What You Need to Know About the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

The Formula 1 is heading to South America, specifically to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the 2024 season is approaching its climax. The Interlagos Circuit, which is about 4.3 km long, will host the 21st Grand Prix of the season, where the driver and constructor championships are at stake. The track, named after Brazilian driver Jose Carlos Pace, hosted a Grand Prix in 1975, and the upcoming race will be the 41st in the history of this event. Valterri Bottas of Kick Sauber set the fastest lap on the track in 2018 when he drove for Mercedes, with a time of 1 minute and 10.540 seconds. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has won the event with three victories more than any other active driver, followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who has won the event twice. Interlagos is also the only track where a sprint race has been held every year since the format was introduced in 2021, with Verstappen winning all four sprint races this season. Verstappen, who won the Grand Prix from pole position last year, enters the race with a 47-point lead over his title rival and McLaren driver Lando Norris. The three-time world champion cannot win the world championship in Sao Paulo, as there are still 120 points available in the remaining four races. McLaren travels to Sao Paulo with a 12-point lead at the top of the constructor standings ahead of Red Bull, aiming to win their first title since 1998.