Norris leads in tight start at Interlagos; Alonso celebrates his start
The last two F1 world champions, face to face. For now, that is the scenario that leaves the beginning of the Brazilian F1 GPwith another of the last kings of the F1stuck. Lando Norris dominated the first free practice sessions held in Interlagos, in the José Carlos Pace Autodrome in Sao Paulowith only 82 thousandths of an advantage over the newly crowned Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedesand with Max Verstappen in third position, 0″236 off the best, one tenth behind Andrea.
Things started out tight, although it is still just the beginning and things can change a lot, especially due to the threat of rain for qualifying (44% probability), and especially, in the race, on a Sunday where there is between a 90 and 100% chance that it will rain throughout the morning and throughout the race. But that will be a problem when it arrives.
For now, the drivers were able to start running dry to adapt to the circuit and begin to adjust the balance of their cars. Among them, he highlighted that McLaren continue bringing news at this end of the course and Norris He worked with paraffin on his front wing to analyze the air flow that is projected towards the rest of the car. And with those improvements, Norris started strong in a fight that seems tight between the leading men.
Verstappen He arrives at this track after achieving three wins in the last 4 races and for him to start there is a sign that he should be a candidate. And more, if the rain appears.
And after them, it began Lewis Hamilton with his Ferrari at 0″324. The start of the Englishman must be unrepresentative, as he usually improves a lot from Friday to Saturday to be there in the fight for pole. And it remains to know the rhythm of a Charles Leclerc who gave his seat to the young man Beganovic in another session full of ‘rookies’, as in Mexico.
This time there were not 10 young people like in FP1 in Mexicobut up to 6 unusual talents. Audi’s F3 driver, Slater, drove again, this time in Hülkenberg’s car. The Italian Minì got into Gasly’s Alpine. Colton Herta drove ‘Checo’ Pérez’s Cadillac and Beganovic drove Leclerc’s Ferrariwho arrived late to the circuit due to his recent paternity this week. Fornaroli piloted the Piastri and Browning’s McLaren, Carlos Sainz’s Williamswho will get into the car Grove in FP2, aware of his few points options with a car lacking in performance.
Alonso starts in the area he wanted to be in
Fernando Alonso had an uneventful start and was encouraging in terms of his options to fight in the middle zone for the points, or at least, to be in the battle.
The Asturian assured on Thursday that his car could continue with the positive trend shown by its chassis in Austin and Mexico and that it could be a competitive weekend for Aston Martin, hoping that Honda of Mexico’s problems would not be repeated. What did you mean by ‘competitive’? It indicated that it was to finish from 12th to 14th in classificationbecause it was clear to me that from those starting positions, I could aspire to points in the race. And so far, he started 13th.
Of course, the Beganovic’s Ferrari, which was 21stunder normal conditions it will be ahead on Saturday. Also the Audi Hulkenbergdriven in FP1 by Slater in last place. That means two places less in the general theory, that is, 15th.
We remember that Interlagos is similar in many characteristics to Zandvoort regarding the performance of the car, and there Alonso He rose from 18th to 9th in the race due to his better degradation. We will see what happens in Brazilespecially in the rain, where the good aerodynamic grip of your car can be of good help if the FIA allows racing on wet asphalt in the Sunday event.
