2026 São Paulo GP Free‑Practice Sessions Reveal Early Pace Battles
FP1 and FP2 at Interlagos saw Red Bull dominate while Ferrari and Mercedes fought for midfield, setting the stage for a thrilling Brazilian showdown.
The opening free‑practice sessions for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos have given fans a first glimpse of the pace hierarchy heading into race day. According to the official Formula 1 website, Max Verstappen topped FP1 with a lap of 1:10.432, while his teammate Sergio Pérez was second, just 0.12 seconds off the pace. The session, held on Saturday morning, was marked by a hot and humid Brazilian afternoon, with track temperatures climbing above 45 °C, conditions that typically favour cars with strong aerodynamic efficiency.
FP2 confirms Red Bull’s early lead
In the second practice session, the Red Bull duo again led the timing sheets, this time with Verstappen improving to a 1:09.987 lap, the fastest of the weekend so far. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed a respectable P4, while teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. rounded out the top‑ten in P9. Mercedes struggled to find rhythm, with Lewis Hamilton only managing P7 and George Russell in P11, as the team worked on tyre warm‑up strategies for the notoriously bumpy Interlagos surface.
Motorsport Week’s detailed results echo the Formula 1 highlights, noting that the midfield battle was intense. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon posted the best time among the non‑top‑three teams in FP2, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.03 seconds. The session also saw a brief rain shower in the latter half, prompting teams to switch to intermediate tyres and providing a short window for drivers to test wet‑weather performance ahead of the race’s unpredictable weather forecast.
For Indian fans – timing and where to watch
Both practice sessions started at 10:30 IST and 14:30 IST respectively, giving Indian viewers a convenient window to catch the action live on FanCode, which holds the official streaming rights for the 2026 season in India. Re‑plays and highlights will also be available on the Formula 1 app and the official F1 YouTube channel, with commentary in English and Hindi.
Looking ahead, the data from Interlagos suggests Red Bull will enter qualifying as the clear favourite, but the midfield scramble – especially between Ferrari, Alpine and McLaren – could produce surprises on race day. With the Brazilian crowd known for its passionate support, the atmosphere is set to be electric, and Indian fans can expect a thrilling weekend that may reshape the early‑season championship standings.
Source: Formula.com