Calum Nicholas
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

McLaren have had their moments. They brought an upgrade package mid-European season and it looked like they had turned the corner but over the last few races it just feels like they've lost their way a little bit. It might be that they've stopped trying to bring new solutions to the car and are focusing all their efforts on 2027.

Two minutes to go, time to put in the last few laps.

Unlike the past few seasons, there is no sprint race at Sao Paulo this weekend so drivers will have another two practice sessions to take part in.

That will be good news for Arvid Lindblad and Rafael Camara who are driving here for the first time.

Lance Stroll has a tough little battle with his steering wheel. That does not look good.

Max Verstappen is on the radio to say "this is a workout without steering".

Good news from the Cadillac end of the garage, Colton Herta has completed 25 laps in this session. That should be enough for one point to complete the 40 points needed for his super licence.

Will we see him in the Cadillac seat next season?

Alpine rookie Gabriele Mini is now seventh on the leaderboard, the Italian driver has set a lap time of 1:12.569.

Liam Lawson completes the top 10 and behind him is Oliver Bearman, 11th in the Haas. Bearman is still yet to be confirmed for the 2027 season.

Meanwhile, Luke Browning is back in the Williams garage with a car issue.

Lando Norris continues to be the fastest driver in the first practice session. But Kimi Antonelli is not far behind.

Arvid Lindblad has been on the radio to say he took the exit road for safety reasons to avoid a collision.

We have just around 12 minutes left of the first session, everyone has bolted on a set of red soft tyres apart from Kimi Antonelli, Leonardo Fornaroli and Dino Beganovic.

Image source, Getty Images

It is a big weekend for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Sunday's race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is set to be Hamilton's 400th race in Formula 1.

Hamilton is only the second driver to reach 400 F1 races, the other driver is his former team-mate Fernando Alonso.

“It's kind of crazy, I never ever thought that I would be reaching numbers like that," Hamilton said on Thursday.

"It's crazy because I still feel young and regardless of the things that people say, you saw my pole last week, I still have the pace, I still have the speed and I still have the dedication which is most important and the focus.

"Yeah, for me, that number is kind of irrelevant. It's beautiful to be able to have that here in Brazil. I've heard of like some photographers who have been here for 500 races.”

2026 champion Lando Norris is the fastest driver out on track now.

The McLaren driver has clocked in a lap time of 1:11.717.

Kimi Antonelli is second, Max Verstappen third.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell make up the top five.

Image source, Getty Images

Yellow flagpublished at 16:10 GMT

16:10 GMT

The yellow flag has been waved again.

Alex Albon's Williams car has an issue but he makes his way into an open gate.

No issues there as Albon made a swift exit out of the track.

Kimi Antonelli has found his way back to the top of the leaderboard again, the Mercedes driver has clocked in a lap time of 1:11.799.

Max Verstappen is second and Lewis Hamilton third.

Could we see the trio on another podium again. Antonelli spoke of how special it was to celebrate his championship victory with Verstappen and Hamilton. He also framed their celebrations - I know I would do the same!

Image source, PA Media

Lots of fast laps happening now. Gabriel Bortoleto has put his car into the second spot, with a lap time of 1:12.614.

Franco Colapinto has found himself in the top three. Lovely fast lap from the Alpine driver. He is on a time of 1:13.140.

The Williams of Alex Albon is in the top 10 too, he is currently seventh behind his good friend George Russell.

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

3. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

5. Lando Norris (McLaren)

Calum Nicholas
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Reuters

Liam Lawson has had a really good year. He's performed well and he seems like he's on top of a lot of the things that he wasn't previously.

Leonardo Fornaroli, in the McLaren, has just popped his car into the top 10.

Lovely work from the rookie, who sits eighth with a time of 1:13.756.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has been on the radio to say that his gear shifts are "unacceptable".

The Red Bull driver has just pipped Kimi Antonelli to the top of the leaderboard by eight tenths of a second. Speedy.

It's like pass the parcel at the top of the leaderboard.

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is the fastest driver now, the new world champion clocks in a time of 1:12.777.

Max Verstappen is second in the Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari is third.

Image source, Getty Images