Antonelli Leads Mercedes Practice in Sao Paulo
Mercedes ran practice Friday ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli fastest on lower fuel and George Russell carrying a grid penalty.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Motorsports
Mercedes practiced for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Friday, with Kimi Antonelli topping lower fuel times in FP2 after placing second in FP1. George Russell finished fourth in FP2 and starts from a five-place grid penalty.
Why it matters
Low-grip conditions during practice and mixed long-run tyre performance across teams leave the weekend order unsettled. Forecasts of warmer temperatures and a threat of rain suggest conditions will shift before qualifying and the race.
Practice sessions were run in low-grip conditions, with Mercedes comparing FP1 and FP2 set-ups and combining the best elements into FP2. Both Antonelli and Russell used the Soft tyre on long runs, while Verstappen's Red Bull looked strong on the Medium tyre and Norris's McLaren on the Hard.
The players
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes driver who topped the lower fuel times in FP2 and was second quickest in FP1.
George Russell
Mercedes driver who finished fourth in FP2 and starts the race from a five-place grid penalty.
The details
Antonelli said the car felt positive on single-lap runs, while Russell reported understeer that the team still needs to dial out. Teams are now looking ahead to Saturday qualifying and Sunday's race, with Russell aiming to challenge near the front from his penalised start.
Timeline
Friday: FP1 and FP2 practice sessions held at Sao Paulo
Saturday: Qualifying, with teams aiming to improve their positions
Sunday: Race, with Russell aiming to challenge near the front
Season Trajectory
Mercedes' mixed Friday performance, with one driver fastest on lower fuel and the other carrying a grid penalty, shapes how the team is positioned heading into a weekend where the front-running gaps are expected to narrow. How the team converts its single-lap pace into race results will bear on its standing among the leading constructors this season.
The five-place grid penalty means Russell must recover positions from the back of the field if he is to challenge near the front on Sunday. Fantasy players tracking Mercedes should weigh Antonelli's practice pace against Russell's penalised start.
The takeaway
Practice pace alone rarely settles a race weekend when temperatures and rain risk are forecast to change, so watch how the gaps between teams move in qualifying before drawing conclusions.
What happens next
Qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday will show whether the practice gaps among the front-running teams close as forecast.
Further reading
For more on how the sport's fastest drivers are performing this season, see the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pit Pass.
