Sao Paulo Grand Prix betting tips and F1 predictions: Sainz set for speedy start

Where to watch the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Practice one & Sprint qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 2.30pm & 6.30pm Friday

Sprint race and GP qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 2pm & 6pm Saturday

Race
Sky Sports F1, 5pm Sunday

Best bet

Carlos Sainz fastest in practice one
1pt 13-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Sao Paulo Grand Prix predictions

The Brazilian Grand Prix often throws up drama and with a stormy forecast for Sao Paulo this weekend there could be more thrills in store.

With four races left in the season, including this one, Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen by 47 points. The Briton cut champion Verstappen's lead by ten points in Mexico last weekend, but he really needs to win at least one of the remaining events to really put pressure on the Dutchman.

Having suffered engine trouble during the preliminaries in Mexico City, Verstappen could take a fresh power unit this weekend, which would see him hit with a five-place grid penalty.

That's not as painful at Interlagos, where overtaking is not too tricky, as other circuits. But it does mean Verstappen, winless in ten races, is likely to be in damage-limitation mode.

Norris's path to the title has been hampered by a resurgent Ferrari team, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sharing the spoils in the first two legs of this Americas triple-header.

With the Scuderia gobbling up the big points the championship protagonists have had to settle for smaller beer. Norris's McLaren team, currently leading the constructors' standings, will be eager to find more improvement but that is unlikely to come just days after the race in Mexico City.

Sainz, departing Ferrari at the end of the year, is finishing the campaign with a flourish. The Spaniard was second-fastest in the opening practice session in Mexico, quickest in first practice in Texas and third in the corresponding hour in Singapore before that.

He looks a decent bet to top the one and only free practice in Sao Paulo.

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