São Paulo GP: Antonelli's 2025 Interlagos breakthrough and the 2026 race time in the UAE
Last year Norris won and Antonelli scored his best result yet; this year's race starts at 9pm UAE time.
Interlagos was where Kimi Antonelli first showed what was coming. At the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix the Mercedes rookie finished second behind Lando Norris, at the time his best Formula 1 result, Motor Sport Magazine reported.
Norris had a perfect weekend, winning the sprint and then the Grand Prix from pole. Max Verstappen started from the pit lane, picked up a puncture and pitted early, yet still recovered to third. George Russell was fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth after a 10-second penalty for a restart collision that put Charles Leclerc out.
The win took Norris 24 points clear of Piastri and 49 clear of Verstappen, a lead that eventually held to the final round in Abu Dhabi.
In 2026 São Paulo is a normal weekend with no sprint. Oversteer48 lists the 71-lap race at 2pm local time on Sunday 8 November, which is 9pm in the UAE, one of the friendlier slots of the final stretch for Gulf viewers.
Antonelli returns to Brazil as championship leader. After São Paulo come Las Vegas, Qatar and the finale at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday 6 December.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026Race day Sun 6 Dec · Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: Motor Sport Magazine, Oversteer48
