The Sao Paulo Grand Prix might be the fourth-last round on the schedule, but it always has the atmosphere of a title decider.

Interlagos has a habit of redirecting the trajectory of a championship. It might not be decisive, but it’s always highly influential.

That’s especially true when there’s extra points up for grabs in the sprint.

Every score is crucial for title leader Lando Norris and rival Oscar Piastri, who are separated by only one point with four rounds remaining.

But it’s Max Verstappen, clinging on at 36 points down, who has best illustrated the power of a sprint format.

It was only two rounds ago, in Austin, where the Dutchman executed a perfect weekend to take 23 points out of his championship deficit in just 24 hours, instantly reinserting him into the title battle as a

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