The Audi Revolut F1 Team closes out Formula 1’s three-race swing through the Americas this weekend at Interlagos, where Gabriel Bortoleto will race in front of his home crowd for the second time in his F1 career. He returns to São Paulo after scoring points in Mexico City despite limited practice running. Audi is marking the weekend with the adidas Sampa Soul Collection and a limited-edition São Paulo Revolut card.
Audi arrives in Brazil with 27 constructors’ points, four shy of seventh place. Interlagos offers chances to overtake, and quickly changing weather can open up opportunities in a close midfield. After a difficult weekend in Mexico, Audi’s focus is on getting both cars through a clean weekend and putting both drivers in position to score.
Freddie Slater will make his second FP1 appearance for Audi in as many weekends. After driving the R26 in Mexico City, he’ll take over Nico Hülkenberg’s car for the opening practice session in São Paulo.
SCHEDULE
| DAY/DATE | ACTIVITY | TRACK TIME | CET | EST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 06 Nov | Practice 1 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | 16:30-17:30 | 10:30 PM – 11:30 PM |
| Fri 06 Nov | Practice 2 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 20:00-21:00 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Sat 07 Nov | Practice 3 | 11:30 PM – 12:30 PM | 15:30-16:30 | 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Sat 07 Nov | Qualifying | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 19:00-20:00 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM |
| Sun 08 Nov | Grand Prix | 2:00 PM | 18:00 | 12:00 PM |
RACE INFORMATION
AUDI REVOLUT F1 | FORMULA 1 SERIES | OFFICIAL BRASILF1 WEBSITE | GRAND PRIX EVENTS
CIRCUIT
AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE, A.K.A. INTERLAGOS
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, hosted its first Formula 1 World Championship race in 1973. Construction began in 1938, with the designers drawing inspiration from Brooklands in Britain, Roosevelt Raceway in the United States and Montlhéry in France. Brazilian drivers won the circuit’s first three championship Grands Prix. Emerson Fittipaldi took the first two in 1973 and 1974, and Carlos Pace, for whom the circuit is now named, won in 1975.
The 4.309-kilometer lap runs counterclockwise and makes the most of the elevation changes. Drivers climb the main straight before braking downhill into the Senna S, one of the lap’s best passing opportunities. A strong exit from Curva do Sol carries speed onto the back straight and can set up another move under braking into Descida do Lago at Turn 4.
The tighter infield puts a premium on precision through Laranjinha and Bico de Pato before the cars reach Junção at Turn 12. A good exit there pays off all the way up the hill to the start-finish line, where drivers can close on the car ahead and line up a pass into Turn 1. The Grand Prix runs 71 laps for a race distance of 305.879 kilometers. Valtteri Bottas set the race lap record of 1:10.540 in 2018.
PIRELLI TIRE PREVIEW
Pirelli is going one step softer for this year’s São Paulo Grand Prix, bringing the C3 as the hard, the C4 as the medium and the C5 as the soft. Interlagos has fresh asphalt between Turns 3 and 5 and between Turns 8 and 9. With the weekend back to its standard format, teams will have three practice sessions to see how grip changes as rubber goes down and how the new surface affects wear on longer runs.
A two-stop strategy proved quickest last year, when the C3 and C4 both showed significant degradation. Those compounds now serve as the hard and medium, so Friday’s long runs should give teams an early read on how far they can stretch each stint. Interlagos offers enough passing opportunities to give teams some flexibility on pit timing, while swings in temperature or a rain shower could shift the race toward intermediates or full wets.
SPECIAL LIVERY, SUITS & HELMET PREVIEW
A special livery has been teased with images updated here and more information to come as it gets released. In the meantime, Audi has begun revealing other special elements specifically designed for this event. Thus far, that includes coordinated driver suits and a special race-specific helmet for Nico Hulkenberg.
ADIDAS MERCH PREVIEW
For Gabriel Bortoleto’s first home Grand Prix with Audi, adidas has drawn on the streets of his hometown for its Sampa Soul collection. The forest-green driver jersey incorporates São Paulo’s geometric Piso Paulista pavement pattern, with blue and yellow accents at the cuffs and collar in a nod to the Brazilian flag. Metallic gold picks out the adidas stripes and Audi rings, while embossed details on selected pieces reference the city’s crochet and embroidery traditions.
The collection includes driver jerseys, caps and fanwear and went on sale October 23 through the Audi F1 team store. The same pavement motif carries over to the team’s limited-edition Revolut São Paulo card, where it appears in a raised gloss finish with gold edging.
