Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest in final practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix but will serve grid penalties along with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen pipped new Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli by 0.025s but will start at the back of the grid for a complete power unit change, while Hamilton and Leclerc have 10-grid place penalties for exceeding their internal combustion engine allocation.
Mercedes had already announced on Friday that George Russell will have a five-place penalty for a new internal combustion engine, the second time he has exceeded that part’s limit, while the Ferrari drivers are being penalised for the first time, so have a bigger penalty.
It means Antonelli and McLaren’s Lando Norris are favourites for pole position in qualifying later on Saturday at 6pm (build-up from 5pm), live on Sky Sports F1, when rain is expected.
Norris was just 0.106s slower than Antonelli in third and also traded top spot with the Mercedes driver throughout Friday’s practice sessions, as McLaren’s upgrades in Brazil appear to have made an immediate performance impact.
Russell was fourth quickest and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had much stronger pace compared to Friday, after making significant changes to his car’s setup, and was just 0.274s off the pace.
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Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari is into the garage after engine issues during the third practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
His team-mate Hamilton was limited to just seven laps due to an engine issue, which Ferrari are in a race to rectify ahead of qualifying.
Hamilton initially complained about engine vibrations, and later, his engine started smoking, which brought his session to an early end.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has struggled in the second half of the season but has an opportunity to start high up the grid with all of the penalties for his rivals, and he was sixth in final practice.
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Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane says the team wants to ‘apply science’ to their decision on the 2027 driver line-up
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson were seventh and eighth while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was ninth, and all three drivers could be fighting for spots on the second row.
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto continues to have a strong weekend on home soil in 10th while compatriot Rafael Camara was 15th and beat Haas team-mate Oliver Bearman for the first time in a practice session.
Camara is making his F1 debut in Brazil after Haas announced Esteban Ocon will not drive for the team in the remaining races after a dispute week in Mexico.
Haas are yet to announce who will drive in the final rounds in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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Rafael Camara reacted to making his F1 debut with Haas during Friday’s practice sessions in Sao Paulo
Sky Sports F1’s live Sao Paulo GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Saturday November 7
5pm: Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
6pm: SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 8
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8pm: Ted’s Notebook
Formula 1 is in Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW
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