In the first practice session for the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver ahead of George Russell and Oliver Bearman.
The session, held at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, was crucial for teams and drivers as it served as the only opportunity to gather data ahead of the sprint qualifying later in the day.
Lando Norris’ performance was particularly significant given his ongoing battle with Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship, especially with the Red Bull star facing a five-place grid penalty due to a new engine installation.
As the session commenced under dry conditions with track temperatures soaring to 52 degrees Celsius, drivers quickly began to push their limits on the newly resurfaced track. The resurfacing had changed grip levels, and many drivers struggled initially to find their rhythm.
Norris set an early pace that hinted at his potential dominance throughout the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend. However, it was Mercedes’ George Russell who briefly took control of the session after switching to soft tires, which allowed him to improve his lap time significantly before Norris reclaimed his lead in the final moments.
Russell ultimately finished second with a time of 1:10.791, just 0.181 seconds behind Norris, while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman made headlines by securing third place in his debut outing, replacing the unwell Kevin Magnussen.
Bearman impressed by securing third place with a time of 1:10.805, showcasing his potential ahead of a full-time seat expected in 2025. His performance added excitement to an already unpredictable weekend, particularly as he navigated the challenging conditions and grip levels that characterized the session.
Oscar Piastri also had a solid outing for McLaren, finishing fourth with a time of 1:10.950. The Australian’s consistent laps helped team papaya secure two positions in the top four, further solidifying their competitive stance as they aim to capitalize on Verstappen’s grid penalty this weekend.
Williams’ Alex Albon put in a commendable effort to finish fifth with a time of 1:10.955, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz placed sixth and seventh respectively. Leclerc reported issues with grip early in the session but managed to improve as he adapted to the track conditions.
Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth in the sister Haas, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly having completed the top 10. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda set their best times on the medium rubber, taking P11 and P12 respectively, with Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas ending up in P13.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen led the way with a 1m 11.712s on medium tyres, but ended up only in P14 after bailing out of his soft-tyre qualifying simulation lap.
The session was marked by several complaints regarding ride quality, particularly from Hamilton and Russell, who noted that despite the resurfacing efforts at Interlagos, the track remained bumpy and challenging for setting up their cars.
Hamilton ultimately ended up in 15th place after struggling with his medium tires and encountering traffic during his laps. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon, Sergio Perez and Zhou Guanyu completed the FP1 order
As the opening practice for 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix concluded, teams experimented with different tyre strategies, with many opting for soft tires to gauge performance ahead of sprint qualifying.
The tyre management aspect became critical as drivers sought to preserve their softs for later sessions while still aiming for competitive lap times.
