Round 20 of the season takes us straight to Interlagos for the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and there is plenty on the line as the paddock wraps up its latest triple header. Fresh from sealing the Drivers’ Championship in Mexico City, Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes arrive at this historic venue with a golden opportunity to secure the Constructors’ title as well.
Mercedes currently sits 126 points clear of Ferrari with four rounds remaining. With no Sprints left on the calendar, a maximum of 172 points remains on the table, dropping to 129 after this weekend. That means Mercedes simply needs to extend its advantage over Ferrari by three points to claim the teams' championship. While Ferrari has outscored Mercedes by 34 points over the past four rounds, they need much larger swings to keep the fight alive, especially after a messy outing in Mexico City.
Ferrari's race in Mexico unraveled when Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc went deep at Turn 4 while battling for the lead on the opening lap. The incident earned Leclerc a time penalty and dropped Hamilton behind Max Verstappen, who took full advantage to win. Ferrari ultimately finished second and fourth, leaving Team Principal Fred Vasseur visibly frustrated with his drivers for prioritizing their own fight over the team's efforts. Both drivers remain locked in a tight battle for second in the Drivers’ Championship, with Verstappen leading Hamilton by just two points, and Leclerc sitting fifth, 16 adrift of Verstappen and five back from George Russell.
Drama has also hit Haas following the sudden departure of Esteban Ocon ahead of Saturday's running in Mexico. With Ryo Hirakawa unavailable due to World Endurance Championship title commitments this weekend, Haas has promoted 2027 race driver Rafael Camara early. The 21-year-old Formula 2 Championship leader will make his debut at his home race, though he faces a steep learning curve during FP1 as it marks his first time driving a 2026 F1 car. For now, Haas has only confirmed the drive for this coming weekend.
Meanwhile, Cadillac's debut season continues to see pressure mounting around Valtteri Bottas. While teammate Sergio Perez earned a contract extension through to 2029, Cadillac F1 Team CEO Dan Towriss has openly questioned Bottas' performances, and reliability issues have seen the Finn fail to finish 10 of the 19 races so far. Test driver Colton Herta will take over Perez's car in FP1 in Brazil, needing just 100km and a clean session to secure the final Super Licence point required to potentially replace Bottas.
All of this unfolds at Interlagos, a drivers' favourite known for its old-school feel, elevation changes, and fierce fan atmosphere. With a weather forecast hinting at the potential for rain, Sao Paulo is primed to deliver another dramatic weekend.
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