Mercedes is on the verge of clinching the 2026 Formula One Constructors’ Championship, sitting just three points ahead of Ferrari with four races remaining, as reported by Sport. The battle for second place in the drivers’ championship remains fiercely contested, with five drivers separated by only 16 points. Fresh off his historic championship victory in Mexico, Kimi Antonelli set the pace in Friday’s practice sessions for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, signaling his intent to continue his dominant form.
The Italian rookie, who became the sport’s youngest-ever world champion at 20 years old, topped the timesheets in the second practice session at Interlagos. Antonelli’s lap of 1 minute, 10.763 seconds on the soft tire put him ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, according to timing data published by Sport. The session was marked by fog and light rain at the Brazilian circuit, adding an element of uncertainty to the weekend’s running.
Antonelli Sets Early Pace as Mercedes Appears Strong
Mercedes appears to hold a slight advantage on the high-downforce Interlagos circuit, a venue known for its fast corners, with McLaren running in close contention. Red Bull, the dominant force of recent years, is seen as the third-quickest team at this stage of the weekend.
The 20-year-old Italian paid tribute to Brazilian Ayrton Senna by sporting a special helmet design during his home race. His teammate, George Russell, also had a strong session, finishing fourth but will carry a five-place grid penalty for changing power unit components in his Mercedes W17.
FP2 CLASSIFICATION Antonelli ends Friday on top 🥇#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/bD3pf9KbfX
Verstappen Faces Early Weekend Challenges
While Antonelli asserted his authority, championship runner-up Max Verstappen encountered difficulties. The Red Bull driver, who secured his third victory of the season in Mexico and has been the points leader over the last seven races, expressed “constant complaints” to his team over the radio during practice, as noted by Sport. Despite these issues, the Dutch driver still managed to set the third-fastest time, just 0.259 seconds off the pace, indicating that Red Bull remains a formidable threat for the pole position.
The intense fight for the second position in the drivers’ standings is a key storyline, with Verstappen leading on 261 points. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) is just two points behind him, followed by George Russell (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Lando Norris (McClaren) also remains in mathematical contention for the runner-up spot.
Alonso and Sainz Struggle in midfield
Further down the field, the picture was less optimistic for Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. Alonso, a two-time winner at Interlagos in 2005 and 2006, finished the second practice session in 15th place, 1.7 seconds off the pace. His Aston Martin team continues to suffer with a car that is “manifestly improvable” and is powered by a Honda engine that is described as very deficient, a point highlighted by Infobae.
Sainz, driving for Williams, was even slower in 17th place, 1.9 seconds behind the leader.
Mercedes Clinches Constructors' Title
The focus at Mercedes is not just on the drivers’ championship but also on securing the constructors’ title. Mercedes currently leads with 630 points, 126 more than Ferrari. According to Infobae, the team could clinch the title on Sunday if it scores just three more points than Ferrari’s two drivers combined. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been a strong advocate for Antonelli, made pointed comments about Ferrari and Red Bull, suggesting they would not have given his young protégé a competitive car.
Wolff claimed that rivals “would have given him the second car” or sent him to a lower-tier team, referencing Oliver Bearman’s loan to Haas from Ferrari.
What’s Next: Saturday Qualification and Sunday’s Race
With practice complete, attention shifts to Saturday’s qualifying session, scheduled for the same time as the second practice and with similar weather conditions expected. Mercedes’ pace suggests they are strong contenders for pole position, though Verstappen’s ability to quickly adapt could make him a dark horse.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix will be the 20th and penultimate race of the 2026 season, with the season finale in Abu Dhabi to follow.
Mercedes could capture the Constructors’ title this Sunday simply by scoring three more points than Ferrari’s two drivers.
Infobae reported
Earlier coverage: Kimi Antonelli Tops FP2 at São Paulo Grand Prix Ahead of Norris and Verstappen
