Thursday (the 5th) of Formula 1 in Interlagos saw Rafael Câmara emerge as one of the weekend’s key protagonists. The Brazilian admitted he was taken by surprise by the opportunity to debut for Haas at the Brazilian GP and revealed that he had never driven at the Paulista circuit, while Gabriel Bortoleto highlighted a significant limitation for Audi on starts. The day also brought updates about Kimi Antonelli, criticisms from Pierre Gasly of the 2026 regulations, and teams’ concerns about rain.
With the first track activity scheduled for Friday (6), media day filled the Autódromo José Carlos Pace and exposed some of the main challenges of the 20th round of the season. F1MANIA.NET followed the interviews and the preparations firsthand from Interlagos, with Victor D. Berto and Nathalia de Vivo documenting the paddock’s movement and the race weekend’s behind-the-scenes.
The central topic was Rafael Câmara’s arrival in Formula 1. In an interview conducted in person by F1MANIA.NET, the 21-year-old driver acknowledged that the opportunity came about unexpectedly, following events that led Esteban Ocon to leave Haas.
“It was a big surprise. And, of course, when the events happened and they had already swapped the driver for Mexico, it was something that could happen, but nothing was certain. So, after the news that I would really have the chance to be there for the whole weekend, it was a nice surprise,” Câmara said.
The debut will come with additional challenges. The Brazilian explained that he still doesn’t know Interlagos as a driver and has never steered a current-generation Formula 1 car on the track. Moreover, he had limited time to prepare for the procedures and demands of a full Grand Prix weekend.
“Obviously there’s a lot of information, a lot of new things to absorb in a few days. Of course, we didn’t do the preparation we would normally do for a weekend. When I get on track, there will still be a lot to understand and learn,” he admitted.
Câmara also acknowledged that he would have preferred a dry track, mainly due to the need to adapt, but highlighted the thrill of starting his journey in the category in front of the Brazilian fans. The Haas driver’s presence alongside Gabriel Bortoleto, of Audi, places two Brazilian representatives on the Interlagos grid.
F1MANIA.NET documented Haas’ garage setup to receive Câmara. The structure already bears the Brazilian’s name and the number 51 on the car, while a board showing the season’s drivers features Câmara and Bortoleto side by side, symbolizing the two Brazilians on the Interlagos weekend.
Bortoleto, for his part, offered an assessment of Audi’s first Formula 1 season. The driver used the word “resilience” to describe the team’s behavior, highlighting its ability to overcome mechanical issues, race difficulties, and continue progressing with updates to the car.
The Brazilian also revealed that Audi has already identified the root of their starting problems, but cannot fix the issue this season, as hardware changes are required. According to Bortoleto, even a well-executed start can yield a result similar to that of a merely average start by another team.
Beyond Brazil-specific topics, Pierre Gasly offered a critique of how the 2026 cars operate. In a press conference covered by F1MANIA.NET, the Frenchman revealed that a software bug caused a sudden loss of power for his Alpine during the Mexican GP, dropping from eighth to fourteenth place.
The Frenchman also spoke about his relationship with Interlagos. Asked by F1MANIA.NET about the record of six points finishes in eight Brazilian participations, Gasly expressed surprise at the statistic. The Alpine driver recalled his podium finishes in 2019 and 2024 and said he is excited about the possibility of racing another wet event.
The weather, indeed, was one of the main themes of Thursday’s preparations. F1MANIA.NET photographed Red Bull staff organizing intermediate tires identified by green markings, while McLaren prepared sets of rain tires with blue markings.
The prospect of instability over the weekend concerns the teams, especially since Interlagos underwent resurfacing between Turns 3 and 5, and between Turns 8 and 9. Pirelli also selected compounds C3, C4 and C5 for the weekend, a softer choice than in 2025, increasing attention to wear and pit-stop strategies.
Kimi Antonelli was also among the day’s highlights. The newly crowned world champion was photographed by F1MANIA.NET arriving at the Interlagos paddock and revealed that he will wear a special helmet in tribute to Ayrton Senna during the Brazil GP.
The helmet design will pay homage to Senna’s 35th anniversary victory in his home race, achieved in 1991 when the Brazilian faced gearbox problems and finished the race using only the sixth gear. Antonelli also stated that Interlagos feels like a home race due to the warmth of the fans and said that, if he could choose one event to win, it would be the Brazilian one.
Senna’s connection with the fans was also discussed by Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. The two drivers reflected on the legend’s legacy and the differences between his popularity and that of other Brazilian champions like Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet. Alonso highlighted Senna’s charisma, while Verstappen emphasized the Brazilian’s personality and bond with São Paulo.
At Ferrari, Frederic Vasseur admitted that the team underestimated Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation challenges. The executive explained that the process involves different procedures, nomenclatures, and systems—factors that can influence performance when the competition is balanced.
Another open duel heading into Interlagos is for third place in the Constructors’ Championship. After Verstappen’s win in Mexico and Piastri’s penalty, Red Bull sits on 382 points, while McLaren has 365. The gap of 17 points keeps the two teams locked in a tight battle as the season nears its end.
The Brazil GP schedule begins on Friday (6), with FP1 at 12:30 and FP2 at 16:00. On Saturday (7), FP3 is set for 11:30, followed by qualifying at 15:00. The race takes place on Sunday (8) at 14:00, with 71 laps planned, all in Brasília time.
F1MANIA.NET covers the Brazilian Grand Prix directly from Interlagos, with Victor D. Berto and Nathalia de Vivo documenting the preparations, team movements, and the backstage happenings of Formula 1.
