F1 – Norris leads Antonelli and Verstappen in São Paulo opening practice
Lando Norris led the opening practice session for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, edging Kimi Antonelli by just 0.082s.
Lando Norris topped the opening practice session for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, edging newly crowned World Champion Kimi Antonelli by just 0.082s with a benchmark of 1:11.717 on soft tyres.
The 20th round of the season at the iconic Interlagos circuit began under intense competitive pressure, featuring early technical stoppages, high-stakes rookie outings, and a tight four-team battle at the head of the timesheets.
Who topped the opening practice at Interlagos?
McLaren driver Lando Norris set the pace in Friday's opening hour, leaving Mercedes driver and newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli just 0.082s adrift. Max Verstappen completed the top three for Red Bull, finishing 0.154s behind Antonelli and 0.236s behind Norris overall. Lewis Hamilton rounded out a diverse top four for Ferrari, finishing 0.324s off the pace.
Behind the leading four, George Russell took fifth in the second Mercedes, 0.386s off Norris, while Isack Hadjar claimed sixth in the second Red Bull. Alpine rookie Gabriele Minì impressed in seventh with a 1:12.569, finishing ahead of home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi and team-mate Franco Colapinto. Liam Lawson rounded out the top 10 for Racing Bulls.
The session saw four different constructors occupy the top four positions as teams ran through development programmes and evaluation runs. McLaren introduced a new front wing concept forming the basis for its 2027 development path, alongside new rear wings and floor developments.
What happened to the rookies and substitute drivers?
The opening hour doubled as a mandatory showcase for young talent, with six regular drivers stepping aside to fulfil rookie practice requirements. Among them were Leonardo Fornaroli at McLaren, Freddie Slater at Audi, Luke Browning at Williams, Colton Herta at Cadillac, Dino Beganovic deputising for Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, and Rafael Câmara making his Formula 1 debut for Haas ahead of his planned full-time promotion in 2027.
The session proved punishing for the newcomers:
- Freddie Slater brought out red flags 12 minutes in after his Audi switched off, ending his running after seven laps.
- Rafael Câmara completed 30 laps of running, finishing 18th with a best time of 1:13.696.
- Colton Herta completed 26 laps of Interlagos, which should now have enough points to secure a Super License / representing an important opportunity for the American, who is seeking to secure the final Super Licence point required to make him eligible for a potential Formula 1 seat with Cadillac in 2027, finishing 20th overall.
- Dino Beganovic managed 11 laps before technical problems restricted his Ferrari, leaving him 21st.
- Leonardo Fornaroli finished 11th for McLaren, while Luke Browning took 17th for Williams before a car issue cut his running short.
Which drivers and teams ran into trouble during the session?
Reliability gremlins and handling complaints disrupted several key contenders across the grid. Max Verstappen voiced sharp frustration over team radio, labelling his downshifts Unacceptable
and later reporting increasing steering resistance that made his steering wheel progressively harder to turn.
Alexander Albon saw his running curtailed by a loss of power steering that forced him back to the pits with 20 minutes remaining, leaving him 16th. Williams team-mate Luke Browning was told he would not return to the track due to a separate car issue, while Dino Beganovic suffered technical problems in the Ferrari.
Meanwhile, George Russell carried a five-place grid penalty into Sunday's race following an internal combustion engine change, finishing the session fifth in the second Mercedes. Fernando Alonso faced no further investigation after being noted for a yellow flag infringement at Turn 9, ending the session 13th for Aston Martin.
What is the weekend schedule for the São Paulo Grand Prix?
With Free Practice 1 concluded, the teams turned their attention to the remainder of the race weekend at Interlagos.
- Free Practice 2 is scheduled for 7pm GMT (4pm local time) on Friday.
- Qualifying follows on Saturday.
- The São Paulo Grand Prix race takes place on Sunday.
Mercedes enters the weekend with a mathematical chance to clinch the constructors' championship on Sunday if they score at least three points more than Ferrari, capping off a banner year that already saw Antonelli claim the drivers' crown in Mexico.
The margins at the top indicate that McLaren's aggressive aerodynamic upgrades have immediately hit the ground running, leaving Red Bull and Mercedes with narrow windows to find overnight setup gains.
