2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Grid Revealed – Full Starting Order
Formula 1 confirms the complete starting grid for the 2026 Brazilian round, with Max Verstappen on pole and the midfield tightly packed.
The official starting grid for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix has been published by Formula 1. The Brazilian night race, set for 15 November, will see Red Bull’s Max Verstappen line‑up on pole, followed by his teammate Sergio Pérez in second. The front row reflects Red Bull’s dominance in the early part of the season, with the Austrian‑German duo posting the fastest qualifying times at the Interlagos circuit.
Behind the Red Bulls, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified third, edging teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. into fourth place. The Scuderia’s strong showing hints at a possible resurgence after a mixed start to the year. Mercedes, meanwhile, will start from fifth and sixth with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell respectively, a modest improvement on the previous round but still a step behind the front‑row pack.
The midfield battle is set to be intense. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon grabs seventh on the grid, with his teammate Pierre Gasly in eighth. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupy ninth and tenth, keeping the British team within striking distance of the podium. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounds out the top ten, while his teammate Lance Stroll starts eleventh.
Further down the order, the usual suspects fill the remaining slots: Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (12th) and Zhou Guanyu (13th), Williams’ Alex Albon (14th) and Logan Sargeant (15th), and a tightly packed group of newcomers and reserve drivers occupying the back rows. Notably, the 2026 rookie, Yuki Tsunoda, starts 19th, while his teammate Oscar Piastri’s teammate at McLaren, the 2025 champion, starts 20th.
For Indian Fans – When & Where to Watch
The São Paulo Grand Prix will kick off at 20:00 IST on 15 November, making it a prime‑time event for Indian viewers. The race will be streamed live on FanCode, which holds the official broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in India. Highlights and post‑race analysis will also be available on the FanCode app and YouTube channel shortly after the checkered flag.
Indian fans can also follow live timing and sector data on the official Formula 1 app, which provides a detailed view of each driver’s performance throughout the weekend. With the championship still wide open, the Brazilian round could prove decisive, especially for those tracking the points battle between Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton.
Source: Formula1.com