Mercedes needs three more points than Ferrari to win title in São Paulo By Luís Henrique Costa
3 min read
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The São Paulo Grand Prix could make Mercedes the 2026 constructors’ champion at Interlagos on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The German team needs to extend its lead over Ferrari by only three points in Brazil to secure the trophy with three races still to run. The race also carries historic marks for veteran drivers.
Winning here would end a wait that began in 2021, the last year Mercedes lifted the constructors’ trophy from its Brackley base. It would be the team’s ninth constructors’ championship, drawing it level with Williams among the most successful manufacturers in the sport. Kimi Antonelli has already won the drivers’ title at the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
Mercedes needs a three-point margin over Ferrari in Brazil
Mercedes leads the standings with 630 points, while Ferrari is second with 504 and Red Bull third with 382. A total of 172 points is still available across four rounds, including Brazil, and that figure falls to 129 after the São Paulo race. Mercedes needs to outscore Ferrari by three points in Brazil, which would put it 129 points ahead. If the gap ends exactly at 126, Mercedes still wins on countback, the tiebreaker that counts race wins, with 12 victories to Ferrari’s two.
Interlagos tends to punish strategic errors. If neither Mercedes driver scores, the title fight moves on to Las Vegas, the next round on the calendar.
Hamilton reaches 400 starts with a win target at Interlagos
British driver Lewis Hamilton, who races for Ferrari in 2026, will start his 400th Formula 1 Grand Prix at Interlagos, in front of the Brazilian crowd. Only Fernando Alonso had reached that number before, in 2024. Hamilton won his first world title at this same circuit in 2008.
Keep reading: Kimi Antonelli leads F1 by 81 points and stays with Mercedes
Hamilton recalled that many people said no driver could win after 300 races, and he says he wants to win again at his 400th. He holds 106 victories, the most in the sport’s history.
Hamilton and Verstappen chase Schumacher’s Interlagos win record
Michael Schumacher holds the record for wins at Interlagos, with four. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have three wins each at the track and are chasing that mark. Hamilton has raced 18 times at the circuit, with seven podiums.
- 1994: Michael Schumacher wins with Benetton.
- 1995: Schumacher wins at the circuit for a second time.
- 2000: Schumacher wins with Ferrari.
- 2002: Schumacher takes his fourth win at Interlagos.
- 2016: Lewis Hamilton wins in Brazil for the first time.
- 2018: Hamilton wins at Interlagos for a second time.
- 2019: Max Verstappen wins with Red Bull.
- 2021: Hamilton takes his third win at the circuit.
- 2023: Verstappen wins the Brazilian round again.
- 2024: Verstappen takes his third win in São Paulo.
Start time and format of the São Paulo race
- Start: 14h, Brasília time.
- Laps: 71.
- Venue: Autódromo José Carlos Pace, known as Interlagos, in São Paulo (SP).
- Official name: Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026.
