Friday Practice Wrap-Up: Insights from Sao Paulo GP 2026
Teams and drivers reflect on a day of mixed fortunes during practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Weather forecasts hint at potential challenges ahead.
Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli, basking in his recent World Champion glory, continued his winning form from Mexico by setting the pace in both practice sessions at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. Antonelli showed impressive command over medium and soft tyres, clocking a fastest time of 1:10.763 in FP2, outstripping his competitors by 0.253 seconds. George Russell, contending with a five-place grid penalty for a new ICE, kept close to the front runners, finishing P4 in FP2 despite some understeer issues. Mercedes' Andrew Shovlin noted the team's strong pace but acknowledged areas needing refinement, particularly brake locking and balance.
McLaren
Lando Norris claimed the top spot in FP1, outpacing Antonelli by a slim margin on a slightly more rubbered-in track. McLaren's upgrades appear promising, offering additional grip and load rather than altering handling. In FP2, Oscar Piastri joined Norris, with both drivers closely matched. Norris expressed satisfaction with the car's improved feel, while Piastri highlighted the positive impact of the upgrades.
Red Bull
Max Verstappen's practice day was marred by steering issues, though he remained competitive, finishing in the top three for both sessions. Isack Hadjar found himself in P9 during FP2 after a setup change didn't yield the expected results. Red Bull's Hannah Schmitz confirmed ongoing efforts to address Verstappen's steering concerns and hinted at possible wet conditions for the weekend.
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton faced challenges in FP2, with Leclerc's run disrupted by another driver and both struggling with the track's bumpy nature. Dino Beganovic's FP1 was cut short by reliability issues, limiting his track time.
Audi
Audi's day was mixed, with Nico Hulkenberg missing out on track time due to technical issues that also affected Freddie Slater's FP1. Gabriel Bortoleto made the most of his home advantage, securing consistent top 10 finishes.
Alpine
Gabriele Mini impressed in FP1, outpacing teammate Franco Colapinto and earning praise from Pierre Gasly for his performance. Gasly, returning for FP2, faced challenges with tyre management but remains optimistic.
Haas
Oliver Bearman showed promise with a top 10 finish in FP2, while Rafael Camara faced a reprimand after an on-track incident with Leclerc. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu reflected on a productive day, emphasizing areas for improvement.
Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson had a close contest, with Lindblad edging out Lawson in FP2. Both drivers look to fine-tune their setups ahead of potentially wet conditions.
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completed extensive laps, with Alonso narrowly missing the top 10. Both drivers anticipate variable weather, which could influence the weekend's outcome.
Williams
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz struggled to find pace, with Sainz limited by an older engine. Williams aims to optimize their setup in light of uncertain weather forecasts.
Cadillac
Valtteri Bottas made a steady return post-crash, while Sergio Perez and Colton Herta completed their programs despite feeling under the weather. Cadillac prepares for a challenging weekend with potential strategic opportunities from the forecast rain.
Pirelli
Pirelli's Simone Berra summarized tyre performance, noting variable conditions affecting degradation and performance. With rain on the horizon, teams remain poised for strategic adjustments.