Francesco Bagnaia made an early statement in his bid to beat world championship leader Jorge Martin by setting the fastest lap time in Friday’s Free Practice 1 for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

In contrast to Pramac Ducati’s Martin, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia chose to run a soft front at the end of the session, a move that powered him to a time fully 1.647s better than Martin’s.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) joined Bagnaia with late runs on soft rubber, and duly set laps good enough for second and third on the timesheets respectively. Vinales was however 0.743s in arrears of Bagnaia, with Bezzecchi over a second adrift.

Jack Miller (KTM) in fourth was quickest of the riders to take the more conventional approach to the session by simply running a medium front tyre throughout.

Tech 3 GasGas rider Pedro Acosta was fifth behind the Australian and the only rider to drop his bike during the session, with a very late crash at Turn 9.

Martin was third-quickest of the riders to stick with the mediums and thus sixth overall. The Spaniard, who leads the championship by 17 points over Bagnaia with one round to go after Malaysia, made one small mistake during the session as he outbraked himself and ran wide at the final corner.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) was seventh-fastest, followed by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.

Quartararo led much of the session before the likes of Bagnaia pitted for soft rubber. The Frenchman’s bike broke down with a few minutes remaining in the session, although he was able to coast it back to the garage.

MotoGP returnee Andrea Iannone broke into the top 10 for VR46 Ducati, where he is replacing the injured Fabio di Giannantonio. This ninth-fastest time was also courtesy of a late lap on a soft front, however.

Only five riders in total pulled the soft-rubber move, with Trackhouse Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori the fifth and slowest of these in 18th.

Acosta’s team-mate Augusto Fernandez completed the top 10, almost two seconds down on the pace-setting Bagnaia.

Gresini’s Marc Marquez was 12th and Bagnaia’s factory Ducati team-mate Enea Bastianini ended FP1 14th. The pair are battling for third in the world championship.

Track action at Sepang started in slightly damp conditions after rain earlier in the morning, which led to an FP1 that was largely cautious and uneventful. It can also be regarded as inconclusive given the varying tyre strategies at play.

Photos from Malaysian GP Practice

Max Verstappen leads the championship by 47 points heading to the Brazilian GP, which will be run to a sprint format.

Event	Date
	11:30
Brazilian GP FP1
Brazilian GP SPRINT QU
Brazilian GP SPRINT Advertisement
Brazilian GP QU
Brazilian GP Race

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in local time

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 11:30 – 12:30 local time
• Sprint Shootout: 15:30 – 16:14 local time 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 11:00 -12:00 local time
• Qualifying: 15:00 – 16:00 local time

Sunday 3rd November 2024

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in the UK/Portugal 

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 14:30 – 15:30 GMT
• Sprint Shootout: 18:30 – 19:14 GMT

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 14:00  GMT
• Qualifying: 18:00 – 19:00 GMT

Sunday 3rd November 2024

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in Europe

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 15:30 – 16:30 CET
• Sprint Shootout: 19:30 – 20:14 CET

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 15:00 CET
• Qualifying: 19:00 – 20:00 CET

Sunday 3rd November 2024

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in the US (Eastern Time) 

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 10:30 – 11:30 ET 
• Sprint Shootout: 14:30 – 15:14 ET 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 10:00 ET 
• Qualifying: 14:00 – 15:00 ET 

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Please note daylight saving ends in the US on Sunday, with clocks moving back one hour at 2:00

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in the US (Pacific Time)

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 07:30 – 08:30 PT
• Sprint Shootout: 11:30 – 12:14 PT 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 07:00 PT
• Qualifying: 11:00 – 12:00 PT 

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Please note daylight saving ends in the US on Sunday, with clocks moving back one hour at 2:00

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in Australia

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 01:30 – 02:30 AEDT
• Sprint Shootout: 05:30 – 06:14 AEDT 

Sunday 3rd November 2024

• Sprint: 01:00 AEDT
• Qualifying: 05:00 – 06:00 AEDT

Monday 4th November 2024

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in Japan

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 23:30 – 00:30 JST

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint Shootout: 03:30 – 04:14 JST 
• Sprint: 23:00 JST 

Sunday 3rd November 2024

• Qualifying: 03:00 – 04:00 JST

Monday 4th November 2024

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in Africa

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 16:30 – 17:30 SAT / 17:30 – 18:30 EAT
• Sprint Shootout: 20:30 – 21:14 SAT / 21:30 – 22:14 EAT 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint: 16:00 / 17:00 EAT
• Qualifying: 20:00 – 21:00 SAT / 21:00 – 22:00 EAT

Sunday 3rd November 2024

• Race: 19:00 SAT / 20:00 EAT

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian GP session timings in India

Friday 1st November 2024

• Free Practice 1: 20:00 – 21:00 IST

Saturday 2nd November 2024

• Sprint Shootout: 00:30 – 01:00 IST
• Sprint: 19:30 IST
• Qualifying: 23:30 – 00:30 IST

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Can’t find your country or region in the list? Check the Formula 1 schedule page for the broadcast times in your local timezone.

McLaren has so far been the team to beat on one lap pace, with Lando Norris topping FP1 and team-mate Oscar Piastri taking pole in the sprint shootout.

As per the 2024 format, qualifying for the grand prix will take place on Saturday afternoon, a few hours after the sprint race. 

What time does qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix start?

The qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix will begin at 3pm local time (-3 GMT) on Saturday at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos Circuit)

• Date: Saturday, 02 November 2024
• Start time: 18:00 GMT /  19:00 CET / 20:00 SAT / 21:00 EAT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT / 05:00 AEDT (Sunday) / 03:00 JST (Sunday) / 23:30 IST 

2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

How can I watch qualifying?

