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The final
round of the long back-to-back tour of the Americas is the São Paulo Grand
Prix, held at the José Carlos Pace circuit in Interlagos. For this iconic
venue, Pirelli has selected the following compound trio: C3 as Hard, C4 as
Medium and C5 as Soft. The choice is therefore one step softer than last
year, when the weekend featured the Sprint format.
The Brazilian
circuit features several changes compared to last season. During the year,
resurfacing work was carried out on the section between Turns 3 and 5 and
between Turns 8 and 9. These newly surfaced areas could alter grip levels
and track evolution over the course of the weekend, particularly affecting
tyre behaviour over longer runs. The three free practice sessions will
provide an opportunity to assess track evolution and understand how the new
surface influences degradation and wear.
Twelve months ago, tyre
degradation was one of the key technical factors in São Paulo. Although
graining was less pronounced than initially expected, the C2 compound (used
as the Hard tyre that year) showed some tendency to slide, while the C3 and
C4 displayed significant degradation, albeit still allowing competitive
stints. The most effective strategy proved to be a two-stop race.
In
terms of tyre loads, Interlagos generates overall lateral forces that are
broadly average, while combining several high-speed corners with long
straights. The layout therefore does not place extreme demands on the tyres,
with loads distributed fairly evenly between the front and rear axles.
The numerous overtaking opportunities offered by the circuit’s flowing
layout give teams a degree of strategic flexibility, but managing
degradation traditionally remains the key factor in maximising race
performance. Finding the right balance between single-lap pace and tyre
management over longer stints will be one of the main objectives of the
teams’ trackside work during the Brazilian weekend.
It is also worth
remembering that, because of the event’s position in the calendar,
Interlagos is a circuit where rain and significant temperature fluctuations
are often a factor. Intermediate and Full Wet tyres could therefore come
into play in Brazil once again this year.
In
2025
Medium and Soft were the preferred compounds at the 2025 São Paulo Grand
Prix, which featured a wide variety of strategies. The most common approach
was a two-stop race, adopted by the majority of teams due to tyre
degradation levels and a number of early pit stops prompted by an initial
neutralisation period. Pit windows varied from driver to driver, creating
differing gaps that enhanced overtaking opportunities. Only two drivers
completed the race with a single stop. The Hard compound was used for only a
few short stints.
Statistics
A total of 42 Grands Prix have been held at Interlagos to date. Thirty-seven
editions, from 1973 to 2019, carried the title of Brazilian Grand Prix
before being renamed the São Paulo Grand Prix from 2021 onwards, for the
last five editions. The most successful driver at the Brazilian venue is
Michael Schumacher with four victories, while Sebastian Vettel, Lewis
Hamilton and Max Verstappen have each won three times. Ferrari and McLaren
are the most successful teams, with nine wins apiece. |
