Antonelli puts Mercedes first in São Paulo second practice
Kimi Antonelli led second practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, finishing ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver changed the order after Norris led the opening session. Ferrari encountered braking and tyre problems, while Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg lost the session as repairs continued.
Sports··Midday
Antonelli changes the leader at Interlagos
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli finished second practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil at the top of the timesheets. His best lap of 1 minute 10.763 seconds put him 0.253 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had led the opening session. Max Verstappen took third for Red Bull, just 0.006 seconds behind Norris. George Russell was fourth in the other Mercedes, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completing the leading group. The five drivers were covered by 0.321 seconds at the end of the hour.[1], [2]
Fast laps follow the return of regular drivers
The regular drivers returned after several teams had given rookies a run in opening practice. Dark clouds remained over the circuit, and drivers reported light drizzle early in the second session. Antonelli initially went fastest with a 1:11.857 lap on hard tyres. Russell subsequently lowered the benchmark to 1:11.036, but Norris and Verstappen moved ahead of him before Antonelli set the session’s decisive lap. The teams then switched their attention to longer runs, leaving the Mercedes driver’s fastest time unbeaten.[1]
Ferrari struggles while Hülkenberg misses the session
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth and Charles Leclerc seventh for Ferrari. Hamilton locked a wheel under braking at the first corner and continued to have tyre difficulties. Leclerc reported a brake problem, then had to move towards the wall on the main straight during a close encounter with Haas driver Rafael Camara. His engineer said the incident cost two tenths of a second on his final lap. Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman completed the top ten. Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg set no time as the team continued repairs following Freddie Slater’s interrupted opening-practice appearance.[1]
