Norris pips Piastri in solo practice at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

McLaren’s Lando Norris has topped the sole practice session of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, pipping his teammate Oscar Piastri, as Formula 1 heads into the sprint format.

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

Brazil hosts yet another sprint format, meaning the 20-car field has a single hour of practice to lock in their setups ahead of sprint qualifying and the sprint race. 

Norris set the fastest lap of the session with a one-minute, 9.972-second lap, which was narrowly quicker than his teammate, Piastri, who is trying to regain his championship lead this weekend. Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top three, 0.619s behind. 

However, it was not smooth sailing for some drivers as Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda hit the barrier early on, after spinning off the exit kerb of turn four, costing the Japanese driver half the session as the team repaired his car. He was able to get out later on, equipped with the soft tyres. 

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton also had his own moment late on in the session as he was sent spinning as he exited Mergulho. The seven-time world champion was able to continue without further issues. 

Franco Colapinto completes 2026 Alpine driver line-up

So, who finished where in FP1?

1. Lando Norris, McLaren
2. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.023
3. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber +0.619s
4. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +0.631s
5. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber +0.641s 
6. George Russell, Mercedes +0.670
7. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +0.706s
8. Carlos Sainz, Williams +0.711s
9. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls +0.732s
10. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.769s
11. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +0.819s
12. Alexander Albon, Williams +0.832s
13. Esteban Ocon, Haas +0.931s
14. Oliver Bearman, Haas +0.986s
15. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +1.096s
16. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +1.185s
17. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +1.393s
18. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +1.518s
19. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +1.551s
20. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing +1.788s 

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Franco Colapinto completes 2026 Alpine driver line-up
• Oliver Bearman inches away from race ban ahead of Sao Paulo Grand Prix
• Williams drop Gulf livery ahead of Sao Paulo weekend
• Williams Racing announce rebranding ahead of 2026 F1 season
• Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Tensions rise ahead of final four races
• Sao Paulo Grand Prix: the latest weather report ahead of crucial sprint

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.