© Getty ImagesFree Practice Update – São Paulo Grand Prix 2021Bulls in Brazil and underway with free practice.
WelcometotheAutódromoJoséCarlosPace,orasit’smorefamouslyknown,Interlagos.It’scarnivaltimehereinBrazilandwithonlyfourracesleftthereisabuzzintheair.
There is plenty of history here at Interlagos with the circuit dating back to 1938. The first grand prix was held here in 1973 and Brazil had hosted a race every year until the COVID-19 pandemic last year. But we’re back and looking forward to some spectacular racing.
Brazil has been a happy hunting ground for us, claiming five wins here over the years, including 2019, when Max took the top spot. So, we’re certainly hoping for a repeat.
Unique Helmet Design For Interlagos© Getty Images
This year, the 4.309km track will host the final sprint weekend of the season, with Qualifying taking place on Friday, Sprint race on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Sunday’s race will be over 71-laps creating a total distance of 305.90km. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas holds the track record of 1:10.540.741, which he set in 2018.
With qualifying taking place on Friday afternoon, the Bulls were keen to get out on track as soon as the first session of the weekend – Free Practice One – went green.
Checo came out first, with Max closely behind and both drivers started the session on medium tyres. Five minutes into the session and the Bulls were sitting in P1 and P2, with Max top of the timesheet.
As the session progressed, the times improved, and drivers started moving onto the soft tyres. Max finished the session in P2 with a best time of 1:09.417, just 0.367s behind Lewis Hamilton in P1. Max’s lap count for the session was 22. Checo completed 28 laps, his fastest lap was 1:09.492 and saw him finish P3 on the timesheet.
On The Edge Of The Track Limits© Getty Images
Position | Driver | Team | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Lewis Hamilton | Max Verstappen | Sergio Pérez | Valtteri Bottas | Pierre Gasly | Carlos Sainz | Charles Leclerc | Esteban Ocon | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
Mercedes | Red Bull Racing Honda | Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | AlphaTauri | Ferrari | Ferrari | Alpine | Alpine | Aston Martin |
1.09.050 | 1.09.417 | 1.09.492 | 1.09.567 | 1.09.880 | 1.10.124 | 1.10.142 | 1.10.145 | 1.10.201 | 1.10.352 |
The last hour of track time before Saturday’s Sprint race saw Checo hit the track first on a set of used soft tyres. Max joined him after 12 minutes of the session had elapsed. Checo went top early on in the session with a 1:13.219. Max topped that with his first flying lap setting a time of 1:12.102. Later in the session, several other drivers started posting faster times, whilst the Bulls were in the pits.
With half the session remaining the Bulls returned to the track on medium tyres to work on their race paces and due to that, the Bulls didn’t improve on the times they set earlier in the session.
After a total of 26 laps, Max finished the session in P2, behind Fernando Alonso. Checo finished in P6 after completing 29 laps.
Tackling FP2 In Mediums At Interlagos© Getty Images
Position | Driver | Team | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Fernando Alonso | Max Verstappen | Valtteri Bottas | Esteban Ocon | Lewis Hamilton | Sergio Pérez | Antonio Giovinazzi | Carlos Sainz | Charles Leclerc | Kimi Räikkönen |
Alpine | Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | Alpine | Mercedes | Red Bull Racing Honda | Alfa Romeo | Ferrari | Ferrari | Alfa Romeo |
1.11.238 | 1.12.102 | 1.12.355 | 1.12.407 | 1.12.741 | 1.12.903 | 1.12.997 | 1.13.078 | 1.13.099 | 1.13.355 |