Formula 1 | Brazil, Free: Norris ahead of Russell and Bearman, Verstappen will be penalized in the race

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix began with the only free practice session of the weekend in Brazil, since it is a Sprint format. A busy session as the drivers had to discover a completely new asphalt with only an hour of testing to get used to it and gauge tire degradation.

Max Verstappen will take a five-place penalty in the race for an engine change, his second quota violation this season. The Dutchman said he did not know what was going on yesterday in the conference, but he will therefore move back five positions on Sunday.

Sergio Pérez is using a new chassis, and he has used an old specification so as not to suffer a penalty. The Mexican made the request to Red Bull, who granted his request. On the other hand, the team has confirmed that it will not make a new one, so close to the end of the season.

Oliver Bearman is therefore behind the wheel this Friday at Haas, since Kevin Magnussen is not feeling well. The British driver will therefore compete in the Qualif Sprint this afternoon, and he will also do the Sprint tomorrow early in the afternoon.

In this third race of a hat-trick, there are few developments. But McLaren F1 surprised the paddock by bringing an unexpected and very important novelty, a new rear wing. This is a new version of the medium downforce rear wing, which is more effective.

McLaren also has a new beam wing at the base of the rear wing, and this is also the case for Stake, which has a new version of this part. The Swiss team is the only one to have something new with McLaren, and it also brings a new front suspension.

On the other hand, Aston Martin took to the floor at Suzuka, which was the fourth race of the season! Once again, the development of the Silverstone team turns into a fiasco, like last year.

The drivers therefore quickly left the pits to test the new asphalt, and to work on the car settings. They all wore medium tires, and it was Oscar Piastri who set the first reference time in 1'13″478, ahead of Pierre Gasly and Sergio Pérez.

George Russell took the fourth time and Charles Leclerc the fifth, then Max Verstappen came to stand just behind him. But the gaps were tight, before Piastri improved to 1'13″200. Norris then did better in 1'12″641. Russell also improved to 1'12″276.

With brand new asphalt, it is obvious that the times improve throughout the weekend. Alex Albon placed third, and Pérez took the best time in 1'12″099. Russell did better in 1'11″806.

Verstappen took the lead in 1'11″712, as the times continued to drop, and despite the fact that he had complained just before that his setup wasn't working, but that he didn't want to remove a fin, certainly from the rear wing.

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were the first to test the soft tires, and the only ones to do so in the first part of the season. The New Zealander placed fifth between the Ferraris, and the Japanese only set the 14th time.

Hamilton moved up to second place halfway through the session. However, the seven-time world champion was not satisfied with the running of the car. Fernando Alonso placed fourth behind the two Mercedes and ahead of Pérez.

Russell tested the soft tires 20 minutes from the end of the session and set a time of 1'10″791. Franco Colapinto took the second fastest time on the soft tires but was quickly overtaken.

Lawson notably set the third provisional time on medium tires, beaten by Oliver Bearman, who took the second time, then Alex Albon, third. Norris then got in between the two drivers, and the Ferrari drivers moved back into the top 6. Alonso then separated them.

Leclerc improved but remained sixth behind Albon, who had improved, while Norris took the best time at the checkered flag in 1'10″610. He finally beat Russell and the surprising Bearman for a 100% Free Practice podium. British.