Preview: Alex gets ready to take on the twists of Interlagos

Hear what Alex has to say as he heads to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix

Published

05 NOV 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

The Formula 1 season heads to Brazil for the 20th round of the championship, with Alex preparing for another weekend at the iconic Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Here’s what to expect from the São Paulo Grand Prix!

His thoughts

“I'm looking forward to finishing this triple header on a high and being in Brazil again, the fans here are brilliant and the atmosphere is always great.”

“It’s a really fun track to drive too, with all the elevation change, and you can properly race here, so if we get the strategy right there’s an opportunity. The weather can be a bit of a wildcard, so we’ll need to stay flexible and see what the weekend brings.”

“We took some positives from Mexico, particularly the pace in the car, but we want to turn that into a stronger result this time. The team has been working hard to learn from the last few races, and I’m looking forward to getting out on track on Friday and seeing what we can do.”

The track

Interlagos has been part of Formula 1 history since 1973 and is one of the most recognisable circuits on the calendar. Officially named the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, it was renamed in 1985 in honour of the Brazilian racing driver.

The 4.309km circuit features 15 corners and runs anticlockwise, with drivers completing 71 laps on Sunday. Its layout is full of character, beginning with the sweeping opening section before the tight Senna S and the downhill run towards Turn 4. From there, the track winds through a technical infield section, featuring challenging changes in elevation and camber, before climbing back towards the banked final corner.

Interlagos has also hosted some memorable moments in Formula 1 history, and its compact layout often creates close racing and plenty of overtaking opportunities. With a race distance of 305.879km, the Brazilian Grand Prix is rarely short of action.

Previous outings

Alex has experienced a mixed run of results at Interlagos. His first visit in 2019 with Red Bull saw him running close to the podium before a late collision with Lewis Hamilton dropped him down the order, leaving him to finish P14.

Since joining Williams, Alex has faced a few challenging weekends in São Paulo. He finished P15 in 2022 after starting towards the back, while a turn 1 collision brought his 2023 race to an early end. In 2024, a heavy qualifying crash meant he was unable to take the start of the Grand Prix, despite having finished P10 in the Sprint.

Last year brought a much more competitive outing, with Alex starting P12 and finishing just outside the points in P11. He also claimed the DHL Fastest Lap Award, and will be hoping to go one better this time around.

The weather

The weather could play a part in the weekend, particularly during qualifying. Friday is expected to be overcast, while Saturday brings a higher chance of light showers, which could make qualifying more unpredictable. Sunday is currently forecast to be overcast, although there is still some possibility of rain during the race.

The timings

There’s a slight time zone shift for fans to get used to this weekend, with lights out coming three hours earlier than it did last weekend.

The São Paulo Grand Prix will provide late afternoon and early evening viewing for fans in Europe and Africa, while supporters across Asia and Oceania will be set for late night and early morning action. Fans watching across the Americas can look forward to some convenient weekend viewing.

Check the timings below to find out when to catch Alex on track.

New Albono

A new Albono has landed, bringing a little Brazilian wildlife to your AA23 Fan Passport!

Dressed in the famous green and yellow colours of Brazil, this week's design features a feathered friend with a rather impressive beak – a nod to the country's iconic toucans.

Add the latest Albono to your collection as Alex heads to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix!

The 2026 Brazil Albono is ready to collect!