The data gathered in this first Free Practice session for the Brazilian Grad Prix is limited, so we also try to analyze the impressions from what was observed on track. The first impression—and somewhat paradoxically given the teams’ work—is that tire choice will play a crucial role this weekend, not just in the classic speed/durability ratio but also in how the cars behave. Cars showed somewhat unpredictable reactions when switching from one compound to another. Since this is a Sprint weekend, and with tire compounds one step harder than last season—making the soft tires the likely best choice for the short race—teams have been very conservative, running minimal programs, with Ferrari even using only a single set of hard tires for both drivers. This leaves the Sprint Qualifying filled with many unknowns.
McLaren: Norris vs Piastri battle already heating up
The only team showing something extra were McLaren. Lando Norris topped the timing sheets on the final lap, with Oscar Piastri consistently ahead throughout the session and enjoying good balance thanks to a rear setup that suited the Australian perfectly. Data shows Norris was fastest in the high-speed sectors, particularly in sector one, where he experimented with a different, fuller power delivery on the last attempt, especially through the run to Turn 4 and on the exit of the Arquibancadas. Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, was quicker in the central, slower section, which has a significant impact on overall lap time. The battle looks set to be close: despite the final times, the Australian showed a potential 1–2 tenth advantage on a flying lap. Norris, however, still has room to work on the setup, suggesting a millisecond-level duel between the Woking pair in the championship fight.
Red Bull still not dialed in, especially at the front. Mercedes strong on traction but soft tire uncertainty
Max Verstappen and his Red Bull still appeared a work in progress setup-wise: the front end was struggling and the Dutch driver didn’t look fully comfortable, with plenty of adjustments needed before qualifying. Ride height and balance are under scrutiny, and Laurent Mekies’ team has multiple variables to test for immediate performance. That said, engine performance is particularly crucial at this track, especially for traction, and Milton Keynes’ use of the Honda PU still looks conservative, leaving room for significant improvement.
Mercedes, by contrast, seemed to manage the hard tires well, exploiting their traction advantage—their strongest feature this season. However, when using softer compounds, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli struggled to maintain optimal grip and balance. Much will depend on whether Toto Wolff’s team can introduce mechanical countermeasures to overcome these issues on medium and soft tires ahead of the sprint qualifying.
Ferrari in the dark, confirms Sprint as experiment
Among the top teams, Ferrari clearly showed the most “original” strategy. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ran only one set of hard tires for the entire session, effectively going blind for qualifying regarding the SF25’s behavior on medium and soft tires. On one hand, Maranello keeps all options open: they can run the Sprint on softs (likely the better choice due to the harder Pirelli step this year) while preserving new medium sets for the race. On the other hand, the core idea seems to be an initial gamble on setup, using the Sprint as an experimental session. This approach mirrors Austin, where work during the short race significantly improved Ferrari’s performance. Saying that everything is still to be discovered seems truer than ever: the Sprint Qualifying will reveal how the setups have evolved and how drivers and cars perform on medium and soft tires for the first act of this penultimate round.
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