Lando Norris Outpaces Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Grand Prix Practice

Lando Norris led the charge in the practice session ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, outpacing his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg of Kick Sauber. This session was particularly crucial as it marked the return of the Sprint format for the fifth time this season, allowing teams only one hour to prepare their cars for the upcoming Sprint Qualifying.

Sao Paulo Grand Prix Practice Highlights

The practice session began just after 11:30 AM local time, with all 20 drivers starting on hard compound tyres. The tight layout of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace quickly became apparent, leading to congested conditions at the pit lane exit as cars scrambled to complete their runs.

Initial Incidents

Drama unfolded early in the session when Yuki Tsunoda lost control of his Red Bull and crashed into the barriers at the Descida do Lago complex. He sustained damage to both the front and rear of his car, resulting in a challenging start to his weekend.

Leaderboards and Lap Times

After the initial flurry, George Russell took charge momentarily with a lap time of 1m 11.188s, closely followed by reigning champion Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. However, as the session progressed and softer tyres were tested, times began to fluctuate. Norris set a standout time of 1m 09.975s on medium tyres, closely shadowed by Piastri.

• Top Times:
  • Lando Norris: 1m 09.975s
  • Oscar Piastri: Just behind Norris
  • Nico Hulkenberg: Impressive third position

Other Notable Performances

Hulkenberg’s strong performance was notable, placing him just ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. Russell ended the session in sixth after initially leading but fell behind the pace set by his competitors.

• Standout Drivers:
  • Gabriel Bortoleto: Fifth place
  • Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman: Strong showings from Haas
  • Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton: Lower than expected in P18 and P19

As the session concluded, teams returned to the paddock to make crucial setup adjustments in anticipation of Sprint Qualifying, scheduled for 3:30 PM local time. This quick turnaround will be critical for drivers aiming to excel in the race weekend.