Unknown individuals desecrated the graves of Bruce McLaren and members of his family at Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland.
According to New Zealand outlet Stuff, the damage was discovered by George Stewart-Dalzell of Grave Guardians, a company that repairs and restores graves.
Unknown individuals poured gold paint over the headstones of Bruce and his wife, as well as his parents, and attached toy cars to them.
Restoration work is underway.
Bruce McLaren died in June 1970 during tests of a Can-Am car in the United Kingdom; his wife Patricia died in 2016.
According to New Zealand outlet Stuff, the damage was discovered by George Stewart-Dalzell of Grave Guardians, a company that repairs and restores graves.
Unknown individuals poured gold paint over the headstones of Bruce and his wife, as well as his parents, and attached toy cars to them.
Restoration work is underway.
Bruce McLaren died in June 1970 during tests of a Can-Am car in the United Kingdom; his wife Patricia died in 2016.
Esteban Ocon unveiled the helmet he will wear at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The helmet’s design was created by a fan of the Haas driver named Fernanda.
The updated design retains Esteban’s customary red-and-black tones, livened up with the colors of the Brazilian flag, Ayrton Senna’s logo and a Senna Forever motif (Senna forever).
On social media Esteban Ocon thanked everyone who sent in their sketches and admitted that he “found it difficult to choose just one option from true works of art.”
“Fernanda, thank you for your beautiful design,” Esteban added. “I really like it, and I can’t wait to race in this helmet on the track in Brazil.”
The updated design retains Esteban’s customary red-and-black tones, livened up with the colors of the Brazilian flag, Ayrton Senna’s logo and a Senna Forever motif (Senna forever).
On social media Esteban Ocon thanked everyone who sent in their sketches and admitted that he “found it difficult to choose just one option from true works of art.”
“Fernanda, thank you for your beautiful design,” Esteban added. “I really like it, and I can’t wait to race in this helmet on the track in Brazil.”
Liam Lawson: We'll try to put in as strong a performance as possible.
Racing Bulls drivers Isaac Hadjar and Liam Lawson haven't scored any points in the last three rounds. The team is hoping for a more successful showing in Brazil this weekend.
Isaac Hadjar: "We're heading to Brazil after a difficult weekend in Mexico, where the track didn't really suit our car. The team and I have analyzed everything, and I'm flying to São Paulo this week with confidence.
We're facing a sprint-format weekend, and I'm glad I'll be able to race on this track for the first time. I think that, thanks to the changeable weather, we'll have plenty of opportunities to get a result."
Liam Lawson: "There are four rounds left in the season. I'm very happy to head to Brazil to a legendary track with a rich history. Last year I raced there in Formula 1 for the first time, and the weekend was very tense because of the weather.
Racing Bulls drivers Isaac Hadjar and Liam Lawson haven't scored any points in the last three rounds. The team is hoping for a more successful showing in Brazil this weekend.
Isaac Hadjar: "We're heading to Brazil after a difficult weekend in Mexico, where the track didn't really suit our car. The team and I have analyzed everything, and I'm flying to São Paulo this week with confidence.
We're facing a sprint-format weekend, and I'm glad I'll be able to race on this track for the first time. I think that, thanks to the changeable weather, we'll have plenty of opportunities to get a result."
Liam Lawson: "There are four rounds left in the season. I'm very happy to head to Brazil to a legendary track with a rich history. Last year I raced there in Formula 1 for the first time, and the weekend was very tense because of the weather.
Carlos Sainz: We're in for an emotional weekend!
Weekends with a Saturday sprint and changeable weather give good opportunities to midfield teams. Williams would like to take advantage of that…
Alex Albon: “Between races we analysed the past rounds, solving some of the issues that arose. This experience will help in Brazil, where over the course of a sprint weekend we only have one practice. Given the limited time on track, we are taking a traditional approach to setup and will carry out fewer experiments than before.
Interlagos is a great old-school circuit with fantastic fans. You have to take a flexible approach and be ready for any weather during the weekend. There are four rounds left in the season; I’m looking forward to the chance to score points for the team.”
Carlos Sainz: “Heading to Brazil for another weekend with a Saturday sprint, I’m really looking forward to racing on this iconic circuit.
Weekends with a Saturday sprint and changeable weather give good opportunities to midfield teams. Williams would like to take advantage of that…
Alex Albon: “Between races we analysed the past rounds, solving some of the issues that arose. This experience will help in Brazil, where over the course of a sprint weekend we only have one practice. Given the limited time on track, we are taking a traditional approach to setup and will carry out fewer experiments than before.
