Lewis Hamilton raised concerns about tyre deterioration during the opening practice session of the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, prompting Ferrari to adjust its FP1 programme at Interlagos. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion questioned whether another flying lap would be worthwhile before suggesting that the team switch its attention to race-pace simulations.
During the session, Lewis Hamilton contacted his race engineer, Carlo Santi, to find out whether other drivers had managed to improve their lap times on a second attempt. His concern centred on the condition of the tyres, which he felt had already deteriorated significantly.
Lewis Hamilton questions tyre performance during Brazilian GP FP1
“Did anyone manage to improve on their second attempt?” Lewis Hamilton asked over the team radio. Carlo Santi responded by referring to Max Verstappen’s experience: “Max tried, but he was six tenths slower than on his previous lap.”
The information reinforced Lewis Hamilton’s concerns about attempting another qualifying-style lap on the same set of tyres. With tyre performance already declining, the Ferrari driver suggested changing the team’s immediate priorities.
Ferrari switches to race-pace simulation after Hamilton’s tyre concerns
“I’d say we can come back in. The tyres are very worn now, so it’s better to focus on race pace,” Lewis Hamilton told his engineer.
Ferrari immediately accepted the seven-time world champion’s suggestion, confirming that the team would move on to its long-run simulation programme rather than continue pursuing another fast lap.
The decision shifted the focus from single-lap performance to gathering information about the car’s behaviour over a longer distance, an important part of preparing for the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
The relevant practice-session lap times and longer-run performance can also be explored through the F1 Practice & Long-Run Analysis tool, which allows comparisons between drivers and tyre compounds when sufficient session data is available.
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