Kimi Antonelli set the pace in the second practice session at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, posting a fastest lap of 1:10.763. This marked the first time a driver broke into the 1 minute 10 seconds bracket during the weekend, with Antonelli edging out Lando Norris and Max Verstappen in a closely contested session.
The FP2 session took place on November 6, 2026, at Interlagos under gloomy skies and intermittent drizzle. Despite the challenging conditions, several drivers completed their runs on a variety of tyre compounds, including hard, medium, and soft tyres. Antonelli’s lap time put Mercedes at the top of the timesheets, followed closely by McLaren’s Norris and Red Bull’s Verstappen, who finished within 0.26 seconds of the leader.
George Russell, also driving for Mercedes, briefly led the session before being overtaken by Norris, Verstappen, and Antonelli. Meanwhile, Ferrari drivers faced difficulties; Charles Leclerc struggled with brake issues and narrowly avoided a collision with newcomer Rafael Camara, finishing seventh. Lewis Hamilton encountered tyre-related problems and locked up at Turn 1, ending the session in sixth place. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg was unable to set a lap time due to technical issues in the garage.
The session included both qualifying simulations and longer runs, with Antonelli maintaining strong pace throughout. His performance reinforced Mercedes’ competitiveness at Interlagos, while Norris and Verstappen showed they remain close challengers. The weather conditions added an extra layer of complexity, with drizzle affecting grip levels at times.
Other notable participants included Haas drivers Isack Hadjar, Ollie Bearman, and Rafael Camara, as well as Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. The mix of teams and drivers highlighted the depth of the field as the weekend progressed.
Overall, the second practice session at Sao Paulo offered valuable insights into the form of several key drivers and teams. Antonelli’s breakthrough lap time set a new benchmark for the weekend, while some competitors faced technical and tyre challenges that will require attention ahead of qualifying and the race. The session underlined the fine margins at play in Formula 1® and the ongoing battle for performance at one of the sport’s most iconic circuits.