Technical Brief: São Paulo
Get the inside track with key insights ahead of our visit to Autódromo José Carlos Pace this weekend
Published
04 NOV 2026
Est. reading time
3 min
Ahead of the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, Paul Williams, Chief Trackside Engineer, shares insights into the key technical factors that will shape the weekend.
What are the key technical challenges of Interlagos?
“At nearly 800m above sea level, Interlagos is the second-highest circuit on the calendar. The thinner air matters here, though the effect is nothing like Mexico.
“The 4.309 km anticlockwise lap is essentially two long straights, split by a medium-speed change-of-direction section in the first sector and a low-speed sequence in the second. The elevation changes are large: steeply downhill from Turns 1-5, then a climb all the way from T12 back up to the lap’s highest point at T1.
“Turn 1 is slow at the apex but opens straight into full acceleration through T2-3. Front locking is a constant risk there, and at T8, 9, 10 and 12. Traction out of T12 is important because it sets up the long uphill run to the line, which makes the approach through T9-11 key.
“Interlagos has historically had one of the roughest surfaces on the calendar, although the circuit has been partially resurfaced for 2026 on the exits of Turns 3-5 and T8 & 9.
“São Paulo weather at this time of year is highly changeable, and the forecast is variable all weekend. Showers are expected around Friday’s practice sessions, with more persistent rain on Saturday afternoon and a cool, wet Sunday. A wet or mixed-conditions race is a real possibility.”
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How do the 2026 regulations influence the approach this weekend?
“Interlagos sits towards the lower end of the season for energy sensitivity, so we are in a reasonably healthy position on energy here, with two Straight Line Mode (SLM) zones. In the wet, the activation point of the first zone is significantly shortened.
“As in Baku, the run from the final corner to the line is very long, while the run from the line to Turn 1 is very short. The MGU-K power delay on the out-lap will therefore be large.
“Turns 3 & 11 sit on the edge between flat out and a lift, so how energy deployment and harvesting are set up through those corners will be an important part of the weekend’s work.”
What are the tyre challenges of the circuit?
“Pirelli have allocated the softest compounds: C3 (hard), C4 (medium) and C5 (soft). That is one step softer than 2025 and a return to the 2023-2024 allocation. The range suits the circuit overall, but Pirelli have prescribed high minimum pressures, which will add to degradation.
“This is the roughest track of the season, and the partial resurfacing completed before the event may change grip levels in the affected sections.
“In qualifying, the soft will be the clear choice for the first timed lap. However, getting the tyres ready for Turn 1 is difficult, as the short distance from pit exit to the start-finish line leaves little opportunity to energise them.
“During the Grand Prix, degradation is expected to be driven by rear bulk overheating and rear wear, as this is a high-wear track.”
What are the strategic considerations for the race?
“Interlagos is one of the easiest circuits of the year for overtaking, so race pace is the focus.
“With the softest compounds allocated, the race will be a two-stop. All three compounds should be raceable, with comparable performance on high fuel, so the long runs in practice will be about identifying the most performant.
“Interventions are almost certain, as the last race held at Interlagos without a Safety Car was in 2018. The Safety Car probability is 80% and the Virtual Safety Car probability is 40%.”
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