Norris tops opening practice at Brazilian Grand Prix as rookie Antonelli follows closely

Lando Norris recorded the quickest lap in the opening practice session for the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, completing a 1:11.717 on soft tyres. He finished 0.082 seconds ahead of rookie Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton trailing by two and three tenths respectively.

Verstappen voiced concerns over persistent gearbox downshift problems and a growing difficulty in steering the car, describing the issues as "unacceptable" on the team radio.

The session featured numerous lock-ups at Turn 1, affecting both experienced drivers and newcomers. Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara, making his F1 debut with Haas, posted the 18th-fastest time, nearly nine tenths slower than teammate Oliver Bearman. Alpine’s Gabriele Mini out-qualified his teammate Franco Colapinto, finishing seventh. Other test drivers placed outside the top ten, including McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli (11th) and Williams’ Luke Browning (17th).

Cadillac’s Colton Herta completed a trouble-free run apart from a heavy lock-up, positioning him to secure the final point needed for an FIA super licence, which would make him eligible for a 2027 seat if the team chooses to promote him.

Ferrari’s Dino Beganovic and Audi’s Freddie Slater encountered technical problems that limited their soft-tyre running, with Slater reporting a sudden engine shutdown that prompted a red flag twelve minutes into the session.