Brazil FP1: Russell penalty, Norris ahead of Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton

The historic Interlagos circuit in the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo was a sprint circuit for many years: In 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, races were held in this format at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace; now, for the first time in seven years, the weekend will be held in the classic format.

For GP rookie Rafael Câmara (Esteban Ocon’s replacement at Haas), this is a godsend: it gives him the chance to get used to his new car.

In the first practice session, apart from ‘Rafa’, there are a few changes to the line-up: McLaren with Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli standing in for Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri; Ferrari with Dino Beganovic at the wheel for Charles Leclerc; Williams with Englishman Luke Browning for Carlos Sainz; Audi with Freddie Slater in place of Nico Hülkenberg, Alpine with Gabriele Mini in place of Franco Colapinto, and Cadillac with Colton Herta in place of Sergio Pérez – the Californian has to complete 100 kilometres to finally obtain his Formula 1 licence, known as the Super Licence.

One driver who’ll be racing from the start but already knows he’ll have to drop back five places on the grid is Mercedes’ unlucky driver George Russell. He needs a new internal combustion engine.

What new parts are on show at Interlagos? Only McLaren has made changes to the front wing, rear wing, underbody and beam wing (the additional wing above the gearbox) – all brand new. The test at Interlagos is intended to show whether this is the right approach for the coming season, particularly with regard to the front wing, which, on a modern Formula 1 car, largely dictates what happens aerodynamically further back. The new rear wing is more track-specific.

Topic of the week

World Champion Kimi Antonelli: record-breaker, heart-breaker, the Tifosi’s dream

With his third-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest of the 36 Formula 1 world champions to date. The 20-year-old Italian is on a record-breaking run. The Tifosi are dreaming of Antonelli in a Ferrari.

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Sao Paulo: 2. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

06.11.2026 - 19:35

Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Williams, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas, Audi, Alpine and Cadillac are competing with Mexico-spec race cars.

The first free practice session at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace began at 24 degrees (with the track at 41 degrees); there were scattered showers in the region, but rainfall in the greater São Paulo area is often a localised phenomenon – it can remain dry in the city centre whilst it’s pouring at Interlagos, and vice versa.

Thunderstorms are forecast for qualifying on 7 November (3.00 pm local time, 7.00 pm in Europe). That could be interesting…

The fans were delighted: for the first time since 2016 (the two Felipes, Massa and Nasr), there are two Brazilians on the grid – Gabriel Boretoleto (Audi) and Rafael Câmara (Haas).

Max Verstappen set the early fastest time ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris – three champions at the front.

A moment of panic for Ferrari reserve driver Dino Beganovic: he fiddled with the steering wheel and nearly crashed into the rear of Oliver Bearman’s Haas race car! Beganovic swerved his car to the right and narrowly avoided a rear-end collision. The Ferrari junior was on the track at that point with large rakes.

Lewis Hamilton reported over the radio: “The track is quite slippery.” That often happens here on the first day at Interlagos. And it didn’t stop the seven-time world champion from taking the lead.

Then a red flag! Audi junior driver Freddie Slater’s car came to a halt; the Englishman remained in Nico Hülkenberg’s car because the car would have rolled away without anyone on the brakes. There’s no handbrake in a Formula 1 car. “I lost the gears, and then the car just came to a halt.”

Almost at the same time, Hamilton lost his fastest lap because he’d kept his Ferrari too far to the left and crossed the white line at the pit lane entrance. So Verstappen remained ahead of Antonelli, with Hamilton in P3 ahead of Norris and Russell.

After a five-minute break, the session resumed. Kimi Antonelli took the lead. An investigation was briefly launched against Cadillac driver and IndyCar star Colton Herta for an offence under the red flag. However, footage showed that the red flag was raised too late for the Californian to have turned into the pits in time.

Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar had other problems. The Parisian said over the radio: “My seat is moving.”

Standings after 30 minutes: Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Bortoleto, Hadjar, Lawson, Albon and Lindblad.

Verstappen regained the lead, but the Dutchman was not happy: “Unacceptable, these gear changes, just unacceptable.”

Champion Kimi Antonelli botched his first attempt on soft Pirelli tyres: he braked too late going into the first corner, leaving his left front wheel stationary. The second attempt went better – Kimi was back ahead of Verstappen, with Hamilton in P3.

Alex Albon had to coast to a halt in his Williams; a yellow flag was waved, presumably due to hydraulic failure.

Lando Norris took the lead with 20 minutes to go, the Briton now also on the red-marked soft tyres.

Max Verstappen reported further problems over the radio: “The steering is much stiffer to the left than to the right – that’s completely weird. It’s a proper fitness workout out here.”

Ferrari called Dino Beganovic off the track: “Dino, bring the car back to the pits, we’ve got a problem with the car.”

Williams protégé Luke Browning also had to retire early, due to a hydraulic problem, just like Albon.

Good news for Cadillac: Colton Herta has completed his 100 km to earn the one Super Licence point, so he should now receive his F1 licence.

Four champions in the top four places, driving four different cars and separated by just under three tenths of a second – things are looking good at Interlagos.