SAO PAULO – Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first practice for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday, while Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel was second.
Fernando Alonso, the only driver fighting Vettel for the title, was fifth.
Hamilton had a lap of 1 minute, 14.131 seconds with McLaren at Interlagos, edging Vettel's Red Bull. Vettel teammate Mark Webber was third in 1:14.198 and Jenson Button of McLaren was fourth in 1:14.217.
Alonso, who tested different wings, clocked 1:14.392.
Vettel has a 13-point lead over Alonso and needs to finish fourth or better to become F1's youngest three-time champion at age 25. He can also be the first to win three in a row since Michael Schumacher in 2004. Schumacher plans to retire after the race.
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