Formula 1 returns to Interlagos for the opening practice session of the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, with FP1 scheduled to begin at 16:30 CET and finish at 17:30 CET. Ferrari will be among the main teams to watch after showing impressive pace in Mexico, while newly crowned world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his first official appearance since securing the Formula 1 title.
Good afternoon and welcome to ScuderiaFans.com! We are bringing you live coverage of the first free practice session of the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend, with minute-by-minute updates as the drivers return to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Follow all the action as it unfolds at one of Formula 1’s most popular circuits.
2026 Brazilian GP FP1 live: Practice begins at 16:30 CET
The opening session at Interlagos will last one hour, from 16:30 to 17:30 CET, as the teams begin their preparations for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Fans can check the complete 2026 Brazilian GP weekend schedule for the remaining practice sessions, qualifying and race start times.
It will be another conventional Formula 1 practice session, with the Sprint portion of the championship calendar now complete. From Brazil until the end of the season, every Grand Prix weekend will follow the traditional format rather than the shortened Sprint schedule.
Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton face scrutiny after Mexico GP controversy
There are already several important storylines heading into Friday’s running, particularly for Ferrari. The Scuderia demonstrated outstanding competitiveness at the Mexican Grand Prix but failed to fully capitalise on its performance, largely because of the on-track disagreements between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Those tensions continued beyond the race itself, with the two Ferrari drivers expressing their views in interviews, including during the build-up to the São Paulo Grand Prix. The ongoing disagreement between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc adds another element of interest as the Italian team returns to the circuit.
After the pace Ferrari displayed in Mexico, the first practice session in Brazil will offer an initial opportunity to observe how the SF-26 performs at Interlagos.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli returns as Formula 1 world champion
Another major focus will be Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who makes his first official Formula 1 appearance since becoming world champion. The young Italian begins the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend with the title already secured, adding further interest to Friday’s opening session.
Interlagos remains one of the most popular venues on the Formula 1 calendar, admired by drivers and spectators alike. With Ferrari seeking to make the most of its renewed competitiveness and Andrea Kimi Antonelli returning as the newly crowned champion, the Brazilian Grand Prix promises an intriguing weekend.
Follow our live coverage on ScuderiaFans.com for minute-by-minute updates from FP1 at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, beginning at 16:30 CET.
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