Liam Lawson has highlighted the intense competition within the midfield as the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend progresses at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. The Racing Bulls driver observed the tight margins after Friday’s Free Practice sessions, with qualifying scheduled for later today, Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The 2026 Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo marks the twentieth round of the championship. Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 took place yesterday, Friday, November 6, under largely dry conditions, despite earlier forecasts of changeable weather.
During the first Free Practice session for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Lando Norris set the fastest time for McLaren with a 1:11.717. Newly crowned World Champion Kimi Antonelli placed second for Mercedes, 0.082 seconds behind. Max Verstappen completed the top three for Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton secured fourth position for Ferrari, followed by George Russell in the second Mercedes. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished sixth. Gabriele Mini, driving for Alpine in place of Pierre Gasly, was seventh.
Gabriel Bortoleto for Audi and Franco Colapinto for Alpine were eighth and ninth respectively. Liam Lawson rounded out the top ten for Racing Bulls with a lap time of 1:12.715.
Oliver Bearman, driving for Haas, finished FP1 in twelfth position, while Lawson’s Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad was fourteenth.
The second Free Practice session saw Kimi Antonelli top the timesheets for Mercedes, recording a 1:10.763. Lando Norris was second, 0.253 seconds adrift, with Max Verstappen again in third.
George Russell and Oscar Piastri completed the top five for Mercedes and McLaren respectively. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc placed sixth and seventh for Ferrari.
Gabriel Bortoleto was eighth, and Isack Hadjar ninth. Oliver Bearman secured tenth position for Haas, 1.228 seconds behind Antonelli.
Franco Colapinto finished eleventh for Alpine, just 0.005 seconds behind Bearman. Arvid Lindblad improved to twelfth for Racing Bulls with a 1:12.008, while Liam Lawson was thirteenth with a 1:12.042.
Lawson’s FP2 time was over half a second quicker than his FP1 effort, yet he dropped three positions. The gap between Lawson and Bearman in FP2 was 0.051 seconds. Lindblad and Lawson were separated by 0.034 seconds.
The Racing Bulls drivers completed 36 laps each in FP2. Lawson noted the competitive nature of the midfield. He stated that the team would review data overnight to optimise the car for qualifying.
Today has been somewhat fine overall. We made some changes to the car between FP1 and FP2, but there’s definitely more to be made ahead of tomorrow. We’ll spend tonight reviewing everything and working out what we need to do to get the car into the best possible window for tomorrow.
Lawson further commented on the unpredictable weather conditions expected for the weekend. He emphasised the importance of a cohesive performance.
Arvid Lindblad, in his first time driving at Interlagos, improved his lap time by 1.030 seconds in FP2. He expressed increased comfort and confidence with the car after setup changes.
Lindblad acknowledged the tight midfield and the uncertain weather. He believes Racing Bulls can still make progress.
Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are confirmed drivers for Racing Bulls in the 2026 season. The team has performed strongly, leading the midfield and holding fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane recently signed a new contract until 2031. This provides stability for the team, which uses Red Bull Ford power units.
Oliver Bearman is a full-time driver for Haas in 2026, with Rafael Camara confirmed as his teammate for 2027. Haas utilises Ferrari engines.
Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly form the Alpine driver lineup for 2026. Alpine has transitioned to Mercedes power units for the current season.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, known as Interlagos, is a 4.309km anti-clockwise circuit with 15 corners. It features significant elevation changes and is situated at 765m above sea level.
Interlagos is renowned for its unpredictable weather, which can shift rapidly from dry to wet. This characteristic often leads to dramatic races and strategic challenges.
The forecast for today’s qualifying session indicates unsettled conditions with a significant risk of rain or thunderstorms. Precipitation is more likely after 2 PM local time, potentially bringing heavy rainfall and affecting car stability due to wind gusts.
Qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix is scheduled for 3 PM local time. The combination of a tight midfield and uncertain weather conditions will present a considerable challenge for all teams and drivers.
