FP1 report and highlights from the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: FP1: Perez edges

Sergio Perez narrowly set the pace during Friday’s first practice session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen, as the third and final F1 Sprint weekend of the season got under way.

Given the Sprint format, FP1 took on greater importance than the usual Friday programme, with only 60 minutes available for teams to understand and fine-tune their cars ahead of qualifying at the technical Interlagos circuit.

READ MORE: Unpredictable weather, a brilliant track and the return of the Sprint – Sao Paulo is set to deliver on all fronts

After drivers spent the early stages gathering data on the hard and medium tyre compounds – Verstappen leading with a hard-shod time of 1m 13.575s – the first sets of softs appeared close to the halfway mark, leading to a flurry of improvements.

Perez triggered the move to the red-marked rubber, working his way down to a 1m 11.853s, with Verstappen initially slotting into P2, 0.008s back, as the reigning double world champion reported over the radio that his RB18 “doesn’t turn”.

In the closing minutes of the session, Leclerc would pip the struggling Verstappen by 0.004s to split the Red Bulls, after Ferrari made a late switch to the soft tyres – Carlos Sainz taking fourth, just under two-tenths back.

Mercedes…