São Paulo GP 2026 Grid: Verstappen, Hamilton Start at the Back
Lando Norris starts the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix from pole, with new champion Kimi Antonelli alongside him. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton start from the back of the grid after engine changes, which turns today’s race at Interlagos upside down. Lights out is at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT, 9 a.m. PT).
Race result: Norris converted pole into the win and Verstappen finished second. See the São Paulo GP 2026 results.
Updated November 8, 2026, before the race. Sources: FIA qualifying report and formula1.com.
São Paulo GP 2026 starting grid: top 10
| Grid | Driver | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Pole, 1:27.470 in the wet |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Qualified 3rd |
| 3 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | Qualified 5th |
| 4 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | Qualified 6th |
| 5 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | Qualified 7th |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | Qualified 8th |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes | Qualified 2nd, five-place engine penalty |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | Qualified 9th |
| 9 | Alex Albon | Williams | Qualified 10th |
| 10 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | Qualified 12th |
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth but starts 14th after a 10-place penalty for an engine change.
Why Verstappen and Hamilton start from the back
- Lewis Hamilton (20th): a problem with his fresh Ferrari engine in final practice forced a full power-unit change, which carries a back-of-grid penalty.
- Max Verstappen (21st): Red Bull fitted a new power unit after Saturday’s running, which also sends him to the back.
Both had already been knocked out in Q2 (Hamilton 11th, Verstappen 16th) in a session stopped twice by red flags: first for heavy rain in Q1, then for a late crash by Câmara in Q2.
What it means for the constructors’ title
Mercedes clinches the constructors’ title if it outscores Ferrari by three points today. With Antonelli on the front row, Russell seventh and the Ferraris starting 14th and 20th, Mercedes has its best chance yet. See the full title math.
Does our prediction still hold?
We picked Verstappen to win in our São Paulo GP predictions. Starting 21st makes that much harder, but not impossible: he won this race from 17th in 2024. Our new favorite is Norris from pole, with Antonelli the main threat. More rain could mix everything up again.
How to watch in the US
The race starts at 12 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. CT and 9 a.m. PT. The NASCAR Cup championship follows at 3 p.m. ET, so check our November 8 watch guide and the Brazilian Grand Prix guide.
FAQ
Who is on pole for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix?
Lando Norris, with a 1:27.470 lap in wet qualifying.
Where does Max Verstappen start in Brazil?
21st, at the back of the grid, after taking a new power unit.
Why does Lewis Hamilton start last?
A problem with his new Ferrari engine forced a full power-unit change, which carries a back-of-grid penalty.
This article is part of our F1 2026 season hub. Unofficial F1 fan site, not affiliated with Formula 1.
Alex is the editor of Apexline, an independent Formula 1 and US motorsport site for American fans. Alex writes race previews, results and rule explainers, checks every result, point total and session time against formula1.com and the FIA, and converts race times to Eastern, Central and Pacific time. Read how we work in our editorial policy: https://vantage97.design/editorial-policy/
