News Summary
- The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix starts at 5pm GMT on Sunday, November 8, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Qualifying begins at 6pm GMT on Saturday, with three free practice sessions scheduled across Friday and Saturday.
- Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the weekend live in the UK and Ireland, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his first appearance as Formula 1 world champion.
Formula 1 returns to Brazil this weekend for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, taking place from November 6–8. British and Irish viewers can watch Sunday’s race at 5pm GMT, with qualifying scheduled for 6pm on Saturday. The event follows a traditional weekend format, with three practice sessions and no sprint race.
The Brazilian round comes just one week after Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 world championship in Mexico, becoming the youngest champion in the sport’s history at 20 years old.
Mercedes also has an opportunity to secure the Constructors’ Championship in São Paulo, while Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and George Russell continue their battle for second place in the Drivers’ standings.
What time is the São Paulo Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland?
The race begins at 2pm local time in São Paulo on Sunday, November 8, corresponding to 5pm Greenwich Mean Time.
Both the United Kingdom and Ireland returned to standard time in late October, so the race begins at the same local time in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Dublin.
São Paulo GP 2026 — Full UK and Ireland schedule
| Date | Session | UK / Ireland time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov 6 | Free Practice 1 | 3:30pm |
| Friday, Nov 6 | Free Practice 2 | 7:00pm |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | Free Practice 3 | 2:30pm |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | Qualifying | 6:00pm |
| Sunday, Nov 8 | Grand Prix | 5:00pm |
All times are based on Formula 1’s official São Paulo Grand Prix timetable.
The Grand Prix is scheduled for 71 laps around the 4.309km Autódromo José Carlos Pace, covering approximately 305.9km.
Where can fans watch the Brazilian Grand Prix in the UK?
Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every session live across the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend, including practice, qualifying and Sunday’s race.
The broadcaster’s confirmed schedule includes:
| Date | Sky Sports F1 coverage | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov 6 | FP1 coverage begins | 3:00pm |
| Friday, Nov 6 | FP2 coverage begins | 6:45pm |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | FP3 coverage begins | 2:15pm |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | Qualifying build-up | 5:00pm |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | Qualifying begins | 6:00pm |
| Sunday, Nov 8 | Grand Prix Sunday build-up | 3:30pm |
| Sunday, Nov 8 | Race begins | 5:00pm |
Subscribers can also follow the action through the Sky Sports app, while viewers without a traditional Sky subscription can access coverage through eligible NOW passes.
Sky Sports Main Event is also scheduled to carry selected sessions, including Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The broadcaster will provide additional post-race analysis and highlights after the chequered flag.
Is there an F1 sprint race in São Paulo this weekend?
No. The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix follows the traditional Formula 1 weekend format.
Friday features two free practice sessions, while Saturday includes the final practice session and qualifying.
Sunday’s 71-lap race will determine the Grand Prix result, with no additional sprint points available during the weekend.
Fans can also consult the complete international São Paulo Grand Prix schedule, including start times for the United States, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Antonelli heads to Brazil as F1’s youngest world champion
Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives at Interlagos after securing the 2026 Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver finished third behind Verstappen and Hamilton, becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion at 20 years old.
Antonelli’s championship-winning performance in Mexico also ended Italy’s 73-year wait for another Drivers’ World Championship.
The Italian has prepared a special helmet honouring Ayrton Senna, commemorating 35 years since the Brazilian’s memorable 1991 home victory.
Antonelli confirmed the Senna tribute ahead of his first race as world champion.
The 20-year-old also intends to retain racing number 12 in 2027 rather than switch to the champion’s number 1.
Can Mercedes secure the Constructors’ Championship at Interlagos?
Mercedes arrives in Brazil with a commanding lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.
Following Antonelli’s title triumph in Mexico, the German manufacturer can complete the championship double in São Paulo.
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 126 points and needs to outscore the Italian team by at least three points under the current calendar and points allocation.
Ferrari, meanwhile, is attempting to recover from its controversial Mexican Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Charles Leclerc became involved in an opening-lap dispute.
The incident allowed Verstappen to move into contention for victory, while Hamilton eventually finished second.
What happens after the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Formula 1 is scheduled to continue with the Las Vegas Grand Prix later in November, followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The São Paulo Grand Prix is therefore the first of the final four scheduled rounds of the 2026 season.
However, the Middle Eastern events remain subject to security-related uncertainty, and any official changes to the calendar could affect the remaining championship calculations.
For viewers planning the weekend, the São Paulo Grand Prix service guide also explains the weekend format and international race start times.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
