Antonelli tops Sao Paulo GP FP2 ahead of Norris and Verstappen
Kimi Antonelli headed the field during the second Formula 1 practice session of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen completing the top three positions.
FP1 saw numerous rookies from various Formula 1 squads experiencing Brazil in F1 machinery. A selection of the regular grid then took to the track for the first time in FP2.
Dark clouds gathered over the circuit, and rain threatened the session as the clock wound down. Brazil is renowned for its unpredictable weather, having produced numerous wet races over the years.
Antonelli out front
During the opening minutes, the newly crowned World Champion led the field with a 1:11.824s, while the McLarens and Ferraris remained close behind.
Lando Norris led the McLaren pair, with Max Verstappen occupying third place after the first ten minutes.
Gabriel Bortoleto delivered a strong performance, climbing to fourth on hard tyres as he completed a push lap. Conversely, fortunes were reversed on the other side of the Audi garage as the team dismantled Nico Hulkenbergβs car.
Charles Leclerc sat in ninth place after fifteen minutes had elapsed in the session. The Monegasque was not on a push lap; instead, he was using the time to warm up on the track.
Leclerc was among the drivers who handed his car over to a rookie for FP1; in his instance, it was Dino Beganovic. The Monegasque had just returned from Monaco and welcomed his daughter.
Drivers across the field struggled with their brakes, locking up around the circuit. This was not an isolated incident; the same issue occurred in FP1 due to the trackβs characteristics and the crosswinds and track temperatures the drivers faced.
As the session reached its halfway point, drivers entered the pit lane. They used the lull to change tyres and finalize their run plans for the second half of the weekend.
George Russell exited the pits and crossed the line in 1:11.036s on the soft tyre, recording a much more competitive time that placed him at the top of the timing sheets.
More top drivers fitted the soft compound and posted faster times. Verstappen and Norris both crossed the line faster than Russell, but it proved futile as the 2026 World Champion put 0.253s between him and second place.
Close call for Leclerc
Leclerc was in the pit lane making adjustments to his SF-26 while the rest of the top teams pushed on. The Monegasque quickly fitted the soft tyres and went out onto the track, attempting to capitalize on clear conditions as droplets of rain began to fall.
Leclerc was impeded into the final corner by Esteban Oconβs replacement, Rafa Camara, which left Leclerc in seventh, three tenths behind Hamilton. Camara was due to be investigated after the session.
With just under 20 minutes remaining in the second practice session, Antonelli led the field. Drivers returned to the track, many on medium or hard tyres, for longer, higher-fuel runs rather than qualifying attempts.
In the final five minutes, Verstappen entered the pits and exited his Red Bull, seemingly ending his session slightly early. Meanwhile, his teammate, Isack Hadjar, was leaving the pits to conclude the session on track.
With the field mostly on longer runs and not posting competitive lap times, Antonelli held first on the road and in the time sheets. Norris and Verstappen rounded out the top three behind him.
READ MORE: Lando Norris edges out Kimi Antonelli as Rafael Camara makes Haas debut at F1 Sao Paulo GP FP1
