Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying approaches with Antonelli setting the practice pace

The Brazilian Grand Prix is the first race since Kimi Antonelli secured the drivers' championship. But another title remains in play: Mercedes can win the constructors' championship this weekend, according to the BBC.

Ferrari arrived looking to recover an opportunity missed in Mexico. Perfil.com reported on November 5 that the team was pursuing the one-two finish it had let slip there, while Max Verstappen was targeting a fourth victory.

On November 6, Lando Norris set the pace in the opening practice session at Interlagos, according to World News CNA. Antonelli finished that session second, Rss reported.

Antonelli moved ahead in the second session. Infobae reported that the Mercedes driver led Norris and Verstappen, putting the newly crowned champion at the front by the end of Friday's running.

Verstappen's position was consistent across the two sessions. He recorded the third-fastest time in each, according to Telegraaf.

Ferrari's Friday was less convincing. Fanpage reported difficulties for the team, including Hamilton's complaints about the Medium tyre compound and Leclerc questioning what was happening with his engine.

On November 7, attention shifted to the final practice session before qualifying. A live update from Perfil.com placed Franco Colapinto 16th midway through that session, after he had reached the top 10 during Friday's running.

Antonelli holds the clearest benchmark from the completed Friday sessions, but Norris has already led one session and finished second in the other. Sky Sports described Norris as a threat despite Antonelli's impressive return as world champion.

The supplied coverage does not contain a final result from Saturday's practice or a qualifying classification. Fanpage reported that qualifying was scheduled for November 7, ahead of Sunday's race.

Qualifying will establish whether Norris and Verstappen can overturn Antonelli's Friday advantage. Ferrari also needs to show whether it has resolved the difficulties reported by Fanpage, rather than simply carrying its ambitions from Mexico into another weekend.

Beyond the fight for pole, Mercedes' chance to clinch the constructors' championship gives the weekend a second title storyline. That possibility remained open in Saturday's coverage from the BBC.