Mercedes driver
Antonelli’s best effort saw him finish 0.253 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. The competitive nature of the session was highlighted by the narrow margins behind the leader, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen securing third place, trailing Norris by a mere 0.007 seconds. Mercedes teammate George Russell rounded out the top four, while Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc concluded the session in sixth and seventh positions respectively. The field saw a general improvement in lap times as drivers transitioned to soft tyres throughout the afternoon.
Tributes and Rookie Appearances at Interlagos
The atmosphere at the circuit remained focused on the memory of Senna, with Antonelli’s presence in Sao Paulo marked by visits to the late driver’s grave and time spent with the Senna family. The young Mercedes driver’s pace in the second session followed a strong showing earlier in the day, where he had finished second to Norris in the opening practice, with Verstappen again placing third.
The first session provided an opportunity for team experimentation, with Ferrari opting to field Swedish rookie Dino Beganovic in place of Charles Leclerc. Beganovic faced challenges with grip during his outing, ultimately recording the second-slowest time. Meanwhile, local interest was bolstered by the participation of Brazilian rookie Rafael Câmara, who stepped into the Haas cockpit to replace Esteban Ocon. Câmara gained valuable experience throughout the day, finishing 18th in the first session before climbing to 16th in the second.
