Formula 1 heads to Brazil this week for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, with the race taking place on Sunday 8 November.
There are just four races remaining in the 2026 season, including this one, and the Drivers Championship has already been decided, with Kimi Antonelli crowned Champion last week in Mexico.
That does not mean there is nothing left to play for, as Max Verstappen comes into the weekend as the favourite for the race and to finish 2nd after winning three of the last four races, and Lewis Hamilton is breathing down his neck in the standings. With the Mercedes pair, Verstappen and the Ferrari and McLaren drivers all in the mix, we have looked at the form guide and the market to find the best value.
Here is our full betting preview for the weekend.
DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
With Kimi Antonelli winning the championship last week, we look at the Drivers Championship without Antonelli betting.
Max Verstappen leads the way on 261 points and is the 1.35 favourite, with Lewis Hamilton just two points behind on 259 points at 5.00. George Russell is third on 250 points at 8.00, while Charles Leclerc is fourth on 245 points at 17.00. With only four races to go, there is very little between the top four, and Verstappen’s price shows the market believes he can hold off Hamilton, but with the gap just two points the fight for second place is set to go right down to the wire.
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Last Race – Mexico GP 2026
Last time out was the Mexico GP, where Max Verstappen took the win. Lewis Hamilton finished second, with Kimi Antonelli third, a result that was enough to seal the championship. Charles Leclerc was fourth, Lando Norris fifth and George Russell sixth. It was another strong afternoon for Verstappen, who has now won three of the last four races, and a good one for Hamilton, who closed to within two points of him in the standings.
Sao Paulo GP 2025
Last year’s São Paulo GP was won by Lando Norris, with Kimi Antonelli second and Max Verstappen third. George Russell took fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth, while both Ferraris failed to finish. That makes last year’s result a mixed guide, as it suggests that both Ferrari drivers have something to prove at this track, while Verstappen and Antonelli, who are the two favourites for this year’s race, both finished on the podium.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, is a 4.309km, 15-corner circuit that runs anticlockwise, with the race run over 71 laps. The lap begins with the Senna S, a fast, downhill sequence of corners that leads into the DRS zone towards Turn 4, which makes the first lap and the opening phase of the race a good place for drivers to gain or lose positions. It is a short lap with plenty of high-speed left-hand corners, and the lap record is a 1:10.540 set by Valtteri Bottas in 2018. For bettors, a good start and a clean first lap can be worth a lot, and that is something to keep in mind when picking a winner.
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BETTING (2026 Sao Paulo GP) – Click here to bet
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2.20
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 3.20
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 7.50
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 8.50
Lando Norris (McLaren) 13.00
George Russell (Mercedes) 13.00
Betting and Verdict:
With three wins in the last four races and the Drivers Championship done, we pick Verstappen to win this weekend. Verstappen won last time out in Mexico and has been the form driver in recent weeks. He also finished third at this race last year, which shows he can be quick around Interlagos. With three wins in the last four races, the Red Bull driver is still the one to beat on current form. At 2.20 he is the favourite in the market, ahead of Kimi Antonelli at 3.20 and Charles Leclerc at 7.50.
With Antonelli now Champion, Verstappen has the chance to carry his momentum into the final races of the season, and with Hamilton just two points behind him in the standings, he has every reason to keep the pressure on at the front. We think he is the driver to beat in São Paulo and this bet comes with insurance for 2nd place – see the promo above. .
Suggested bet: Max Verstappen to win at 2.20.
Our next bet is a Top 3 finish for Hamilton. He finished second last weekend and sits just 2 points behind Verstappen in the Drivers Championship, so he will be motivated to do well. Hamilton is priced at 8.50 to win, but a podium is a much more likely outcome, and at 2.05 for a top 3 finish we think he offers good value. With both Ferraris failing to finish last year, there is also a point to prove for Ferrari at this track, and after a strong result in Mexico we think Hamilton is the driver to deliver it.
Suggested Bet: Lewis Hamilton Top 3 finish at 2.05.
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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