Norris first in the only free practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix; Sprint Qualifying at 7:30 PM.
Just a few minutes ago, the first and only free practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix concluded. Lando Norris topped the timesheets, securing first place with a lap time of 1:10.610 set just seconds before the session ended.
Interlocutory session filled with doubts for the teams. In second place is George Russell, nearly two-tenths behind Norris. An impressive Bearman takes third, just 195 thousandths off Russell’s time. The cars struggled with low grip and bouncing, despite the new asphalt: Oscar Piastri’s second McLaren finished fourth, followed by Alexander Albon. The Williams showed good pace in the first sector, confirming their speed on the straights.
Ferrari, on the other hand, faced grip issues and bouncing, with Charles Leclerc sixth and Carlos Sainz seventh, while Fernando Alonso trailed them. The top 10 was completed by Lawson and Gasly, with Lawson setting his best time on the yellow tire. Max Verstappen could only manage fifteenth after aborting his lap on the red tires following two good sector times; he faces a five-position grid penalty for an engine replacement.
Behind him was Lewis Hamilton, who didn’t use the softest compound. Sergio Perez also struggled with his red-tire lap. Red Bull focused on race pace during the session, using yellow tires.
Ferrari made significant changes during the session, adjusting the setup for both drivers. The sprint weekend, as seen before, shortens the working time, forcing teams to focus on every detail during the limited free practice. McLaren also introduced a new rear wing on both cars. The Sprint Qualifying at 7:30 PM is set to be more uncertain than ever.
Photo: X McLaren e Ferrari
