Kimi Antonelli, freshly crowned as Formula 1’s youngest world champion, continued his impressive form by setting the fastest time in second practice for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver, who clinched the title in Mexico five days earlier, was the only man to break the 71-second barrier around Interlagos, stopping the clocks at 1:10.763. That lap put him 0.253 seconds clear of Lando Norris and 0.259 ahead of Max Verstappen, as Antonelli tops Sao Paulo practice.
Antonelli had already shown strong pace in the opening session, where he was second fastest, and he carried that momentum into the more representative afternoon running. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok observed that the new champion appears to have found a superior rhythm around the undulating circuit, driving without the weight of the championship on his shoulders.
McLaren's Upgrades Show Promise
Norris, the outgoing world champion, ended the day second overall after topping the first session. McLaren brought a package of updates to the MCL40, and Norris reported that the new parts performed as expected. He also looked competitive on longer runs, suggesting the team may have closed some of the gap to the front. Oscar Piastri, in the other McLaren, was fifth fastest.
Norris acknowledged that matching the Mercedes in the afternoon was more difficult but took encouragement from the overall progress. He noted that the upgrades had delivered a tangible gain in lap time, even though the car remains tricky to drive. With rain forecast for the remainder of the weekend, Norris predicted very wet conditions and advised fans to bring rain gear.
Verstappen and Russell Close Behind
Verstappen slotted his Red Bull into third, just six thousandths of a second behind Norris, while George Russell completed the top four in the second Mercedes. Russell will carry a five-place grid penalty for taking a fresh engine, a handicap that could complicate his qualifying hopes. His pace on Friday, however, suggested he has the speed to move forward in the race.
Ferrari endured a more challenging day, with Lewis Hamilton sixth and Charles Leclerc seventh, both over four tenths adrift of Antonelli. The Italian team is still managing the aftermath of a first-lap collision in Mexico that cost it a likely victory, and a Thursday meeting between the drivers and team principal Frederic Vasseur was held to clear the air. Leclerc, who missed Thursday’s media duties and Friday’s first practice after flying back from Monaco following the birth of his first child, returned to action in the afternoon.
Bortoleto Shines at Home as Audi Hits Trouble
Gabriel Bortoleto gave the home crowd something to cheer with eighth fastest in the sole running Audi. His teammate Nico Hulkenberg sat out the opening session for rookies but then encountered reliability problems that prevented him from setting a time at all. The team also suffered a technical issue with British youngster Freddie Slater in first practice, and an electrical problem kept the car sidelined for the rest of the day.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was ninth, with Haas driver Oliver Bearman completing the top ten. Bearman’s new teammate, Rafael Camara, made his Formula 1 debut on home soil and finished 16th, half a second behind Bearman. Camara’s day was largely incident-free, though he was summoned to the stewards for impeding Leclerc on the fast run to the start-finish line.
Rain Looms Over Qualifying and Race
Although Friday’s sessions were dry, low misty cloud enveloped Interlagos during the afternoon, and heavy rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Antonelli stressed the need for adaptability, saying the team will prepare for any conditions and work on improving the car’s balance. He also predicted a tight qualifying battle, noting that McLaren and Red Bull both look strong and that Ferrari can find extra pace in qualifying.
The final practice session is scheduled for 2:30pm local time on Saturday, with qualifying set for 6pm. With the weather expected to play a major role, teams and drivers will need to be sharp in their decision-making.
