Kimi Antonelli cemented his status as Formula 1’s new world champion by dominating the second practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Just five days after securing the title in Mexico as the sport’s youngest ever champion, the Mercedes driver delivered a commanding performance on the undulating Interlagos circuit. Antonelli was the sole driver to break the 71-second barrier, posting a benchmark time of 1:10.763 that stood two-tenths of a second ahead of the field. This result followed his second-fastest time in the morning session, confirming his strong adaptation to the track conditions.
New champion sets benchmark at Interlagos, but McLaren’s new parts keep the title race alive.
Despite Antonelli’s pace, Lando Norris remains a significant threat heading into qualifying. The McLaren driver, who led the first practice session, benefited from a crucial upgrade package on the MCL40, making Woking the only team to introduce new parts this weekend. Norris, the defending Sao Paulo winner, demonstrated strong consistency on longer runs, suggesting the car has the necessary reliability and speed to challenge for pole position. His performance keeps pressure on Antonelli, proving that the battle for the top step of the podium is far from over despite the title being decided.
The session highlights the shifting dynamics in the Constructors’ Championship, where McLaren is determined to reclaim third place from Red Bull. After Verstappen’s recent results allowed Red Bull to overtake them, the Woking team is leveraging this final stretch of the season to hit back. With qualifying scheduled for 6pm live on Sky Sports F1, the focus now shifts to how Antonelli’s raw speed balances against McLaren’s upgraded hardware. Viewers can watch the final practice session at 2.30pm to see if the new champion can maintain his lead or if Norris will strike back before the weekend concludes.
Source: Sky Sports
