2026 São Paulo GP FP1: Verstappen tops session, Leclerc shows early pace

The inaugural free‑practice (FP1) for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix delivered a clear early advantage for Red Bull Racing, with Max Verstappen posting the quickest lap of the day. According to the official Formula 1 report, the Dutch driver clocked a 1:09.842 on his medium‑compound tyres, edging out his teammate Sergio Pérez by just 0.27 seconds. The session, held on Saturday morning (IST 04:30 – 06:30), gave teams a first look at the newly resurfaced Interlagos circuit, which has been praised for its blend of high‑speed straights and technical corners.

Key performances and surprises

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the standout from the other side of the grid, setting the third‑fastest time (1:10.112) and showing particular strength in sector three – the fast‑right‑hand corner complex that often decides lap times at Interlagos. Leclerc’s pace suggests the Scuderia may have found a workable balance between downforce and straight‑line speed, a challenge that has haunted them at this venue in recent years.

Mercedes, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm. Lewis Hamilton’s best lap of 1:10.587 placed the British driver seventh overall, while George Russell could only manage eighth. Both drivers reported that the new asphalt was “slippery in the early laps,” a sentiment echoed by the team’s technical director in post‑session comments to Motorsport Week.

AlphaTauri and Alpine also featured in the top ten, with Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) posting a respectable 1:10.734 and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) finishing ninth. The midfield battle appears tighter than ever, and the data from FP1 suggests that tyre degradation will be a critical factor over the race distance.

For India: when and where to watch

Indian fans can catch the next practice session (FP2) and qualifying live on FanCode, with the broadcast starting at 09:00 IST for FP2 and 12:30 IST for qualifying. Highlights from FP1, including on‑track footage and team interviews, are already available on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel and on the F1 app, which offers a free‑to‑watch live stream for the first 15 minutes of each session.

Given the early speed shown by both Red Bull and Ferrari, the São Paulo round promises an exciting showdown for the championship battle, especially as the season heads into its second half. Indian viewers should keep an eye on tyre strategies and how the new surface evolves over the weekend, as these factors could reshuffle the order dramatically.

Source: Formula 1