2026 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX — FREE PRACTICE REPORT
November 6, 2026 — São Paulo, Brazil — The Cadillac Formula 1® Team began its São Paulo Grand Prix weekend with two Free Practice sessions today at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace Circuit.
American Test Driver Colton Herta took over Checo Pérez’s seat for FP1, completing 31 laps and finishing P20, while Valtteri Bottas showed encouraging pace to place P15. The session was interrupted by a red flag after Audi’s Freddie Slater stopped just beyond Turn 9.
Pérez returned to the cockpit for FP2 and quickly got up to speed, finishing P20, with teammate Bottas in P21. The second session brought colder, misty conditions, with very light rain beginning to fall in the closing stages.
Checo Pérez
FP2: P20, Laps: 34 (1:13.316)
“Good first session for me. The changing weather conditions could definitely create opportunities for us this weekend. We haven’t made a final decision yet on whether we’ll take an additional engine and therefore a penalty, so that’s something we’ll discuss tonight before deciding on our approach for the rest of the weekend. We know anything can happen, particularly in these conditions, and we’ll be ready to make the most of any opportunities that come our way.”
Valtteri Bottas
FP1: P15, Laps: 16 (1:13.371), FP2: P21, Laps: 33 (1:13.383)
“FP1 went well and the pace was encouraging, while in FP2 we focused more on the long runs and understanding the car over a longer stint. Interlagos is always a great track to drive, so it’s been good to get back out there. We’ll dive into the data tonight to see where we can find some more performance and put ourselves in the best possible position for qualifying tomorrow.”
Colton Herta
FP1: P20, Laps: 31 (1:14.275)
“All wrapped up here in Brazil with Free Practice 1 and what a fantastic track. It’s my first time driving here and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s always a privilege to drive the car, and to be able to do it in three consecutive weekends was amazing. I hope the data can help Checo and Valtteri as we build throughout the weekend.”
Marcin Budkowski, Team Principal:
“It’s been a relatively smooth day of running today. Colton had a solid session in FP1 on his track debut here, completing good mileage and gathering valuable data and feedback for the team. In FP2, both Checo and Valtteri completed their run plans and we’ll consolidate their feedback as we plan for qualifying. Operationally, our objective is to maximize every session to prepare ourselves for an unpredictable weekend ahead. With changeable weather conditions often a factor at Interlagos, strong execution will be key to taking advantage of whatever comes our way.”