F1 São Paulo Grand Prix Preview: Could Norris claim his first win?

This year marks half a century since Brazil joined the Formula 1 calendar as a fully-fledged world championship event.

On that occasion home hero and defending champion Emerson Fittipaldi claimed victory on an elongated version of the Interlagos circuit. Since then Brazilian legends have been and gone, Interlagos has been truncated and renovated, while the event’s name has been altered to reflect the funding São Paulo makes towards the grand prix. 

But Brazil’s circuit, and event, remains a favourite of the drivers, as Formula 1 prepares to conclude a tiring triple-header that has taken the circus through the Americas. 

A great place for a Sprint

F1 Sprint was introduced in 2021 to a mixed reception with hardcore fans in particular questioning its value and purpose.

There have been some Sprints that have felt rather redundant but Interlagos is one circuit where the format has been an undeniable success. 

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton charged from the back of the grid across the Sprint race and the grand prix to claim a memorable victory in the midst of his fraught title battle against Max Verstappen.

And last year Red Bull atypically started off on the wrong foot in practice and never recovered, facilitating George Russell in leading home Hamilton to claim his maiden grand prix victory in a Mercedes 1-2. 

A chance for Norris?

Lando Norris has been one of the in-form drivers across the second half of the season amid McLaren’s rejuvenation with its upgraded car.

Norris scored four successive podiums – including three runner-up positions – across events in Singapore, Japan, Qatar and the United States.

He may only have been fifth last time out in Mexico City but that result came from 17th on the grid, prompting boss Andrea Stella – who has worked with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso – to rate it as one of the best drives he has ever seen. 

McLaren’s MCL60 has been strong at a variety of venues so there’s little reason not to expect Norris to be in the mix once more.

Verstappen still the favourite

It would be remiss not to emphasise that Verstappen remains the favourite heading into São Paulo.

He may be a sharp critic of the F1 Sprint format – believing it should be scrapped – but he has won three of this year’s five Sprints, and 16 of the 19 grands prix. 

Verstappen’s win last time out in Mexico City meant he broke his own record, set only in 2022, for the most victories taken in a single season. 

Verstappen’s triumph also moved him equal fourth on the all-time win list, alongside Alain Prost, on 51. Remarkably 31 of those wins have come since the start of 2022. 

He is consequently the standout driver to win this weekend and to push out his own record to 17. 

Best bets:

Back Max Verstappen for the win @ 1.5
Back Lando Norris to finish on the podium @ 1.74