For those planning to go to the venue, gate opening time is at 8 AM and closing is at 3 PM during the three days; entry will not be permitted after this time.
There will be no parking at the racetrack, and adjacent streets will be closed by the Traffic Engineering Company (CET), allowing passage only to accredited vehicles. The strike by CET agents, which had threatened traffic operation, was canceled this week.
The organization strongly recommends using public transport, with the train being the suggested option. The express runs without stops, and the departure time must be selected at the time of purchase through the Passaporte Mobilidade website. The trip from Pinheiros takes approximately 25 minutes.
It is important to note that the express terminates at Cidade Dutra, not at the Autódromo Station, where conventional trains stop. The return trip of the express also departs from Cidade Dutra.
It is recommended to check the printed gate on the ticket before leaving home. From Cidade Dutra Station, walking to Gate G and the Fanzone takes about 10 minutes, while access to Gates A and Heineken Village takes between 30 and 37 minutes, respectively.
Special electric buses from SPTrans will operate from 7 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Circular 606F will operate on all three days, from 6 AM to 1:30 PM.
For exiting the venue, designated areas for taxis near Gates A, T, and HV, and for ride-sharing cars in Praças Moscou, Piemonte, Ramiro Cabral da Silva, and on Rua Armando Vieira, next to the Autódromo Station, will be available.
Prohibited items include umbrellas, styrofoam boxes, cans, bottles, and any liquids, as well as objects larger than 25 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm, selfie sticks, and flags larger than 2 m x 1.5 m.
Considering the rapid climate change at Interlagos, the organization advises bringing a foldable raincoat, warm clothing, and sunscreen in containers up to 100 ml. There is no luggage storage service at the racetrack.
In most sectors, food and beverages are sold exclusively via Cashless card, and the use of a reusable cup is mandatory, which has a deposit of R$ 7 returned upon return. In grandstands without included food service, there will be free water points.
The minimum required age for entry is 5 years old. Children between 5 and 12 years old require their own ticket and must be accompanied by parents or guardians.
Those who could not get tickets for the grandstands can purchase entries for the F1 Fanzone, located at the Ayrton Senna Kartodrome, for R$ 620 (full price) or R$ 310 (half price), valid for all three days. Although this area does not offer track views, it shows the sessions on a large screen and will host performances by João Gomes and Matuê on Friday, Paralamas do Sucesso on Saturday, and Iza on Sunday.
