Perez takes the first free practice session in Brazil ahead of Leclerc and his partner Verstappen, separated by just 8 thousandths. Let's analyze the situation of the various teams.
A different weekend than usual
Il penultimate weekend of the season sees the return to Brazil, for the third and last time, of sprint qualification. This messes up weekend plans: the qualification actual is anticipated to Friday afternoon, While the sprint takes the place of the latter al Saturday. A FP1 more important than usual, therefore, since it represents the only opportunity to decide the trim before the entry into force of the parc ferme.
Close fight at the top
Sergio Perez, who is wearing a special helmet on the occasion of the film's release Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, closes in first place, 4 thousandths ahead of Charles Leclerc and 8 in front of the partner Verstappen. Sainz (who will serve 5 penalty positions on the grid on Sunday) finishes in fourth place, while the two Mercedes of Hamilton e Russell (with medium tires compared to the softs of the top 4) I'm fifth and sixth.
The point on the others: Vettel commands
Hag is the first of the others al seventh place, in front of Mick Schumacher, Bottas e gasly. The Frenchman of Alpha Tauri is back from a hat-trick of penalties in Japan, the United States and Mexico who put him on the verge of disqualification. The number 10 will therefore have to be more careful than usual both during the sprint and during Sunday's race if he wants to avoid being the first rider to miss a weekend since Grosjean in 2012.
McLaren e Alpine, the two teams that are playing the fourth place in the constructors' championship, they don't even have a rider in the top 10. They don't have to despair, though: they have never ridden on a red tyre. Alonso e Or with close 11th and 13th, while Norris (reduced from afood poisoning who knocked him out yesterday) e Ricciardo they settle for 15th and last position respectively.
The appointment is at 20 for the qualifications!
