Lando Norris topped the timesheets during the first free practice session for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, providing a performance boost for McLaren following a series of challenging race weekends. Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the opening practice session at the Autodromo Carlos Pace, edging out Kimi Antonelli who finished second.
Max Verstappen secured the third-fastest time, finishing two tenths of a second behind Norris. Despite the strong pace, the session proved difficult for the Red Bull driver, who reported significant technical frustrations. Verstappen described the car’s downshifting as “unacceptable” and noted toward the end of the run that the RB22 had become physically demanding to handle, stating, “It is a work-out with this steering!”
Rookie participation and session interruptions
The first practice session in São Paulo, which took place at 16:30 Dutch time, featured a heavy rotation of junior drivers, as teams utilized mandatory rookie testing requirements. The session was briefly halted by a red flag after Audi driver Freddie Slater came to a stop on track. In addition to Slater, the field saw appearances from several other prospects, including Colton Herta, Gabriele Mini, Luke Browning, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Dino Beganovic.
The influx of junior talent meant that several established drivers were relegated to the sidelines for the hour. GP33 reported that Sergio Pérez, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc were among the regular starters who did not participate in the opening session. For Ferrari, the absence of Leclerc was noted; the team confirmed he is arriving late to Brazil following the birth of his daughter, Bianca, in Monaco earlier this week. The full roster of replacements for the session included Leonardo Fornaroli taking over for Oscar Piastri, Dino Beganovic for Charles Leclerc, Luke Browning for Carlos Sainz, Rafael Câmara for Esteban Ocon, Freddie Slater for Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriele Mini for Pierre Gasly, and Colton Herta for Sergio Pérez.
Rafael Câmara replaces Esteban Ocon for remainder of season
The grid in Brazil features a notable permanent change, as Esteban Ocon will not appear in the Haas cockpit for the remainder of the 2026 season. GPFans noted that Ocon has been replaced for the São Paulo weekend by Rafael Câmara, who is already confirmed to take over the seat full-time in 2027.
As the weekend progresses, teams are preparing for major technical changes. According to GPFans, the FIA has established two “straight-mode” (SM) zones at Interlagos, which serve as a primary component of the current active aerodynamics regulations replacing the legacy DRS system. Pirelli has also introduced a softer tire selection for this year’s event, bringing the C3, C4, and C5 compounds to a circuit that features a partially renewed asphalt surface.
Weather risks for the São Paulo Grand Prix
The competitive outlook for the remainder of the weekend remains tied to volatile weather conditions. Forecasts indicate a high probability of precipitation from Friday through Sunday, with severe thunderstorms and potential hail warned for Saturday. These conditions add a layer of complexity to the weekend, as teams adjust to the softer tire compounds and the newly surfaced track.
The event marks the twentieth round of the 2026 season, with the FIA having already confirmed the specific detection and activation points for the overtake-mode zones. While Kimi Antonelli arrives in Brazil having recently secured the world championship title in Mexico, qualifying will show how the grid adapts to the weather-impacted track conditions and whether front-runners resolve their reported technical issues in time.
Worth a look
