Max Verstappen trails title leader Lando Norris by 36 points, yet he is the favorite to watch this weekend as he aims for his third consecutive Interlagos victory.
The 28-year-old, four-time world champion has claimed victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for Red Bull in 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Last year, Verstappen impressively won from 17th on the grid amid heavy rain, while Norris, trying to close the gap, came in sixth.
Now, the reigning champion is the one pursuing the McLaren drivers at the top.
Norris leads teammate Oscar Piastri by a single point following his win in Mexico, and with four race weekends to go, Verstappen seems unstoppable.
With three victories and six straight podiums, he has re-entered the title race after trailing by 104 points at August’s end. He has expressed his passion for racing in Brazil.
“It’s a special place for me,” Verstappen remarked.
“The races have been amazing, and my in-laws are from Brazil, adding to its significance.”
Verstappen’s partner, Kelly Piquet, is the daughter of three-time champion Nelson Piquet and mother to their daughter Lily, born in May this year.
He has been staying with the Piquet family in Brazil before this weekend’s race.
“I’m wearing my special Brazil helmet for this race,” Verstappen said.
“The track has history and a rich legacy, filled with great memories for me. I love racing on such a classic track.”
Norris’s win in Mexico was a morale boost, with his best Brazil finish being second two years ago, while Piastri, striving for his former performance, secured a personal best eighth last year.
As Red Bull progresses on their 2025 car, McLaren focuses on next year’s rules, allowing others to momentarily gain ground until Norris’s decisive win.
Team boss Andrea Stella mentioned post-Mexico win that both McLaren drivers have a reason to feel confident as the final four races approach, including sprints in Brazil and Qatar.
Late Threat
“We enter these races understanding how to consistently optimize our car’s performance, having left some potential untapped in the four races before Mexico,” Stella said.
Piastri, having struggled with low-grip conditions, has adapted his style. After Mexico, he felt more confident despite Norris’s recent string of victories.
“In these final four races, no track should specifically favor one driver,” added Stella, mindful of the rising threat from Verstappen, Ferrari, and Mercedes as all three teams vie for second in the constructors’ championship.
McLaren secured their second title weeks ago and now heads to Brazil with 713 points, while Ferrari leads Mercedes by a single point, trailed closely by Red Bull.
“We’ve had challenging weekends, but we’re still in the fight for P2,” stated Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“Our advantage vanished in Austin and Mexico, but we’re ready to strike back in Brazil.”
Mercedes’ George Russell triumphed in Brazil in 2022, and Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has celebrated thrilling victories at Interlagos in 2016, 2018, and 2021 with Mercedes.
Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc, who recently announced his engagement to Alexandra Saint Mleux, performed well in Mexico, with Leclerc finishing second, aiming for another strong performance.
With rain predicted, a thrilling and fiercely competitive weekend is anticipated at a circuit known for unexpected results and high drama.
