Formula 1 arrives at Interlagos this weekend one week after Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 drivers' title in Mexico City. Formula 1 reports that the Mercedes driver became the youngest champion at age 20 by finishing third in Mexico, a race that Max Verstappen won. That sets up a São Paulo weekend with the title already decided, which usually means loose, entertaining racing and plenty to talk about with your friends.
The weekend runs from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8, and the race starts early on the US West Coast. Below you will find the full schedule in Pacific and Eastern time, how to watch in the United States, a few facts about the circuit and ideas for turning race morning into a group event.
Formula 1 lists the sessions in São Paulo time, so we converted them for US viewers. Brazil does not shift its clocks in November and the US returned to standard time on November 1, which makes the gap 5 hours to Pacific and 2 hours to Eastern. Check the official page before you set alarms.
São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 schedule in Pacific and Eastern time
Formula 1's race page shows three practice sessions, qualifying and the race, which means this is a standard weekend without a sprint.
Practice 1 on Friday, November 6 runs 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM in São Paulo, which is 7:30 AM Pacific and 10:30 AM Eastern.
Practice 2 on Friday, November 6 runs 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in São Paulo, which is 11:00 AM Pacific and 2:00 PM Eastern.
Practice 3 on Saturday, November 7 runs 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in São Paulo, which is 6:30 AM Pacific and 9:30 AM Eastern.
Qualifying on Saturday, November 7 runs 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in São Paulo, which is 10:00 AM Pacific and 1:00 PM Eastern.
The race on Sunday, November 8 starts at 2:00 PM in São Paulo, which is 9:00 AM Pacific and 12:00 PM Eastern.
How to watch the São Paulo GP in the US
Formula 1 says Apple is its official US broadcaster, with F1 TV included in an Apple TV subscription. The league's guide to streaming the United States Grand Prix also describes F1 TV Premium, which offers 4K Ultra HD and HDR on up to six devices and a Multiview feature with 26 feeds on select devices.
The same guide says F1 TV Pro streams on Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Subscription terms and prices can change, so confirm what your plan includes inside the Apple TV app before race morning.
If you are new to the sport, a few minutes of setup helps. Sign in on the device you plan to use, find the São Paulo sessions in the schedule and set reminders for qualifying and the race. Friday's practice sessions land on a workday for most US viewers, and Practice 2 at 11:00 AM Pacific or 2:00 PM Eastern suits a lunch break if you want a preview of the weekend. Keeping the group chat open on a second screen makes any broadcast more fun.
What to know about Interlagos
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is 4.309 km long, and the race covers 71 laps for a distance of 305.879 km. Formula 1 lists 1973 as the first Grand Prix at the circuit and credits Valtteri Bottas with the fastest lap on record, a 1:10.540 set in 2018.
The Brazilian setting adds a storyline this year. Antonelli races with number 12, which Formula 1 notes was the number his idol Ayrton Senna used when the Brazilian won the first of his three titles with McLaren in 1988. Antonelli told reporters after the Mexico race that he plans to keep number 12 for 2027, so you will see it on the champion's car in São Paulo.
What each session is for
The weekend has five sessions, and you do not need to watch all of them. Practice gives teams time to prepare, qualifying settles the starting grid on Saturday, and the race on Sunday covers 71 laps and starts at 2:00 PM in São Paulo.
If you can only watch one session, make it the race. If you can watch two, add qualifying, because it sets up the first lap and gives your group chat something to discuss before the lights go out. West Coast viewers who want the full weekend should note that the earliest session, Saturday's third practice, starts at 6:30 AM Pacific.
Run a race weekend group chat
A 9:00 AM Pacific start suits a brunch watch party, and a group chat makes it easy to plan one. Start a thread on Friday for practice reactions, then post your podium predictions before qualifying purely for bragging rights. Our F1 group chat names guide has 70 ideas if your crew still needs a name.
The same chat can carry you through the rest of the sports calendar. Our guides to the NFL Thanksgiving games, the NBA Cup and running an NFL pick'em league in your group chat cover what comes next.
Watch with your crew
Racing nights work in person too. South Bay Renaissance, the community Tribe organizes to rebuild the South Bay and Peninsula startup and social scene one gathering at a time, hosted an N64 Mario Kart Tournament at The Pro in Palo Alto on October 14, with a casual night of games and new people. The Tribe Events calendar on Luma lists the next gatherings.
If you live in the Peninsula or South Bay, the South Bay Renaissance group chat is the easiest way to find people who might want to watch Sunday's race together.