Interlagos is a great old-school circuit with fantastic fans. You have to take a flexible approach and be ready for any weather during the weekend. There are four rounds left in the season; I’m looking forward to the chance to score points for the team.”
Carlos Sainz: “Heading to Brazil for another weekend with a Saturday sprint, I’m really looking forward to racing on this iconic circuit.
Stevenson: You need to be ready for anything at Interlagos.
Aston Martin sporting director Andy Stevenson on the team's preparation for the São Paulo Grand Prix, the specifics of sprint rounds and why he loves the Brazilian weekend so much...
Question: What is the team working on in the final part of the season?
Andy Stevenson: A lot is going on, including planning for 2026, but my focus is on the present, because the season is not over yet. There are four Grands Prix to come, two of them with a Saturday sprint – they are all extremely important.
We are locked in a tight fight in the midfield, where the gap between cars from different teams is just over one-tenth of a second on any race weekend. There are many points still to play for. Our goal is to finish as high as possible in the championship.
Question: The São Paulo Grand Prix often becomes one of the most unpredictable of the season.
Aston Martin sporting director Andy Stevenson on the team's preparation for the São Paulo Grand Prix, the specifics of sprint rounds and why he loves the Brazilian weekend so much...
Question: What is the team working on in the final part of the season?
Andy Stevenson: A lot is going on, including planning for 2026, but my focus is on the present, because the season is not over yet. There are four Grands Prix to come, two of them with a Saturday sprint – they are all extremely important.
We are locked in a tight fight in the midfield, where the gap between cars from different teams is just over one-tenth of a second on any race weekend. There are many points still to play for. Our goal is to finish as high as possible in the championship.
Question: The São Paulo Grand Prix often becomes one of the most unpredictable of the season.
The weather over the weekend in São Paulo will be typically changeable.
On Friday it will be cloudy, up to +28°C during the day, with gusty northwest winds and a 25% chance of rain.
On Saturday it will be cloudy again, around +24°C, with rain throughout the day.
On Sunday it's only +20°C during the day, and the chance of precipitation is no more than 20%. But in São Paulo that doesn't mean the race will be dry.
Last year the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying and race took place in the rain, while all the other sessions were on a dry track.
On Friday it will be cloudy, up to +28°C during the day, with gusty northwest winds and a 25% chance of rain.
On Saturday it will be cloudy again, around +24°C, with rain throughout the day.
On Sunday it's only +20°C during the day, and the chance of precipitation is no more than 20%. But in São Paulo that doesn't mean the race will be dry.
Last year the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying and race took place in the rain, while all the other sessions were on a dry track.
Drivers' and teams' comments ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix...
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur is looking forward to the São Paulo Grand Prix with optimism after successful rounds for the Scuderia in Austin and Mexico City.
Frédéric Vasseur: "At Interlagos we face the fifth sprint weekend of the season, which will be an interesting test for the whole team both physically and mentally. In this format, when everything has to be done quickly, every little detail matters, from the preparatory work in Maranello to the trackside support we receive from our base in real time.
We will arrive in Brazil in a positive frame of mind after two successful weekends in Austin and Mexico City, where the team maximized the car's potential. The goal now is to maintain the momentum we've built, focus on getting the job done, and be ready to react to any weather conditions in São Paulo."
Frédéric Vasseur: "At Interlagos we face the fifth sprint weekend of the season, which will be an interesting test for the whole team both physically and mentally. In this format, when everything has to be done quickly, every little detail matters, from the preparatory work in Maranello to the trackside support we receive from our base in real time.
We will arrive in Brazil in a positive frame of mind after two successful weekends in Austin and Mexico City, where the team maximized the car's potential. The goal now is to maintain the momentum we've built, focus on getting the job done, and be ready to react to any weather conditions in São Paulo."
Brembo released a video about the point of the most severe braking on the São Paulo circuit.
Before the first corner drivers will slow from 325 to 123 km/h in 2.39 seconds over a distance of 126 meters, experiencing a peak g-force of 4.6 g. Maximum brake pedal force will be 139 kg with braking power of 2493 kW.
Before the first corner drivers will slow from 325 to 123 km/h in 2.39 seconds over a distance of 126 meters, experiencing a peak g-force of 4.6 g. Maximum brake pedal force will be 139 kg with braking power of 2493 kW.
The FIA announced the line-up of participants for the official São Paulo Grand Prix press conferences.
On Thursday the press centre will be visited by six drivers, split into two groups of three. First to answer questions will be Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). They will then be replaced by Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Alex Albon (Williams).
