Antonelli tops tight Interlagos practice ahead of Norris
Max Verstappen’s team radio provided the most entertaining moment of Friday at the São Paulo Grand Prix, even though Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed the fastest lap of Free Practice 2 at Interlagos. The session produced a tight order at the front, with Verstappen finishing third. The Red Bull driver’s exchange with his engineer about power unit behaviour became the talking point of the afternoon, combining technical curiosity with the dry humour that has long characterised his radio communication. This report brings together the confirmed session results, the context behind the timings and what the Friday picture suggests for the rest of the weekend.
Antonelli Sets the Benchmark at Interlagos
Antonelli completed the session with a best lap of 1:10.763 in the Mercedes W17, which was the quickest time recorded on Friday. The newly crowned world champion arrived in Brazil after securing the title in Mexico, and his pace at Interlagos showed no sign of a post-championship dip. Mercedes looked comfortable on a circuit that rewards stable braking, strong traction out of the slow corners and a car that remains predictable over bumps.
The margin to the chasing pack was small. Lando Norris finished second for McLaren, 0.253 seconds behind, while Verstappen was third, 0.259 seconds off the leading time. In a session where track conditions evolve constantly, a gap of roughly a quarter of a second is significant but far from decisive, and it leaves several drivers in a position to challenge for the best result once the weekend’s competitive sessions begin.
Ferrari also featured in the top seven. Lewis Hamilton took sixth place, and Charles Leclerc followed in seventh after returning to the cockpit for the session. For a team that has had a turbulent few weeks, a solid Friday afternoon offers a useful base to build on, even if the real test will come in race conditions on Sunday.
Verstappen’s Radio Exchange Draws Attention
The exchange began when Verstappen’s engineer told him that no switch was available for further power unit adjustments and that the systems were adapting to the way he was driving. Verstappen’s response combined bemusement with humour. He asked what the message meant and whether he now had to speak to the engine himself.
He then extended the joke in the tone of a stern parent addressing the car, warning that the clutch would be punished if it did not cooperate. The line was delivered lightly, and it captured the informal rapport between driver and engineer that often makes team radio so compelling for supporters watching at home.
Beneath the humour sits a serious point. Modern power units and driver-controlled settings are complex, and drivers are routinely asked to manage energy deployment, braking behaviour and engine modes while also pushing the limits of the car. When an engineer explains that the system is adapting, the driver hears that there is no quick manual fix, which is a reasonable moment for a driver known for direct communication to ask for clarity.
Radio exchanges of this kind also show how teams and drivers share information during practice. Sessions on Friday are used to test components, evaluate tyre behaviour and learn how a car responds to the surface, so every comment helps engineers decide what to adjust before the competitive running begins.
Norris and Verstappen Separated by Six Thousandths
The closest battle on the timing screen was between Norris and Verstappen. Norris set 1:11.016, and Verstappen’s 1:11.022 left him just 0.006 seconds behind, a difference that can be created by a single metre of braking or a slightly earlier throttle application. Such a narrow gap between a McLaren and a Red Bull suggests that the fight behind Mercedes is genuinely open.
Norris also has history at this venue. He won last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix, with Antonelli second and Verstappen third, which means the same three drivers occupied the top three positions of Friday’s second session. That continuity adds an extra layer of intrigue to the weekend.
Verstappen’s third place also followed a competitive opening session. In Free Practice 1 he again finished behind Norris and Antonelli, so he has now been inside the top three in both Friday sessions. Consistency across different fuel loads and track temperatures is valuable information for a team preparing set-ups for the rest of the weekend.
How Friday’s Two Sessions Compare
Practice 1 saw Norris lead with a 1:11.717, with Antonelli only 0.082 seconds behind. By the second session Antonelli had found more than a second, dropping to 1:10.763 and reversing the order at the top. That improvement is typical of Friday running, as tyres, track grip and aerodynamic balance all change significantly between the two sessions.
Norris also improved, trimming roughly seven tenths between sessions, while Verstappen finished within six thousandths of the McLaren. Antonelli, however, gained the most time of the leading trio, which is why the Mercedes looks like the car to beat as the champion continues his first race weekend since clinching the title.
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What Sunday’s Race Could Bring
The Grand Prix takes place on Sunday over 71 laps of the 4.309-kilometre Autódromo José Carlos Pace, a total race distance of 305.879 kilometres. The circuit’s elevation changes, bumpy surface and changeable conditions make it one of the most demanding venues on the calendar, and strategy can shift when conditions evolve.
For Verstappen and his team, the priority will be turning a promising radio moment and a strong lap time into a reliable race package. For Antonelli, the aim is to confirm Friday’s pace. With the top three separated by less than three tenths of a second, Sunday promises a contested afternoon in Brazil.