Verstappen Dominates FP3 at Sao Paulo GP, Ahead of Antonelli and Norris
Max Verstappen led the way in FP3 for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Antonelli and Norris close behind.
Verstappen Leads the Pack
Max Verstappen showcased his dominance in the final practice session ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, finishing with the fastest time of 1m 11.622s. The newly crowned World Champion established his speed just minutes into the session as all drivers switched to Pirelli's medium tyres.
Challenges for Competitors
Nico Hulkenberg faced a difficult start as he encountered mechanical issues early on, having missed Friday's practice. His car had been piloted by Freddie Slater in FP1, and Hulkenberg's brief attempt on track came to an abrupt end due to a fault.
Meanwhile, George Russell took to the circuit knowing a five-place grid penalty awaited him due to an internal combustion engine change. His Mercedes teammate, Antonelli, faced steering wheel issues but still managed to climb the time sheets, initially taking the lead with a time of 1m 12.497s.
Stroll's Struggles
For Lance Stroll, the session brought more unfortunate news. The Aston Martin driver was advised to return to the pits after just 15 minutes because of an Energy Recovery System (ERS) problem, which curtailed his day.
As the session progressed, Antonelli further lowered the benchmark with a time of 1m 12.214s, narrowly edging out Verstappen, who faced a brief off-track excursion at Turn 4 while trying to respond.
Grid Penalties and Setbacks
Verstappen's performance comes with a backdrop of grid penalties as he will start from the back due to multiple power unit changes. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also face similar 10-place grid penalties after their own ICE alterations. Hamilton experienced troubling vibrations that forced him back to the pits, and he concluded the session prematurely due to electrical issues and smoke in the cockpit.
Qualifying Simulations Begin
As the session neared its final moments, teams shifted focus to qualifying simulations, introducing the soft tyres into practice for the first time. Russell was the first to break the 1m 12s barrier, but his advantage was short-lived. Lando Norris, Antonelli, and finally Verstappen all surged ahead as the clock ticked down.
Final Standings and Rain Delay
Despite several attempts to improve lap times, many drivers struggled to find better results on their second runs with the same tyres. Ultimately, Verstappen crossed the checkered flag fastest, followed closely by Antonelli, Norris, and Russell, just as heavy rain began to fall.
The top ten was rounded out by Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri from McLaren, and Red Bull’s Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, while Isack Hadjar and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto also made strong showings. Pierre Gasly secured P11 in his Alpine, ahead of the likes of Hamilton, Hulkenberg, and Haas pair Rafael Camara and Ollie Bearman.
