Lando Norris dominated the Brazilian Grand Prix FP1 long-run analysis, combining the fastest single lap at Interlagos with an impressive race simulation that left Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Max Verstappen more than a second per lap behind on average. The McLaren driver completed 13 valid laps on soft tyres, recording an average of 1:14.883 in the longest stint analysed during the opening practice session.
For Ferrari, the figures provide an interesting early comparison. Lewis Hamilton averaged 1:16.024 across nine valid laps, putting the British driver close to George Russell and Max Verstappen but well adrift of the McLaren benchmark. However, the sizeable difference should not automatically be interpreted as McLaren’s true race-pace advantage. FP1 long runs are primarily designed to gather data, and variations in fuel loads, car settings and run programmes can significantly influence the results.
Brazilian GP FP1 long-run analysis: Norris dominates on soft tyres
Lando Norris produced a particularly impressive sequence of laps at the beginning of his race simulation. The McLaren driver opened his stint with a 1:14.526 before improving to 1:14.190, 1:14.161 and 1:14.132. Those four consecutive laps demonstrated exceptional early speed, with further competitive times in the 1:14 range following before the pace gradually declined during the second half of the run.
In the closing stages, Lando Norris was predominantly lapping in the 1:15 range, eventually finishing with a 1:15.422. That progression is consistent with a reduction in tyre performance over the course of the stint, although it would be inaccurate to attribute every variation exclusively to degradation.
Nevertheless, the final average of 1:14.883 across 13 valid laps was comfortably the quickest recorded among the simulations examined. The combination of strong initial speed and sustained performance made the McLaren run particularly noteworthy.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton close to Russell and Verstappen but behind McLaren
The comparison with the other drivers using soft tyres makes Lando Norris’s advantage even more apparent. George Russell recorded an average lap time of 1:15.920 across ten valid laps, while Lewis Hamilton completed nine representative laps at an average of 1:16.024.
Max Verstappen was marginally slower than the Ferrari driver, averaging 1:16.059 across nine laps. That placed Lewis Hamilton just 0.035 seconds per lap ahead of Max Verstappen, while George Russell held an advantage of 0.104 seconds over the Ferrari driver.
All three were more than a second per lap slower than Lando Norris in the recorded simulations, although their individual stint patterns also revealed some interesting differences.
George Russell began with laps in the low 1:15 range before alternating between high 1:15s and 1:16s. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, increasingly recorded lap times above 1:16 during the second half of his stint.
Lewis Hamilton started his Ferrari run with a 1:15.312 before gradually losing pace, eventually recording a 1:16.972 and then returning to more competitive lap times. Although the seven-time world champion did not demonstrate the same initial speed as Lando Norris, his overall figures were broadly comparable with those of George Russell and Max Verstappen.
These differences can be explored further through the F1 Practice & Long-Run Analysis, which allows comparisons of practice pace, tyre compounds and representative stints.
Brazilian GP FP1 long-run results: average lap times and tyre compounds
The following figures summarise the long-run simulations analysed during the opening practice session at Interlagos:
| Driver | Tyre compound | Average lap time | Valid laps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lando Norris | Soft | 1:14.883 | 13 |
| George Russell | Soft | 1:15.920 | 10 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Soft | 1:16.024 | 9 |
| Max Verstappen | Soft | 1:16.059 | 9 |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Medium | 1:16.352 | 7 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed seven valid laps on medium tyres, recording an average of 1:16.352. His figures are included for completeness, although the different compound makes a direct comparison with the soft-tyre simulations less meaningful.
Is McLaren the favourite? Norris’s advantage needs careful interpretation
The most significant aspect of Lando Norris’s performance is not simply the average advantage of more than one second per lap. It is the ability to combine the fastest single-lap performance with a relatively long and apparently highly competitive race simulation.
McLaren arrived at Interlagos with a package of four aerodynamic upgrades, including a new front wing, a revised rear assembly and modifications to elements of the floor. The early indications are certainly encouraging for the team, particularly given the pace demonstrated by Lando Norris during both short and longer runs.
However, the FP1 data cannot yet establish how much performance those upgrades have delivered. Nor can it confirm whether the MCL40 has genuinely established such a substantial advantage over Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull under comparable conditions.
For Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton’s long-run figures suggest that his performance was much closer to George Russell and Max Verstappen than to Lando Norris during the opening session. The recorded gap is significant, but different fuel loads and testing priorities mean that a reliable competitive hierarchy cannot yet be established.
As the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend continues, further practice running will provide additional evidence about the relative performance of the leading teams. For now, McLaren has delivered the most impressive long-run figures, while Ferrari still needs a clearer picture of how its race pace compares under representative conditions.
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