Kimi Antonelli, the newly crowned 2026 Formula 1 World Champion, set the fastest time in the second free practice session for the São Paulo Grand Prix on Friday. The Mercedes driver recorded a lap of 1:10.763 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, leading the session by over two tenths of a second.
McLaren’s Lando Norris secured the second-fastest time, 0.253 seconds behind Antonelli. Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished third, just 0.006 seconds slower than Norris.
Antonelli, aged 20, clinched his maiden F1 world title last weekend with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix. This made him the youngest champion in Formula 1 history, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s previous record.
The São Paulo Grand Prix marks the 20th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The event at Interlagos is a traditional race weekend, featuring three practice sessions, qualifying, and the main Grand Prix.
George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, finished fourth in FP2, 0.273 seconds off the pace. Russell will incur a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race due to a fresh power unit installation.
Oscar Piastri placed fifth for McLaren, followed by the Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in sixth and seventh, respectively. Hamilton reported issues with his front tyres during long runs, struggling to achieve optimal temperature.
Max Verstappen continued to express dissatisfaction with his Red Bull car’s performance, specifically regarding downshifts. He ended FP2 prematurely, returning to the garage several minutes before the session concluded.
The top ten was completed by Gabriel Bortoleto for Audi, Isack Hadjar for Red Bull, and Oliver Bearman for Haas. Bortoleto was 1.017 seconds behind Antonelli, with Hadjar 1.076 seconds adrift.
Rafael Camara made his Formula 1 debut for Haas at his home Grand Prix, finishing 16th in FP2. Camara is replacing Esteban Ocon, who was benched after a disagreement with team principal Ayao Komatsu following the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Camara, who is signed to Haas for the 2027 season, had not driven the Interlagos circuit previously. He spent his initial practice sessions adapting to the track and the VF-26 car.
Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas recorded the slowest times among those who set a lap, finishing 20th and 21st. Cadillac utilizes Ferrari power units for the 2026 season.
Nico Hulkenberg of Audi was unable to participate in FP2. This followed car issues that affected rookie Freddie Slater during the first practice session, preventing Hulkenberg from running.
The Interlagos circuit, officially known as Autódromo José Carlos Pace, is 4.309 kilometers long and features 15 corners. Its anti-clockwise layout and significant elevation changes present a unique technical challenge.
The circuit is situated approximately 800 meters above sea level, demanding specific car setups to compensate for the thinner air. The unpredictable weather in São Paulo can also influence race conditions.
In the earlier Free Practice 1 session, Lando Norris was fastest, followed by Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell completed the top five in that session.
