SAO PAULO, Oct 31: Home hero Felipe Massa made a perfect start to his Formula One title showdown with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton after lapping fastest in Friday’s opening practice at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver, seven points behind Hamilton and embarking on the final stage of what some see as a Mission Impossible to wrest the title from the 23-year-old’s grasp, lapped the Interlagos circuit in one minute 12.305 seconds.

Hamilton, who can become the sport’s youngest champion after blowing his chance last year, was second and just 0.190 off his rival’s pace in a cool and overcast session in which he had set the early pace.

Ferrari’s outgoing champion Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who made up a seven point deficit in Brazil last year to beat the Briton by a single point, was third despite a spin.

Hamilton need only finish fifth on Sunday to be champion, even if Massa wins his home race as expected, and will be unlikely to push too hard in what will be the second race for his Mercedes engine.

Both the Ferraris have new engines for Brazil, a boost for their bid to retain the constructors’ championship. They lead McLaren by 11 points.

“We don’t have to win (the race) so that is a pressure off our shoulders,” Hamilton said after his arrival at the circuit on Thursday.

“We have not come here to finish further down the order but we obviously know that it is not do or die.” Poland’s Robert Kubica, fighting to end the season in third place for BMW-Sauber, was fourth fastest with McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen fifth and Renault’s double world champion Fernando Alonso sixth.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Maintaining balance
Updated 16 Feb, 2025

Maintaining balance

It must take a more proactive approach to establishing Pakistan’s bona fides.
Welcome return
16 Feb, 2025

Welcome return

IT is almost here; the moment Pakistan has long been waiting for — the first International Cricket Council...
Childhood trauma
16 Feb, 2025

Childhood trauma

BEING a child in this society should not be so hard. But recurrent reports of child abuse — from burying girl...
The Peca problem
Updated 15 Feb, 2025

The Peca problem

The fight for fundamental freedoms is not the media’s alone, but one that concerns every citizen.
Miners in danger
15 Feb, 2025

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others,...
Solar panels scam
15 Feb, 2025

Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many ...