The Formula 1 season enters its decisive phase as we head to Brazil for the third race of the Americas swing. With just four races remaining, the Drivers’ Championship has never been tighter, and every point now carries enormous weight. Below, we break down the key angles for the São Paulo Grand Prix and offer suggested bets for the weekend.
PREVIOUS RACE – Mexican GP
The Mexican GP took place two weeks ago and saw Lando Norris pull off a brilliant win to take the lead in the Drivers Championship. Charles Leclerc managed to get back-to-back podiums after finishing second while Max Verstappen finished in third to close the gap to Piastri. Piastri was only able to finish in fifth place.
CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Lando Norris 357 points
Oscar Piastri 356 points
Max Verstappen 321 points
Lando Norris has finally managed to take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship after his win two weeks ago and is now the favourite to win the Championship at 1.75. Although Piastri has not been putting in good results, the bookies still have him as second favourite, trading at 3.20 for the win. Max Verstappen is currently priced at 4.50 but he is only 26 points behind Lando.
Click here for Drivers Championship Betting
Track Guide – Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)
The São Paulo Grand Prix takes place at Interlagos, one of F1’s most iconic and unpredictable circuits.
Key Track Facts
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
- Lap Length: 4.309 km
- Race Distance: 71 laps (305 km)
- Direction: Anti-clockwise
- Elevation: Large elevation changes, including the famous uphill run to the finish
- Weather: Highly unpredictable — rain showers often develop with little warning
Track Characteristics
- Flowing, old-school layout: Fast, sweeping sectors combined with technical middle-sector corners emphasise rhythm and balance.
- Tyre degradation: One of the highest on the calendar; long, loaded corners heavily punish rear tyres.
- Power and Aero:
- The long start-finish straight rewards strong engines.
- The twisty middle sector demands downforce and stability.
- Altitude: Not as extreme as Mexico, but still at higher elevation than most circuits, slightly reducing air density and affecting car performance.
Why Interlagos is Unpredictable
- Safety cars and weather interruptions are common.
- Track evolution is dramatic across the weekend.
- Race strategy matters more here than on many modern circuits.
This combination often leads to surprise podium finishers.
Brazilian GP 2024
Last year’s race saw Verstappen triumph as he finished first and closed out his fourth Drivers Championship title. In somewhat of a surprise, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly managed to finish in second and third to grab two podium finishes for Alpine. The McLarens didn’t have a great day finishing in 6th (Norris), and 8th (Piastri).
BETTING (To win outright Brazilian GP 2025) – Click here to bet
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 2.60
Lando Norris (Mclaren) 2.60
Oscar Piastri (Mclaren) 5.00
George Russell (Mercedes) 14.00
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 16.00
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 29.00
All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Verdict & Suggested Bets
Race Winner
At this stage of the season, the likely race winner comes from Verstappen, Norris, or Piastri. Verstappen’s historic success in Brazil counts in his favour, but car performance varies dramatically year to year. Piastri’s recent form makes him hard to trust for a win.
Lando Norris, however, looks confident, composed, and fully in tune with his McLaren machine after taking the Championship lead. Momentum is with him, and Interlagos suits his smooth driving style.
Suggested Bet: Lando Norris to win at 2.60
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Podium Finish
Charles Leclerc has hit form at the right time, securing podiums in both the USA and Mexico. Ferrari appear to have unlocked better race pace, and Interlagos is a track where Leclerc tends to perform well.
With the spotlight fixed on the title contenders, Leclerc could once again fly slightly under the radar.
Suggested Bet: Charles Leclerc podium at 2.30