On Friday team principals will face journalists: Andrea Stella (McLaren), Alan Permane (Racing Bulls) and James Vowles (Williams).
On Saturday and Sunday the top three drivers of the day will answer questions.
On Thursday the press centre will be visited by six drivers, split into two groups of three. First to answer questions will be Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). They will then be replaced by Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Alex Albon (Williams).
On Friday team principals will face journalists: Andrea Stella (McLaren), Alan Permane (Racing Bulls) and James Vowles (Williams).
On Saturday and Sunday the top three drivers of the day will answer questions.
Before the São Paulo Grand Prix the FIA reported changes to the Brazilian circuit and the DRS zones.
New asphalt has been laid on the section from turn 12 to turn 1, as well as on the stretch from turn 3 to turn 4. Gravel has been added to the run-off areas at turn 2, at the exit of the pit lane at turn 4, at turn 5, along the straight between turns 1 and 12, and opposite the 21st grid position in the pit lane.
The two independent DRS zones remain unchanged. The detection point for the gap between cars before the first of them is located on the apex of turn 2, and the activation point is 30 metres after turn 3.
The detection point before the second DRS zone is located 30 metres after turn 13, and the activation point is 160 metres before turn 15.
New asphalt has been laid on the section from turn 12 to turn 1, as well as on the stretch from turn 3 to turn 4. Gravel has been added to the run-off areas at turn 2, at the exit of the pit lane at turn 4, at turn 5, along the straight between turns 1 and 12, and opposite the 21st grid position in the pit lane.
The two independent DRS zones remain unchanged. The detection point for the gap between cars before the first of them is located on the apex of turn 2, and the activation point is 30 metres after turn 3.
The detection point before the second DRS zone is located 30 metres after turn 13, and the activation point is 160 metres before turn 15.
Former Formula 1 and GT driver and stewards’ consultant for FIA TCR Pedro Lamy has been invited to serve as the third steward for the São Paulo Grand Prix.
As at the Mexico round, contentious incidents will be reviewed alongside him by the representative of the German association DMSB, DTM steward Dr. Gerd Ennser, and member of the Australian Rally Commission Matthew Selley.
In 2025 the guest stewards were: Enrique Bernoldi in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Azerbaijan and Austin; Pedro Lamy in China, Japan, the Netherlands and Mexico; Vitantonio Liuzzi in Bahrain, Imola, Monaco, Barcelona, Silverstone and Spa; and Derek Warwick in Miami, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Singapore.
As at the Mexico round, contentious incidents will be reviewed alongside him by the representative of the German association DMSB, DTM steward Dr. Gerd Ennser, and member of the Australian Rally Commission Matthew Selley.
In 2025 the guest stewards were: Enrique Bernoldi in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Azerbaijan and Austin; Pedro Lamy in China, Japan, the Netherlands and Mexico; Vitantonio Liuzzi in Bahrain, Imola, Monaco, Barcelona, Silverstone and Spa; and Derek Warwick in Miami, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Singapore.
Williams revealed the liveries of Carlos Sainz’s and Alex Albon’s cars for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The cars are painted in the colours of the team’s sponsor, Gulf, and are covered with 493 words that fans associate with Williams. Among these words are Legacy, Passion and Teamwork. James Vowles, team principal: “As an iconic Formula 1 team with championship titles to our name and plans for further victories, we know that Williams means a great deal to our millions of fans around the world. The incredible livery has been brought to life in a joint project with Gulf, and it will be an honour for us to drive every lap around the Brazilian circuit, soaking up the passion and emotions of our fans embodied in this beautiful design.”
Zak Brown will maintain driver parity even at the cost of a title.
On the Beyond the Grid podcast, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown said he is not prepared to compromise his principles by giving an advantage to one of his drivers in the title fight — even if, as a result, the title is won by Verstappen...
Zak Brown: "If Max wins, I'll shake his hand and congratulate him on a job well done. I want to be sure that if we don't win, he beats us — that we don't beat ourselves. That's important.
We remember 2007 well, when two McLaren drivers [Hamilton and Alonso] scored the same number of points, and another [Räikkönen] won. As you can understand, we now again have two drivers dreaming of winning the world championship. We're playing on the attack. We're not playing defense.
On the Beyond the Grid podcast, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown said he is not prepared to compromise his principles by giving an advantage to one of his drivers in the title fight — even if, as a result, the title is won by Verstappen...
Zak Brown: "If Max wins, I'll shake his hand and congratulate him on a job well done. I want to be sure that if we don't win, he beats us — that we don't beat ourselves. That's important.
