Formula 1: São Paulo Grand Prix Betting Preview

The final race of an exciting triple-header concludes in Brazil this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Ferrari dominated the last two races, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz claiming victories in Austin and Mexico City. McLaren’s Lando Norris had a shot at victory, but his duel with Max Verstappen cost him ground to Sainz.

This sets up an intriguing Sprint weekend at Interlagos, with a maximum of 34 points available for the Sprint and GP winners, plus an extra point for the fastest lap on Sunday.

The Track

Interlagos hosted its first Grand Prix over half a century ago and has become a staple on the Formula 1 calendar. Brazil has produced world champions like Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna, who inspired a fanatical motorsport following. The year 2024 marks 30 years since Senna’s passing at Imola; he won three F1 world championships.

As for the track, every meter of the 4.3km circuit has been resurfaced, including the pit lane. The new surface will be a mystery to the drivers until the first practice on Friday. According to the sport’s tire supplier, Pirelli: “The resurfacing of the track was only recently completed, and the asphalt was then thoroughly cleaned with a high-pressure water washing system, removing the usual sheen on brand-new bitumen and increasing the surface abrasiveness.”

The rubber for this weekend will be the softer compounds: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium, and C5 as Soft.

Drivers will be at full throttle for 64% of the lap, which features banked corners, camber changes, and the iconic Senna esses. It’s a thrilling lap with plenty of overtaking opportunities, thanks to two DRS zones at opposite ends of the circuit.

A two-stop strategy is typically favored, but this could be challenged by the high likelihood of a safety car and forecasted rain over Interlagos.

McLaren Favored As Ferrari Aims For A Third Win

Norris had the pace to beat Sainz last Sunday, but his tussle with championship rival Verstappen cost him a potential win. McLaren looks fast and has performed well on all types of tracks this season. Zak Brown’s team heads to Brazil as favorites, and with Oscar Piastri benefiting from an upgrade that Norris received last weekend, a McLaren one-two finish on Sunday is possible.

Ferrari could struggle with rainy and cooler conditions, as their tires have had trouble reaching optimal temperature compared to other teams. This opens a window for Verstappen to score valuable points and keep Norris at arm’s length in the standings.

Keep an eye on Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who has won here four times and usually excels in rainy conditions. The Mercedes package could surprise many this weekend.

The midfield battle is intense, with Haas pushing to claim P6 in the Constructors’ standings.

F1 Fact of the Weekend: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher shares the record for the most victories at Interlagos with fellow seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, with four wins each.

Predictions

Grand Prix Winner: Norris

Grand Prix Podium: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen

Sprint Winner: Piastri

Sprint Podium: Piastri, Leclerc, Norris

Top 4 and 5: Hamilton, Leclerc

Winning Margin: Under six seconds

Fastest Lap: Norris

Pole Position: Leclerc

Sprint Pole: Norris

First to Retire: Yuki Tsunoda

First Car to Retire: Red Bull

Most Team Points: McLaren

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Mercedes

Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Leclerc/Ferrari

Safety Car: Yes

Top 6: Sainz, Russell, Alonso

Top 10: Hulkenberg, Magnussen

Fastest Pit Stop: Ferrari