Formula 1 is broadcast live in nearly every country around the world. 

Europe: 

• Austria – Servus TV / ORF
• Belgium – RTBF / Telenet / Play Sports
• Croatia – Sport Klub
• Czech Republic – AMC
• Denmark – TV3+ / TV3 Sport / Viaplay
• Estonia: Viaplay
• Finland – Viaplay 
• France – Canal+
• Germany – Sky 
• Greece – ANT1 / ANT1+
• Hungary – M4
• Italy – Sky
• Netherlands – Viaplay / Viaplay Xtra
• Norway – V sport 1 / V sport + / Viaplay
• Poland – Viaplay
• Portugal – Sport TV
• Spain – F1 DAZN
• Sweden – Viaplay / V sport motor / TV 10
• Switzerland – SRF / RSI / RTS
• UK – Sky Sports F1

Americas: 

• USA – ESPN Network
• Canada – RDS / RDS2 / TSN / Noovo
• Latin America – ESPN

Asia: 

• China – CCTV / Shanghai TV / Guangdong Television Channel / Tencent
• India – FanCode
• Japan – Fuji TV / DAZN
• Malaysia – beIN SPORTS
• Indonesia- beIN SPORTS
• Singapore – beIN SPORTS
• Thailand – beIN SPORTS
• Vietnam – K+

Oceania: 

• Australia – Fox Sports / Foxtel / Kayo / Network Ten
• New Zealand – Sky

Africa: 

Can I stream qualifying?

Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream qualifying on a device of their choice. Some local broadcasters such as Sky TV (UK) and Movistar (Spain) also offer their own on-demand service. 

Live commentary

Motorsport.com will bring the latest updates from Brrazil throughout the weekend, including live commentary during qualifying on Saturday.

Brazilian GP – FP1 results:

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McLaren is continuing to throw all it can at its efforts to win Formula 1’s titles this year, with a new rear wing being introduced for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

While there remains a great deal of uncertainty over the weather this weekend, which could prompt a huge rethink of wing levels if rain arrives, this new wing is aimed at offering Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri an extra option in terms of downforce and drag levels if it stays dry.

This new design seems to fit between the medium and low downforce offerings that McLaren already has in its pool of options.

In terms of the rear wing’s design, the main structure is similar to what we have come to expect from McLaren – as it retains the same features as the squad’s other options.

However, there’s a change in the design of the mainplane, with a much deeper central section and steeper almost V-shaped leading edge that feeds out towards the endplate.

The leading edge of the mainplane is also extruded upwards more than we see with some of the other wings within the family. It is this which provides the necessary effect McLaren’s aerodynamicists are looking for.

Mercedes F1 W07 ‘Spoon’ rear wing

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

While this design might seem a little different to what the rest of the grid are currently doing, it is certainly by no means new.

During this regulatory era, Aston Martin and Alpine having toyed with similar solutions, while under previous rule sets, the 2009-16 tall but narrow spoon-shaped rear wing solutions took a similar design direction.

While the wing will likely run in practice, that does not mean it is guaranteed to be used for the rest of the race weekend.

For it may be a little out of kilter for the challenges posed by the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, which is another circuit that sits at altitude, albeit not at the dizzying heights of Mexico. But given that McLaren didn’t run with its highest downforce offering in Mexico, even though that has traditionally been the case there in the past, it might be the same in Brazil, with another reduction in downforce and drag possible.

Teams are certainly becoming more adept at balancing their downforce demands with differing beam wing choices – something that McLaren may choose to work on with this new rear wing solution to get the best from their package.

As well as the new rear wing which is pitched at a different downforce level, McLaren has also added two new beam wings to its pool.

One is a high downforce version, and the other is low downforce – with the idea being that the best version can be chosen to work alongside the new rear wing for the perfect performance levels to balance out straightline speed and cornering potential.

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen will miss Friday running and Saturday’s sprint race at Formula 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix, with reserve driver Oliver Bearman taking over the Dane’s car.

On Friday morning Haas announced Magnussen was unwell and would not be able to drive the VF-24 at Interlagos all day.

“Kevin Magnussen will not participate in Friday’s track running at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after suffering with sickness,” a statement from Haas said.

“Official reserve driver Oliver Bearman will take over driving duties. The team wishes Kevin a quick recovery and will provide a further update in due course.”

As Brazil is a sprint weekend that means Magnussen will miss both Friday’s sole free practice session and sprint qualifying, meaning Bearman will also be in the Haas car for Saturday morning’s sprint race.

It remains to be seen if Magnussen can recover in time for Saturday afternoon’s qualifying for the grand prix.

Magnussen will still be eligible to take over his car again from Saturday’s grand prix qualifying onwards, provided he is fit enough to drive.

An FIA statement explained: “In accordance with Article 32.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the Stewards grant permission for the driver, Oliver Bearman, with the car number 50, to participate in the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix in place of Kevin Magnussen until further notice.

“The driver of car 50 is required to use the engine, gearbox and tyres which were allocated to the original driver, Kevin Magnussen as detailed under Article 32.5 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”

In any case, Saturday’s sprint race will be Bearman’s third competitive F1 outing and his second for Haas, after replacing Magnussen in Baku when the Danish driver sat out a one-race ban for accumulating too many penalty points.

Ferrari junior Bearman, who has been signed by Haas to step up to a full-time race seat in 2025, also deputised for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia when the Spaniard was treated for appendicitis.