Lewis Hamilton proved the pace will be rapid around Interlagos this weekend, setting several new lap records as he led Practice 1 at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The newly crowned four-time world champion didn’t waste much time setting an initial new fastest ever lap with his first flying lap, from there the tenths were chipped away as he tested the single lap performance of the Supersoft tyre, eventually resting with a 1:09.202s.
Despite the blue skies in Sao Paulo, most of the teams were completing their Practice programs in the morning as rain is forecast to arrive in the afternoon that meant lower fuel runs and race simulations were done in the first 90 minutes of action.
One team that would miss out, however, was Toro Rosso as Brendon Hartley suffered an engine failure after just 15 minutes, coming to a halt on the main straight. His problem would lead to investigations of the sister car of Pierre Gasly, with another problem found leaving the Frenchman garage-bound.
For the rest, it was all about data gathering with Mercedes looking tough to beat at the front. For Hamilton’s immediate pace, teammate Valtteri Bottas was right behind in second just over a tenth covering the two Silver Arrows.
The Finn would be four-tenths clear of countryman Kimi Raikkonen in third, who had the two Red Bulls in close proximity to the Ferrari in fourth and fifth. Sebastian Vettel was hampered by a spin at Pinheirinho early on as the German was only sixth.
Felipe Massa got his bid for one last good result at his home race off to a strong start showing good pace to take the top midfield spot in seventh for Williams. McLaren continued their recent progress with both cars high up as Stoffel Vandoorne took eighth and Fernando Alonso P10.
It wouldn’t be a top 10 without a Force India this season and Esteban Ocon ensured that remained the case in ninth. His team-mate for the first session was GP3 champion and fellow Mercedes junior George Russell and, despite a few early delays, the young Briton was impressive just six-tenths slower in 12th.
The two Haas’ of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen followed in 13th and 14th as the American team opted to wait until Practice 2 until allowing Friday driver Antonio Giovinazzi in the car, ensuring their race drivers got dry running in.
The two Renault’s were down in 15th and 16th with both cars involved in moments during Practice 1. First, Lewis Hamilton was forced onto the grass at Juncao as Nico Hulkenberg went up the inside of the Mercedes with everyone backing up to get a clean lap, then, later, Carlos Sainz would be gestured to by Vettel after holding up the Ferrari in the Senna ‘S’.
The two Sauber’s would complete the representative order as F2 champion Charles Leclerc out-paced regular race driver and likely 2018 teammate Marcus Ericsson by a tenth of a second in his latest Friday run.
Towards the end many completed race simulations with the threat of rain in the afternoon, the common theme was a lack of grip with drivers sliding on the worn Supersoft compound as well as blistering on the front-left tyre, pointing to a possible two-stop race.
The gap over a single lap for Mercedes wouldn’t translate either with Red Bull, in particular, matching the Brackley team’s pace.
