F1 Sao Paulo GP Weather Forecast: Will Rain Hit Interlagos?

The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace is famous for setting up legendary wet races that produced legendary winners. Just a couple of years ago, Red Bull's Max Verstappen put on a show in wet conditions, charging from P17 at the start to a scintillating victory in Interlagos.

As for the 2026 Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, the initial weather forecasts are favorable. Still, drivers and teams will be on high alert, as races around here tend to experience unpredictable weather changes.

Here's what the most current weather forecast looks like in Interlagos:

Don't be surprised if we see F1 cars on intermediate or wet tyres this weekend, especially during Sunday's race. A wet race could compromise car setups, paving the way for another thrilling afternoon in Interlagos.

Last year (2025), heavy rain and thunderstorms affected the circuit early Saturday. But the worst of it passed quickly, with drivers starting and finishing the Sprint race on slick tyres. The main qualifying session the same day, along with the race on Sunday, was also held in dry conditions. 

Lando Norris won the 2025 Sao Paulo GP by more than 10 seconds over Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.

It was in 2024 when Formula 1 saw torrential rain and thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday. Qualifying was postponed on Saturday and was pushed to Sunday morning. Multiple red flags and crashes marred the session.

Then, the race itself was fully wet and chaotic, with drivers navigating through persistent heavy rain, poor visibility, and standing water. Verstappen won the race with one of his best races of the season, while Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly went 2-3 to give Alpine a rare double podium.

Weather is probably the biggest wildcard at Interlagos, but drivers navigate other challenges as well. The elevation changes make the circuit physically and technically demanding, as drivers accelerate uphill towards the line, which then drops downhill through the Senna S and into the first sector.

Unpredictable weather, heavy braking, long full-throttle sections, and a demanding sequence of corners await Formula 1 drivers in Interlagos.