We remember 2007 well, when two McLaren drivers [Hamilton and Alonso] scored the same number of points, and another [Räikkönen] won. As you can understand, we now again have two drivers dreaming of winning the world championship. We're playing on the attack. We're not playing defense.
São Paulo Grand Prix: Race preview
A month before the end of the season the fight starts again. McLaren's drivers arrived in Brazil separated by a single point in Lando Norris's favor, and any one of the four remaining races (two of them with a Saturday sprint) could prove decisive.
The third title contender, Max Verstappen of Red Bull, trails the leader by 36 points, and to catch up with Piastri and Norris he would have to make up nine points on them in each race. The task is almost impossible — but not for Max. He has repeatedly shown that in a title fight he is willing to do anything and cares nothing for conventions.
The three are almost the same age. Piastri is 24, Norris is now 25, and Verstappen recently turned 28.
Piastri is a bright star. It is extremely rare even for the best to win championship titles in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 2 on the first try in successive years, as Oscar did in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
A month before the end of the season the fight starts again. McLaren's drivers arrived in Brazil separated by a single point in Lando Norris's favor, and any one of the four remaining races (two of them with a Saturday sprint) could prove decisive.
The third title contender, Max Verstappen of Red Bull, trails the leader by 36 points, and to catch up with Piastri and Norris he would have to make up nine points on them in each race. The task is almost impossible — but not for Max. He has repeatedly shown that in a title fight he is willing to do anything and cares nothing for conventions.
The three are almost the same age. Piastri is 24, Norris is now 25, and Verstappen recently turned 28.
Piastri is a bright star. It is extremely rare even for the best to win championship titles in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 2 on the first try in successive years, as Oscar did in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
F1's schedule includes two-stop races and sprints on soft tyres.
"Two pitstops enhance the spectacle"
Formula 1 may undergo significant format changes starting in 2026, with discussions about mandatory two-stop races and updated sprint tyre regulations. According to Kurier, the FIA presented a proposal to drivers in Mexico, suggesting that two pitstops be made compulsory at every grand prix. This regulation aims to increase on-track excitement and diminish strategic predictability.
This concept was previously experimented with in Monaco earlier this year, where Lando Norris achieved a lights-to-flag victory, failing to win over the skeptics. Nonetheless, Pirelli's motorsport chief, Mario Isola, sees potential in the idea. "Two pitstops enhance the spectacle because they introduce more unpredictability," stated Isola.
"Two pitstops enhance the spectacle"
Formula 1 may undergo significant format changes starting in 2026, with discussions about mandatory two-stop races and updated sprint tyre regulations. According to Kurier, the FIA presented a proposal to drivers in Mexico, suggesting that two pitstops be made compulsory at every grand prix. This regulation aims to increase on-track excitement and diminish strategic predictability.
This concept was previously experimented with in Monaco earlier this year, where Lando Norris achieved a lights-to-flag victory, failing to win over the skeptics. Nonetheless, Pirelli's motorsport chief, Mario Isola, sees potential in the idea. "Two pitstops enhance the spectacle because they introduce more unpredictability," stated Isola.
Berger says there's 'pressure on' Piastri and Norris.
"When two teammates are of comparable skill, the pressure intensifies."
McLaren's CEO Zak Brown has refuted increasing speculation that the team is giving preference to Lando Norris in the championship race at the expense of his struggling teammate, Oscar Piastri. In an appearance on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Brown rejected the notion that one driver was being favored over the other. "I would rather have another driver overtake our drivers, who are tied in points, than have to tell one of them, 'I know you aspire to win the world championship, but we’ve decided you’re not going to achieve it this year. Just give up,'" he stated. Citing McLaren’s own past, Brown expressed a preference for a scenario similar to 2007, when Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton clashed internally while Kimi Raikkonen captured the title for Ferrari.
"When two teammates are of comparable skill, the pressure intensifies."
McLaren's CEO Zak Brown has refuted increasing speculation that the team is giving preference to Lando Norris in the championship race at the expense of his struggling teammate, Oscar Piastri. In an appearance on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Brown rejected the notion that one driver was being favored over the other. "I would rather have another driver overtake our drivers, who are tied in points, than have to tell one of them, 'I know you aspire to win the world championship, but we’ve decided you’re not going to achieve it this year. Just give up,'" he stated. Citing McLaren’s own past, Brown expressed a preference for a scenario similar to 2007, when Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton clashed internally while Kimi Raikkonen captured the title for Ferrari.