Brazilian GP: Antonelli tops FP2 as Leclerc incident sparks FIA investigation
KImi Antonelli in action for Mercedes
New world champion Kimi Antonelli was the fastest around Interlagos during FP2 at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
He topped the session by a quarter of a second from reigning champion Lando Norris, as Max Verstappen completed the top three. Charles Leclerc, upon his return to action, was given a tight squeeze by the debuting Rafael Camara, sparking an impeding investigation.
Kimi Antonelli sets FP2 pace at Brazilian Grand Prix
After a flurry of rookie FP1 outings, which included Colton Herta securing his FIA Super Licence at the second time of asking, normal order was resumed for FP2.
Among the returning drivers was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who became a father during the short time between Mexico City and Sao Paulo.
On the medium tyres, the Monegasque clocked a 1:13.247 for the pack to attack.
That time quickly fell down the order, though Lewis Hamilton was struggling for tyre temperature to get himself on the board.
Making Turn 1 remained tricky for various drivers at the start of FP2, after several wide moments during the opening hour of Friday running.
There was a bit of drizzle around Interlagos. Some more troublesome precipitation threatens for the remainder of the race weekend.
20 minutes into the session and Antonelli led the way on a 1:11.824, armed with hard tyres.
One driver who faced an uphill task just to join the action was Nico Hulkenberg. Fresh heartbreak struck Freddie Slater in that Audi earlier, the R26 coming to a stop on track and still receiving major treatment.
After a general lull in the action, the qualifying simulations on the red-walled softs commenced with a little over half of the session remaining.
Russell’s 1:11.036 was the time to aim for.
Round one belonged to Antonelli, who took us into the 1:10s. Norris, in the upgraded McLaren, was the closest challenger as it stood, a quarter of a second off the pace.
Verstappen sat third, meaning we had three different manufacturers in the top three.
Liam Lawson encountered a Williams, approaching Turn 8, which he said “sits in the middle of the track every weekend.”
Running slightly out of sync with the leading pack, Leclerc went seventh with his first soft-tyre lap, though taking to the paint down the main straight did not help.
He was squeezed by Haas F1 rookie, and Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who was continuing to get to grips with F1 life, his call-up coming ahead of schedule after the sacking of Esteban Ocon.
That incident was placed under post-session investigation by the F1 stewards.
The qualifying runs complete, focus now switched to long run performance.
How useful that data will prove to be, remains to be seen, with a strong potential for a wet qualifying and/or race day.
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Hamilton reported that his front medium tyres were “not working” for him.
Bortoleto gave a wave to his friend and fellow Brazilian Camara as he drove past down the straight, where the low cloud and light drizzle had descended, Turn 1/2 included.
Antonelli ended FP2 on top, ahead of Norris and Verstappen who completed the top three.
