McLaren Dominates F1 Brazil GP FP1 with Norris Leading Piastri 1-2

Lando Norris spearheaded a strong start for McLaren at the Brazilian Grand Prix, topping the sole free practice session ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. This McLaren 1-2 finish at Interlagos sets a promising tone for the sprint weekend.

Why it matters:

McLaren's dominant performance in FP1 suggests they are strong contenders for the sprint race and potentially the main Grand Prix. Norris, who recently reclaimed the championship lead from Piastri, is keen to maintain his momentum. A strong showing here could solidify McLaren's position as a top team, especially with Red Bull and Ferrari drivers having a surprisingly quiet session.

The Details:

• McLaren's Pace: Lando Norris clocked a 1m09.975s, just 0.023s faster than Oscar Piastri's 1m09.998s. They were the only drivers to dip below the 1m10s barrier.
• Tyre Strategy: The session saw teams primarily using C2 (hard) tires for longer runs before switching to C3 (medium) for qualifying simulations in the final 15 minutes. Norris and Piastri's top times were set on mediums.
• Surprising Front-Runners: Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg secured a surprising third place, six-tenths behind the McLarens, followed by Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber).
• Championship Contenders Struggle: Reigning world champion Max Verstappen finished a distant 17th, abandoning his final soft-tire flyer. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton also had a low-key session, finishing 18th and 19th respectively, as they focused on race pace rather than qualifying laps.
• Incidents: Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) suffered front and rear wing damage after going off track at Turn 4, costing him valuable practice time. Verstappen also had a minor off at the same corner but recovered without damage.

The Big Picture:

This Brazilian GP marks the fifth of six sprint weekends in the 2025 F1 season, making FP1 crucial for setup ahead of sprint qualifying. McLaren's immediate pace positions them favorably, especially as key rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari opted for different strategies, potentially saving their full pace for later sessions. The performance of rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, the first Brazilian in eight years to participate in the Sao Paulo race, will also be closely watched on home soil.

What's Next:

Sprint qualifying is set to begin later today, where the teams will reveal their true one-lap pace. The performance gap seen in FP1 between McLaren and the championship contenders like Verstappen, Leclerc, and Hamilton, will likely shrink as all drivers push for pole position. McLaren's strong start, however, puts them in a prime position to challenge for top honors throughout the weekend. Look for Red Bull and Ferrari to rebound significantly in qualifying as they unveil their true speed.