F1-EL1: Hamilton ahead of Rosberg in Brazil

On a route where he has never won, Lewis Hamilton got the best start during the first free practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The pilot Mercedes, who showed off a helmet paying tribute to Ayrton Senna, was the fastest at the end of the hour and a half of driving with a reference lap completed in 1'13″543 in medium tires.

Nico Rosberg climbs into second position, more than five tenths behind his teammate. Note that the two W06 Hybrids sported a muzzle modified at the level of its upper part, with the addition of a protrusion which gave rise to aerodynamic tests during the session.

Sebastian Vettel, author of a small error in the first minutes behind the wheel of his Ferrari SF15-T, finished third, just over a tenth behind Rosberg and ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) first representative of the clan Renault in fourth position. Kimi Räikkönen, victim of an off-track event ten minutes from the end of the session but who was able to continue his effort, finished in fifth position, and remains the first driver more than a second behind Hamilton.

Behind the Finn, less than a second separates the 2007 World Champion from Felipe Massa (Williams) 17th. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull) climbs into sixth position ahead of the first FW37 of Valtteri Bottas. Max Verstappen, who made a mistake at the start of the session, places his Toro Rosso in eighth position. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) and Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) complete the top 10.

Jolyon Palmer, who replaced Romain Grosjean in these EL1 at Lotus, takes twelfth place, and precedes the first McLaren from Jenson Button, the two men coming very close to colliding in the pits in the final moments of the session. Free practice 2 will begin at 17 p.m. French time.