{
  "id": 18622177,
  "title": "F1 Champion Antonelli Tops Brazil Practice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/f1-champion-antonelli-tops-brazil-practice",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T02:34:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/antonelli-tops-second-practice-sao-paulo-f1/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver, secured the 2026 Formula 1 world title, and he demonstrated his speed during the second practice session at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo. Antonelli's lap time of 1:10.763 eclipsed McLaren's Lando Norris by 0.253 seconds, setting a strong tone for the upcoming São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 weekend. With the championship settled, Friday's focus was on car setup, tyre management, and the mental preparation of the drivers, rather than scoring points. The qualifying round, which determines the starting grid for the Sunday race, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday (3:00 p.m. São Paulo time). This account is part of our comprehensive coverage of the São Paulo Grand Prix 2026. For more information on dates, times, and how to follow the event, refer to our guide. Today, Haas' rookie driver faced criticism for blocking Charles Leclerc of Ferrari during free practice. Practice sessions, conducted before qualifying, provide teams with an opportunity to assess car configurations and tyre performance. The results from these sessions do not contribute to the race points, but they offer insights into each team's performance capabilities. Lando Norris, McLaren's British driver, who claimed the 2025 title, finished second, just 0.253 seconds behind Antonelli. Red Bull's four-time world champion, Max Verstappen, was a mere 0.006 seconds behind Norris. Mercedes teammates George Russell and Antonelli rounded out the top four, with Russell finishing fourth, 0.273 seconds behind his teammate. Australian driver Oscar Piastri of McLaren rounded out the top five, 0.321 seconds behind Antonelli. Morning practice saw Norris setting the fastest time of 1:11.717. Throughout the day, teams fine-tune their car setups and tyre strategies, knowing that one lap on Friday is not a definitive indicator of Sunday's race performance. Gabriel Bortoleto, representing the Audi team with Brazilian nationality, secured eighth place, over 1.017 seconds behind the pace. Rafael Câmara, a Brazilian F2 champion and debutant in Formula 1 for the American team Haas, placed 16th, lagging 1.798 seconds behind the leaders. The stewards, responsible for enforcing Formula 1's rules, issued a reprimand to Câmara for impeding Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during Turn 15. A reprimand serves as a formal warning without any grid penalties, as previously reported. Verstappen reported steering issues during Friday's session, and Red Bull is exploring potential modifications to his car. Additionally, Mercedes' George Russell carries a five-place grid penalty due to an engine change. Mercedes holds the potential to clinch the constructors' championship, the award given to the team with the best overall performance throughout the season, should they outscore Ferrari by at least three points in the São Paulo race. The race commences on Sunday at noon ET (2:00 p.m. São Paulo time), and the broadcast will be available on Apple TV, the sole US broadcaster for this season's event. For viewers in the United States, the key narratives center around Antonelli, who enters the championship with title contention, Red Bull's struggling car, and the debut of Brazilian driver Câmara with the American team Haas. Future races include stops in Las Vegas on November 19-21, Qatar on November 27-29, and Abu Dhabi on December 4-6. As teams conceal fuel loads and engine settings during practice, the order established on Friday might not remain the same on Sunday. The weather remained dry during Friday's session, but rain was forecast for the remaining days of the weekend, potentially causing disruptions in qualifying. Kimi Antonelli's impressive performance on Friday, recorded on November 6, 2026, underscores his championship-winning form. Lando Norris of McLaren secured second place by 0.253 seconds. The official qualifying session is slated for Saturday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. São Paulo time), with the race itself taking place on Sunday, November 8, at noon ET (2:00 p.m. São Paulo time). For the complete report, consult the Formula 1 practice 2 results, the race schedule on the Formula 1 website, and the FIA stewards' documents. The information is sourced from Apple TV. Editorial oversight is provided by Matthias Camenzind, the Editor-in-Chief. Our editorial standards ensure accuracy and integrity. Should you notice any errors, please report them to us.",
  "summary": "Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, already the 2026 champion, topped Friday's second practice in São Paulo, ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. The post F1 Champion Antonelli Tops Brazil Practice appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [
    "Kimi Antonelli wins 2026 F1 title at age 20.",
    "Antonelli sets fastest lap of 1:10.763 at practice.",
    "Qualifying for Sunday race on November 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Antonelli’s dominant practice performance signals Mercedes' ability to challenge for the constructors' championship while reinforcing the championship winner's momentum heading into the São Paulo Grand Prix.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}