Mercedes easily fastest in first practice at Brazil

F1 Grand Prix, GP Brazil, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos

Mercedes got off to a comfortable start at Sao Paulo as it saw both its drivers end the first practice session on top of the timesheet. Lewis Hamilton was the faster of both, with Bottas little more than a tenth down on this year's World Champion.

Both Mercedes drivers repeatedly swapped positions until Hamilton eventually went fastest in the closing stages of the session.

On one of the shortest circuits on the F1 calendar, there were no other cars the proved a match. Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari came closest, but was still more than half a second down on the pace setter when the 90-minute session came to a close.

The duo of Verstappen and Ricciardo were up next on the eventual timing board, ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari.

Felipe Massa, kicking off his last home race of his F1 career was 7th fastest, ahead of the McLarens and Esteban Ocon's Force India as they completed the top 10.

Further down the pecking order, there was again major trouble for Toro Rosso as both their cars encountered technical issues. Brendon Hartley had another spectacular Renault engine failure on only his second lap of the day. Team mate Pierre Gasley had a seperate issue that forced him to stay in the garage after completing 5 laps. Like Ricciardo, yet another Renault powered driver, both were already facing grid penalties.