Brazilian Grand Prix: Antonelli Leads Friday Practice as Interlagos Weekend Opens

Formula 1 arrived at Interlagos for the 20th round of the season, with the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend scheduled for November 6 to 8, according to Notícias ao Minuto.

The drivers' championship had already been decided. The BBC described Brazil as the first race since Kimi Antonelli won the title, while reporting that Mercedes could secure the constructors' championship this weekend.

On November 5, Perfil.com previewed a Brazilian round featuring Rafael Cámara's debut, alongside Ferrari's bid for the one-two finish it had missed in Mexico.

On November 6, the focus shifted to Friday's two practice sessions. Fanpage carried live coverage of FP1 and FP2, including times and results.

Norris featured at the front of the practice running, with World News CNA reporting him fastest as champion Antonelli returned to action.

By the end of second practice, Antonelli led the order. Sky Sports reported that the new world champion set the pace in his Mercedes, while Norris remained a threat.

Verstappen finished third in both Friday sessions, according to Telegraaf. Its report placed Antonelli fastest in the second session.

Antonelli's fastest second-practice lap was 1:10.763, according to the classification published by Rss. Norris followed on 1:11.016, narrowly ahead of Verstappen's 1:11.022. Russell was fourth on 1:11.036.

Those are practice results, not the race outcome. Friday's running opened a weekend that continues through November 8, as set out by Notícias ao Minuto.

The next test is whether Antonelli can carry his Friday pace into the rest of the Grand Prix weekend. Sky Sports identified Norris as a threat after the second session, with Verstappen also among the leading runners.

The remaining championship stakes sit with the teams. Mercedes can win the constructors' title in Brazil, according to the BBC, even though Antonelli has already settled the drivers' contest.