Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Verstappen fastest in Sao Paulo practice despite grid penalty
Max Verstappen was fastest in final practice for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil on Saturday.
He edged Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 0.025 seconds, with McLaren's Lando Norris third.
Verstappen will start at the back after Red Bull changed his full power unit.
Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each face a 10-place penalty for exceeding their engine allocation, while Mercedes driver George Russell has a five-place penalty.
Hamilton also lost most of the session after engine trouble limited him to seven laps.
These penalties could give Antonelli, Norris and other drivers a better chance of starting near the front.
Qualifying is next on Saturday, followed by the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Max Verstappen was fastest in final practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix, narrowly ahead of new world champion Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen clocked 1:11.622, 0.025 seconds quicker than Antonelli.
Verstappen will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after a complete power unit change.
Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each face a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding their engine allocation, while George Russell has a five-place penalty.
Hamilton’s session was cut short by an engine issue, and he finished 12th.
- Who
- Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, set the fastest time.
- What
- He topped final practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix. He will start the race from the back of the grid.
- When
- Saturday, November 7, 2026.
- Where
- The São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil.
- Why
- Verstappen was fastest after setting a time of 1:11.622. He faces a grid penalty because Red Bull changed his power unit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Drivers focused on medium tyres, and Antonelli set the fastest time before Verstappen switched to soft tyres.
Verstappen set the fastest time on soft tyres, edging Antonelli by 0.025 seconds.
- Fastest driver
- Max Verstappen
- Fastest lap
- 1:11.622
- Gap to Antonelli
- 0.025 seconds
- Verstappen’s penalty
- Start from the back of the grid
- Ferrari penalties
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: 10 grid places each
- Russell’s penalty
- Five grid places
5 sources
Verstappen fastest in final practice but faces grid penalties with Ferraris
F1 Brazilian GP: Verstappen edges out Antonelli to top FP3 as Hamilton hits mechanical trouble
F1 Brazilian GP: Max Verstappen edges out Kimi Antonelli in FP3
Verstappen edges out Antonelli to set pace in São Paulo final practice
What people are saying
strange vibrations
big engine braking
close to undriveable
heavy to the right