Newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli has wasted no time asserting his dominance once again. Free from the pressure of the title fight following his success at the Mexico City GP, the Mercedes driver comfortably topped the timesheets in the second practice session for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix. As mist descended over the Interlagos circuit, Antonelli became the only driver to dip into the 1:10s bracket.
Clocking a 1:10.763 on soft-compound Pirellis, Antonelli surged ahead of Lando Norris by a quarter of a second, effectively reversing the standings from the morning's FP1 session. Max Verstappen maintained his steady form, securing third place, just milliseconds behind the McLaren driver.
The session was characterized by challenging track conditions, with low temperatures and a persistent bump at the approach to the Senna S forcing several drivers—including Antonelli and George Russell—to utilize the run-off area at Turn 1. With rain expected to play a major factor throughout the weekend, these early signs of instability suggest a chaotic qualifying session ahead.
Surprisingly, Ferrari struggled to find pace at a venue many expected to suit their SF-26 package. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished sixth and seventh respectively, appearing off the pace compared to their rivals. Meanwhile, stewards are currently reviewing an incident involving Haas debutant Rafael Camara, who was caught impeding Leclerc during the session.
As the paddock braces for wet conditions, the field remains tightly packed, setting the stage for a high-stakes qualifying session in Brazil.
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