Sao Paulo GP 2026: First Practice Sees McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull in Strong Form
McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull lead the first practice session at the new Sao Paulo circuit, setting the tone for a thrilling 2026 season.
The inaugural practice session for the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, held at the newly upgraded Autódromo Internacional de São Paulo, kicked off with a showcase of speed and strategy from the top teams. Per Formula1.com, McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheet with a lap of 1:32.456, followed closely by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who completed the top three in 1:32.512 and 1:32.567 respectively. The session, which ran from 10:00 am IST, saw all teams pushing the limits of their 2026 power units, with the new hybrid engines delivering a noticeable uptick in power output compared to the 2025 season.
While McLaren’s performance was the headline, the session also highlighted the evolving competitiveness of the midfield. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda posted times within 0.3 seconds of the leaders, suggesting that the mid-field battle could be as fierce as the front‑row duel. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ George Russell, however, struggled to match the pace, with times hovering around 1:33.2, indicating potential setup issues that the teams will need to address before the race weekend.
Strategically, teams experimented with different tire compounds, with most opting for the hard and medium compounds to gauge durability on the newly resurfaced track. The data collected will be crucial for setting up the cars for the Saturday qualifying session, where the pole position will be contested. Early indications suggest that the track’s long, high‑speed corners will favor cars with strong straight‑line speed, a factor that could benefit the Red Bull and Ferrari machines.
For Indian fans, the Sao Paulo GP will be broadcast live on FanCode starting at 12:30 pm IST. The first practice session, which offers a glimpse into the teams’ preparations, will be available for streaming from 10:00 am IST. Keep an eye on the official F1 app for real‑time updates and driver commentary throughout the weekend.
Source: Formula1.com