AUDI DO BRASIL RACE-WEEK BUILDUP
Ahead of Audi’s first São Paulo Grand Prix as a Formula 1 constructor, Audi do Brasil brought a virtual Interlagos to shopping centers in six Brazilian cities. More than 5,000 people entered the free simulator competition, and the 10 fastest qualifiers advanced to the November 3 final at the Audi Experience Center in São Paulo. Pedro Victor Pimentel Aquino of Brasília won a Paddock Pass for race weekend. São Paulo’s Gabriel Quintino finished second and earned an Audi Lounge experience, while Blumenau’s Matheus Amaral took third and received an Audi Collection kit. Watch the final on Acelerados.
The finale also featured a fashion show staged with Elle to present Audi’s F1 apparel. Audi’s F1 show car, which toured Brazilian shopping centers in the months leading up to the race, will be on display in the VIP Village at Interlagos during the Grand Prix. The buildup also included the Audi Challenge Run on Strava, which drew more than 51,000 participants with a target of 118 kilometers over four weeks.
FREDDIE SLATER BACK IN THE R26
Freddie Slater will take over Nico Hülkenberg’s Audi R26 for Friday’s opening practice session at Interlagos. It will be the 18-year-old Briton’s second Formula 1 practice outing in as many weekends, following his FP1 debut in Mexico City.
The first signing to Audi’s Driver Development Programme, Slater finished runner-up in his rookie Formula 3 season with Trident Motorsport, recording eight podiums, three poles and a feature race win. His run in São Paulo gives him another hour in the R26 before he steps up to Formula 2 with Invicta Racing in 2027.
TEAM RACE PREVIEW
Audi Revolut F1 Team prepares to conclude the triple header in the Americas with a visit to Sao Pãulo. The Interlagos circuit will host a special race for the team, which not only will celebrate Gabriel Bortoleto’s home Grand Prix, but also deliver a series of exciting activations on and off the track. The Sampa Soul Collection by adidas and a limited-edition São Paulo design of the Revolut card are the prelude to other surprises to be unveiled as the weekend progresses.
The main focus, however, remains the on-track action, as the battle for points continues to intensify. On a track where overtaking is possible and climatic conditions often mix the cards up, perfect execution and making the most of any opportunities will be the keys to a strong result.
Following a first outing in Mexico City, Freddie Slater will return behind the wheel of the R26 for FP1, this time in lieu of Nico Hulkenberg, as the team aims to continue its points-scoring streak that has seen it climb to 27 points in the standings – just four shy of seventh place.
TEAM QUOTES
Allan McNish, Racing Director
“Mexico was a challenging weekend for the team, and we felt there was more we could have done, especially as Nico was in contention for points until the red flag. We can’t take away from the positives, however, particularly Gabi’s recovery to finish in the points despite very limited running in practice. We know there are areas where we need to improve, and with another race coming up immediately, our focus is on taking those lessons forward and making the most of the opportunities ahead with both cars.
“Interlagos is a circuit with a lot of history and character, and one where conditions can change quickly. With the midfield as competitive as it is, putting together a clean weekend and executing well in every session will be crucial. It’s also a particularly special weekend for Gabi, racing in front of his home crowd, and we’ll be working hard to give both drivers the best possible opportunity to fight for points.”
Nico Hülkenberg, Car #27
“Mexico wasn’t quite the weekend we had hoped for. There were a few things that didn’t go our way, and some homework to do, but the nice thing about back-to-back races is that you don’t have much time to dwell on it. It’s straight on to the next one.
“Brazil is always one of my favourite races of the year. Interlagos is a proper old-school circuit, with a great atmosphere and some very special memories for me. It’s a short, intense lap and the weather can always throw something into the mix, which keeps things interesting.
“With it being Gabi’s home race, it’s a special weekend for him and the whole team too. I’m looking forward to being back and hopefully having a stronger weekend.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
“It was good to come away from Mexico with some points, especially after such a challenging weekend with very little running. We worked hard to recover, and while there’s still plenty we need to improve, it’s definitely a positive result to take into my home race.
“Racing in Brazil is always going to be very special for me. Last year was my first experience of driving in front of my home crowd, and the support I received was incredible. I grew up dreaming of moments like this, so to now be living them, and having the Brazilian fans cheering for me, means a lot.
“I’m really looking forward to going back to Interlagos and hopefully giving everyone something to celebrate. We know the midfield is still very close, and nothing comes easily, but I’ll be giving everything to make it a good weekend for the team.”
PHOTO GALLERY
