Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton topped the timing sheets in the first free practice session for the Brazilian grand prix.

The one-a-half hour session got underway with the track temperature soaring towards the 40 degree centigrade mark. The track surface provided a low level of grip for the drivers as they re-familiarized themselves with the famous Interlagos circuit. The Mercedes driver pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg traded quickest times during the initial part of the session before the Ferrari’s of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel took to the track.

Ultimately, Vettel and Raikkonen ended the session third and fifth fastest. The Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo was fourth fastest with the newly upgraded internal combustion engine, from Renault, fitted to the Aussie’s car. No major incidents came to the fore during the session save for a few lock-ups into turn one and late session spin, into turn 4, for Raikkonen.

Local heroes Felipe Nasr and Felipe Massa ended their session, for Sauber and Williams, in fourteenth and seventeenth respectively.

Final Free Practice 1 Standings: