The opening Free Practice 1 session of the weekend at the 2026 Brazil Grand Prix saw the reigning Formula 1 world champion, Lando Norris, clock the fastest lap time. McLaren arrived at Interlagos equipped with new aerodynamic upgrades, with teammate Leonardo Fornaroli putting in considerable work testing the updated front wings.
Kimi Antonelli, the newly crowned 2025 world champion, secured second place for Mercedes, finishing just 0.082 seconds behind Norris. Max Verstappen rounded out the top three for Red Bull, 0.236 seconds off the pace set by Norris. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell completed the top five, representing Ferrari and Mercedes respectively.
Isack Hadjar narrowly missed out on the top five, placing sixth and trailing Russell by only 0.053 seconds. Gabriele Mini impressed in Alpine machinery, finishing seventh, 0.852 seconds behind Antonelli. Brazilian hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto delighted the home crowd by finishing eighth, with Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson rounding out the top ten.
Further down the leaderboard, Leonardo Fornaroli was 11th in the other McLaren, followed closely by Oliver Bearman in 12th. Fernando Alonso managed to place 13th for Aston Martin, while other notable drivers filled the subsequent positions. The session provided crucial insight ahead of one of the season’s most eagerly anticipated races.
Fan Take:
This initial practice session underlines the fierce competition among the top teams and drivers, especially with new upgrades shaking up the field. For racing enthusiasts, it’s exciting to see emerging talent like Antonelli and Mini mix it with established stars, promising thrilling battles ahead and signaling a dynamic future for Formula 1.
Source: www.crash.net
