The Interlagos circuit served up intense action on the opening day of the 2026 F1 Brazil Grand Prix. Newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli reaffirmed his status as the current benchmark, topping the timesheets in Free Practice 2 with a commanding lap time of 1m10.763 for Mercedes.
FP1 pacesetter Lando Norris had to settle for second place in the afternoon session, finishing 0.253 seconds adrift. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen remained a consistent threat in third, though he opted to cut his session short, exiting his car with five minutes remaining.
The spotlight remains on Ferrari, as both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished outside the top five, landing in sixth and seventh respectively. This performance follows a crucial internal meeting held by Frederic Vasseur to address tensions lingering from the Mexico GP.
Home favorite Gabriel Bortoleto provided a bright spot for the local crowd, putting his Audi inside the top ten in eighth. Further down the field, the competitive nature of the midfield continues to evolve, with teams like Haas and Cadillac evaluating their future driver lineups in these high-stakes practice sessions.
With the technical demands of Interlagos and the ever-changing grip levels on track, Mercedes appears to have the edge heading into the weekend. However, the margins at the front are razor-thin, setting the stage for a dramatic qualifying session.
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