Ferrari SF24 unstable but others are worse: verdict from Practice in Sao Paulo
Today at 11:57 AM
The Free Practice session for the Brazilian GP in F1 has ended: as expected, Ferrari encountered difficulties, while Lando Norris performed well for McLaren. The session offered some interesting surprises, drawing attention toward Saturday's events. Qualifying is expected to be very tight, with a Red Bull that was fast in the first part of the session but disappeared on the soft tyres.
All teams get to work on the track immediately. With only one Free Practice session available, every lap counts in preparing for the weekend. The looming threat is Sunday's rain, which, if it arrives, could shake things up and create unpredictable scenarios. In the very first minutes of FP1, McLaren leads with Oscar Piastri on medium tyres, clocking a 1:13.200.
In the initial laps of the circuit, Sergio Perez shines: the Mexican, heavily criticized after the Mexican Grand Prix, takes the lead with a 1:12.099. His leadership is short-lived, however; with 46 minutes remaining, George Russell tops the standings with a 1:11.806, only to be overtaken by Max Verstappen at 1:11.712. Charles Leclerc's attempt at a fast lap is abandoned, despite the best time in the first sector.
Mercedes vs. Red Bull, but where are Ferrari and McLaren?
On the team radio, Carlos Sainz complains of slight instability with the car at Turn 6, Ferradura. The Spaniard is in fourth place, with just under 40 minutes left, trailing Max Verstappen by three-tenths. The SF-24's weaknesses, as expected, are evident in the middle sector, the most technical part of Interlagos.
The surprise at this stage appears to be Mercedes: both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remain within a tenth of the #1 Red Bull – which will start with a five-place grid penalty – showing consistent performance across all three sectors. With 25 minutes remaining, McLaren is far back: Oscar Piastri has dropped to tenth, and Norris is all the way down in fifteenth.
Qualifying simulation: a pole position more uncertain than ever
With 20 minutes to go, George Russell shakes up the leaderboard with a 1:10.791, the first to mount the soft tyres. The teams' programs are difficult to interpret: some are focusing on long runs simulating race conditions, like Red Bull, while others appear to be gathering different data, possibly related to the Sprint Race, like the two Ferraris and Lando Norris.
As drivers approach qualifying simulation, many complain about bumps and undulations on the track. The grid appears extremely close, with an impressive 1:10.805 from Oliver Bearman for a provisional second place with three minutes remaining. The two Ferrari SF24 cars struggle, lagging behind both McLarens and an excellent Alexander Albon.
In the end, McLaren has reason to smile: Lando Norris secures the session's best time with an authoritative 1:10.610.
FP1 results for the Brazilian GP in F1
Source: f1ingenerale
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