Motor racing-Verstappen quickest in final Sao Paulo practice ahead of Antonelli


Formula One F1 - Sao Paulo Grand Prix - Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 7, 2026 Red Bull's Max Verstappen in action during practice REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

SAO PAULO, ⁠Nov 7 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Max Verstappen set the fastest ⁠time in final practice on Saturday for Formula One's ‌Sao Paulo Grand Prix, finishing ahead of newly crowned championKimi Antonelli before qualifying later in the day.

The four-times champion clocked one minute 11.622 seconds, ​0.025 faster than the 20-year-old Mercedes driver ⁠who had topped the ⁠second practice at Interlagos circuit on Friday.

Verstappen is set to start ⁠Sunday's ‌race from the back of the grid after collecting a penalty for an engine change, while Ferrari's ⁠Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also face grid ​drops for taking ‌new internal combustion engines.

McLaren's Lando Norris, fastest in FP1, ⁠was third quickest ​on Saturday, 0.131 off the pace, with Mercedes' George Russell fourth. Russell will take a five-place grid penalty, also for an ⁠engine change.

Leclerc was fifth fastest, while teammate ​Hamilton finished 12th after an apparent engine issue. The 41-year-old Briton reported "strange" engine vibrations and smoke in the cockpit over the ⁠radio before stopping.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll completed only seven laps due to a suspected energy recovery system issue, finishing last.

Brazilian Rafael Camara, making his season debut after replacing Esteban Ocon at ​Haas, finished the session 15th, ahead of ⁠his teammate OliverBearman. Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, the other local driver, ​was 10th fastest.

Qualifying takes place later ‌on Saturday, with rain expected but ​yet to arrive at the atmospheric Brazilian circuit.

(Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima and Gabriel Araujo; editing by Clare Fallon)

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