Pirelli brings the softer trio back to Interlagos

The final round of the long back-to-back tour of the Americas is the São Paulo Grand Prix, held at the José Carlos Pace circuit in Interlagos. For this iconic venue, Pirelli has selected the following compound trio: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. The choice is therefore one step softer than last year, when the weekend featured the Sprint format.

The Brazilian circuit features several changes compared to last season. During the year, resurfacing work was carried out on the section between Turns 3 and 5 and between Turns 8 and 9. These newly surfaced areas could alter grip levels and track evolution over the course of the weekend, particularly affecting tyre behaviour over longer runs. The three free practice sessions will provide an opportunity to assess track evolution and understand how the new surface influences degradation and wear.

Twelve months ago, tyre degradation was one of the key technical factors in São Paulo. Although graining was less pronounced than initially expected, the C2 compound (used as the Hard tyre that year) showed some tendency to slide, while the C3 and C4 displayed significant degradation, albeit still allowing competitive stints. The most effective strategy proved to be a two-stop race.

In terms of tyre loads, Interlagos generates overall lateral forces that are broadly average, while combining several high-speed corners with long straights. The layout therefore does not place extreme demands on the tyres, with loads distributed fairly evenly between the front and rear axles.

The numerous overtaking opportunities offered by the circuit’s flowing layout give teams a degree of strategic flexibility, but managing degradation traditionally remains the key factor in maximising race performance. Finding the right balance between single-lap pace and tyre management over longer stints will be one of the main objectives of the teams’ trackside work during the Brazilian weekend.

It is also worth remembering that, because of the event’s position in the calendar, Interlagos is a circuit where rain and significant temperature fluctuations are often a factor. Intermediate and Full Wet tyres could therefore come into play in Brazil once again this year.

IN 2025

Medium and Soft were the preferred compounds at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, which featured a wide variety of strategies. The most common approach was a two-stop race, adopted by the majority of teams due to tyre degradation levels and a number of early pit stops prompted by an initial neutralisation period. Pit windows varied from driver to driver, creating differing gaps that enhanced overtaking opportunities. Only two drivers completed the race with a single stop. The Hard compound was used for only a few short stints.

STATISTICS

A total of 42 Grands Prix have been held at Interlagos to date. Thirty-seven editions, from 1973 to 2019, carried the title of Brazilian Grand Prix before being renamed the São Paulo Grand Prix from 2021 onwards, for the last five editions. The most successful driver at the Brazilian venue is Michael Schumacher with four victories, while Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have each won three times. Ferrari and McLaren are the most successful teams, with nine wins apiece.

PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

The special-edition Podium Cap for the São Paulo Grand Prix is inspired by the blue shirt worn by the Brazilian national football team in 1958. The cap features a jaguar-pattern design, reflecting the coat of the jaguar, a symbolic animal that is widespread throughout the country. Created by designer Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design, the cap is already available to purchase via Pirelli’s e-commerce platform: https://store.pirelli.com/.