Lando Norris topped first practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix with a 1:11.717. Kimi Antonelli, already crowned champion, was second, 0.082s back, and Max Verstappen was third, 0.236s off. It is the first read on where McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull stand ahead of qualifying and the race this weekend.
Top six within 0.439s
The top six were Norris, Antonelli, Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), George Russell (Mercedes) and Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), at +0.082s, +0.236s, +0.324s, +0.386s and +0.439s respectively behind Norris. Alpine's Mini was seventh at +0.852s, a clear step back from sixth.
Neither source gives fuel loads or engine modes, so the practice times are hard to compare directly.
Antonelli's and Verstappen's sessions
According to formula1.com, Antonelli set 1:12.789 and 1:12.777 on the medium before switching to the soft for a 1:11.799. His first soft attempt ended with a lock-up and a run wide at Turn 1.
Verstappen fitted softs shortly before the halfway point and set a 1:11.953. On team radio he called the downshifts "unacceptable" and also complained that the steering was getting heavier.
Turn 1 lock-ups, a red flag and the rookies
Within the first 10 minutes Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Hamilton and Colton Herta all locked up and ran wide at Turn 1. A red flag followed when Freddie Slater's Audi stopped on track. Albon pulled off with about 20 minutes left after losing power steering, and Dino Beganovic's Ferrari had its floor removed for a period because of issues.
Six regular drivers gave way to rookies in FP1: Leonardo Fornaroli for Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Slater for Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), Herta for Sergio Pérez (Cadillac), Mini for Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Beganovic for Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Rafael Camara made his F1 debut for Haas, and Luke Browning drove for Williams in place of Carlos Sainz. Both sources say Herta needs one more Super Licence point to be able to race in 2027.
Russell takes a five-place grid drop
Russell will serve a five-place grid penalty for an internal combustion engine change. He was fifth in FP1, 0.386s off Norris.
