Lando Norris set the pace in opening practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix, narrowly beating Kimi Antonelli as Max Verstappen completed the top three in a session disrupted by technical problems for several young drivers.
Norris posted a best lap of 1:11.717 at Interlagos, finishing just 0.082 seconds ahead of newly crowned world champion Antonelli. Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.236 seconds off the pace, with Lewis Hamilton fourth for Ferrari and George Russell completing the top five for Mercedes.
Isack Hadjar secured sixth place in the second Red Bull, while Gabriele Minì produced an impressive seventh-fastest time during his appearance for Alpine.
Home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth for Audi, ahead of Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson, who rounded out the top ten.
McLaren Brings Major Updates to Interlagos
McLaren arrived in Brazil with the only significant upgrade package among the teams, introducing several aerodynamic changes to its MCL40.
The modifications include a redesigned front wing, a revised rear-wing assembly, a new beam wing and changes to the floor. The developments form part of McLaren’s continuing work towards its 2027 programme, while also targeting improvements to the current car.
Norris had acknowledged before the session that he did not necessarily expect the changes to make the MCL40 easier to drive.
The resurfaced Interlagos circuit provided an important opportunity for teams to assess their set-ups during a conventional Grand Prix weekend without a Sprint.
Conditions remained dry and cloudy throughout opening practice, although rain is forecast to affect the remainder of the weekend, particularly Sunday’s race.
Verstappen Reports Gearshift and Steering Concerns
Verstappen was among the early frontrunners, initially setting the pace on hard tyres before Hamilton and Antonelli moved ahead.
The Dutchman subsequently reclaimed first place with a 1:11.953 on soft tyres, despite expressing frustration over the behaviour of his Red Bull during downshifts.
His concerns extended beyond the gearbox.
Later in the session, Verstappen reported that the steering felt noticeably heavier when turning left than when turning right. He subsequently described the steering effort as a physical workout, suggesting that Red Bull still had issues to investigate.
Antonelli eventually displaced Verstappen with a 1:11.799, before Norris delivered the session’s fastest lap.
Hamilton moved into fourth with a 1:12.041, while Russell finished fifth on 1:12.103.
Russell also heads into the weekend facing a five-place grid penalty following a change of internal combustion engine.
Minì Impresses as Young Drivers Gain Track Time
Seven young drivers participated in the session, giving several teams an opportunity to evaluate emerging talent.
Gabriele Minì was the standout performer among the temporary replacements, placing seventh in the Alpine with a 1:12.569, ahead of several established Formula 1 drivers.
Leonardo Fornaroli finished 11th for McLaren, narrowly ahead of Haas driver Oliver Bearman.
Arvid Lindblad placed 14th for Racing Bulls, while Luke Browning, driving for Williams, finished 17th.
Rafael Câmara, making his Formula 1 debut with Haas and set to contest the remainder of the weekend, finished 18th.
However, not every young driver enjoyed a straightforward session.
Technical Problems Disrupt Several Drivers
Freddie Slater’s outing with Audi ended prematurely when his car stopped on track, prompting a red flag early in the session.
The interruption brought running to a temporary halt before the session resumed.
Williams also experienced difficulties, with Alex Albon stopping near the final corner. The Thai driver managed to guide his car into an escape road, avoiding another red flag.
Browning subsequently encountered problems in the second Williams.
Ferrari reserve driver Dino Beganovic also suffered a disrupted programme. After an early braking incident, his car required attention in the garage, including work on the floor, before another technical issue limited his running.
Beganovic eventually finished 21st with 11 laps, while Slater completed just seven laps and ended the session 22nd.
Albon was classified 16th, immediately ahead of Browning.
Herta Reaches Super Licence Points Requirement
Despite finishing 20th in his Cadillac, Colton Herta achieved an important personal milestone during the session.
By completing his 24th lap, the American reached the 40-point threshold required for a Formula 1 Super Licence.
Herta ultimately completed 31 laps, recording a best time of 1:14.275.
His achievement represented a significant development in his Formula 1 ambitions, irrespective of his position on the timesheets.
Norris Sets the Early Benchmark
With the session completed, Norris emerged as the early pace-setter at Interlagos, although the narrow gap to Antonelli suggested little separated the two at the front.
Verstappen remained within a quarter of a second of the McLaren, while Hamilton and Russell ensured Ferrari and Mercedes were also represented among the leading five.
Further back, Minì’s performance provided one of the session’s notable results, while technical difficulties restricted the programmes of several other young drivers.
Teams now have two further practice sessions before qualifying, with the prospect of changing weather conditions adding another consideration to preparations for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL40 | 1:11.717 | 33 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W17 | 1:11.799 | 32 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull RBPT Ford RB22 | 1:11.953 | 29 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-26 | 1:12.041 | 31 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes W17 | 1:12.103 | 30 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull RBPT Ford RB22 | 1:12.156 | 25 |
| 7 | Gabriele Mini | Alpine Mercedes A526 | 1:12.569 | 28 |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi F1 R26 | 1:12.614 | 30 |
| 9 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Mercedes A526 | 1:12.654 | 34 |
| 10 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls RBPT Ford VCARB 03 | 1:12.715 | 32 |
| 11 | Leonardo Fornaroli | McLaren Mercedes MCL40 | 1:12.833 | 28 |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-26 | 1:12.837 | 27 |
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Honda AMR26 | 1:13.017 | 26 |
| 14 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls RBPT Ford VCARB 03 | 1:13.038 | 32 |
| 15 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac Ferrari MAC-26 | 1:13.371 | 16 |
| 16 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW48 | 1:13.511 | 18 |
| 17 | Luke Browning | Williams Mercedes FW48 | 1:13.591 | 12 |
| 18 | Rafael Câmara | Haas Ferrari VF-26 | 1:13.696 | 30 |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Honda AMR26 | 1:13.760 | 28 |
| 20 | Colton Herta | Cadillac Ferrari MAC-26 | 1:14.275 | 31 |
| 21 | Dino Beganovic | Ferrari SF-26 | 1:14.357 | 11 |
| 22 | Freddie Slater | Audi F1 R26 | 1:14.966 | 7 |
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