Antonelli Fastest at Interlagos as Extreme Weather Looms Over Brazilian GP Qualifying
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- Kimi Antonelli memuncaki sesi latihan kedua GP Brasil dengan catatan waktu 1 menit 10,763 detik, unggul tipis atas Lando Norris dan Max Verstappen.
- George Russell akan menjalani hukuman turun lima posisi grid akibat penggantian komponen mesin, menambah kompleksitas persaingan di Mercedes.
- Kualifikasi Sabtu berpotensi kacau karena hujan deras dan angin kencang, mengancam strategi tim di sirkuit yang terkenal cepat berubah kondisi.
Kimi Antonelli confirmed himself as the fastest driver in the second practice session of the Formula 1 Brazilian GP at the Interlagos circuit on Friday local time. The driver who has just sealed the world championship title set the best time of 1 minute 10.763 seconds, 0.253 seconds ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, while Max Verstappen was just 0.006 seconds behind in third place. The result shows a tight battle between Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull ahead of qualifying.
However, the spotlight is not only on lap times. George Russell, Antonelli's teammate at Mercedes, is confirmed to receive a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's race. The penalty was given after the team fitted a sixth internal combustion engine (ICE) unit to his car, exceeding the season quota. As a consequence, Russell must start the race from an unfavorable position despite his competitive pace.
Weather conditions are another factor that could disrupt qualifying. Forecasts show the air temperature at Interlagos on Saturday will range from 26–28 degrees Celsius in the third practice session (FP3), with a chance of light rain around midday. Entering qualifying, the temperature is expected to rise to 27–29 degrees Celsius, with the risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Strong winds with gusts reaching 40–50 km/h may also affect car stability, especially in fast corners.
Interlagos is known as a compact circuit with a unique character: the downhill Senna S corners, a technical middle sector, and a long uphill run to the finish line. The short lap often produces tight racing and high overtaking opportunities. However, unpredictable weather is often a decisive variable, as happened in previous seasons. Teams are now required to be careful in choosing pit exit timing and tire strategy, especially if rain falls during qualifying.
"With unstable weather conditions, qualifying could become a battle of strategy, not just pure speed," said an F1 analyst quoted by Motorsport.com.
For viewers in Indonesia, the Brazilian GP can be watched through the F1 TV Pro streaming service, which provides live coverage of all sessions. The qualifying schedule is Saturday at 15.00 Brazilian time (BRT) or Sunday early morning at 01.00 WIB. Meanwhile, the third practice session starts at 11.30 BRT or 21.30 WIB on Saturday night. Fans in the country are expected to pay attention to the time zone difference so as not to miss the drivers' action.
The competition at the top of the standings is heating up. Antonelli, who has locked up the title, remains ambitious to add more wins, while Norris and Verstappen try to close the gap. Russell's penalty is a blow for Mercedes, which is struggling in the constructors' standings. With potentially extreme weather, the qualifying result could be a big surprise that changes the competitive map for Sunday's race.
The question is, will Antonelli continue his dominance or will bad weather become an equalizer that opens opportunities for his rivals? The answer will be revealed in a qualifying session predicted to be dramatic.
