Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying predictions and F1 betting tips

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying in Sao Paulo on Friday.

Where to watch

Practice one
Sky Sports F1, 3.30pm Friday

Qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 7pm Friday

Best bet

Max Verstappen fastest qualifier
2pts Evs general

Preview

Max Verstappen rolls into Brazil with a handy 19-point lead in the world championship, and the Dutchman will be confident of stretching that advantage at a circuit where he traditionally goes well.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had no answer to the pace of Verstappen’s Red Bull in Mexico last week, and the Briton’s hopes of a record eighth title are slipping away.

Verstappen won the race from pole position in 2019 on F1’s last visit to Sao Paulo, and he looked to have the 2018 edition in the bag before tripping over a backmarker.

Sprint qualifying makes its third and final appearance on the calendar this weekend, meaning the drivers will have one hour of practice before a traditional qualifying session Friday evening.

That will decide the grid for Saturday's sprint race, which in turn sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, as well as awarding points to the top three finishers.

Verstappen won the inaugural sprint race at Silverstone and finished second to Valtteri Bottas in Italy. However, he failed to finish the main race in either country after clashes with Hamilton.

Red Bull looked to be firmly in control throughout practice in Mexico, but Mercedes turned it around in qualifying to record their first front-row lockout of the season.

It’s true that Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez both had their final qualifying laps ruined by the errant Yuki Tsunoda, but even so the result was surprising.

While it’s possible to draw the conclusion that the Red Bulls were not effective on the softest tyres, Verstappen has started from pole position nine times this season which makes that unlikely.

The Dutch charger is even-money to secure pole position for the sprint race, which looks the best bet.

Verstappen had already won six races before he claimed his first pole – in Sao Paulo in 2019 – but he is one of the sharpest qualifiers around nowadays and it’s worth forgiving his blip in Mexico.

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