2024 São Paulo Grand Prix

Championship standings

Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with 362 points, 47 points ahead of Lando Norris in second, and 71 ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. McLaren, holding 566 points, enters this round as the leader of the Constructors’ Championship from Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, who are second and third with 537 and 512 points, respectively. Carlos Sainz Jr. is mathematically eliminated from championship contention.

Previous race

At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Sainz won comfortably for his fourth career victory, with Norris second and Leclerc third. Verstappen received two ten-second penalties for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while battling Norris, allowing Norris to close the championship gap to 47 points. Ferrari took second in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of Red Bull.

Entrants

Reserve driver Oliver Bearman replaces Kevin Magnussen at Haas for the free practice and sprint sessions as Magnussen feels unwell. This is later expanded to the rest of the weekend following sprint qualifying.

Sprint format

This is the fifth of six Grands Prix in the season to utilise the sprint format. The weekend structure consists of a single free practice session, followed by sprint qualifying, the sprint race on Saturday morning, then Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday afternoon, with the main race on Sunday. This is the fourth time overall that the São Paulo Grand Prix has featured the sprint format.

Penalties

Verstappen receives a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his power unit component quota (sixth internal combustion engine).

Weather

Rain is expected throughout the race weekend.

Tyre choices

Tyre supplier Pirelli brings the C3, C4, and C5 tyre compounds (the softest three in their range), designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively.

Practice

The only free practice session is topped by Lando Norris of McLaren ahead of George Russell of Mercedes and Oliver Bearman of Haas.