Kimi Antonelli Leads The Way As Ferrari Struggles In Brazil

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Kimi Antonelli Leads The Way As Ferrari Struggles In Brazil

Mercedes established a clear advantage during the opening sessions at Interlagos. Kimi Antonelli emerged as the primary benchmark for both speed and endurance.

Mercedes Dominance In Sao Paulo

Kimi Antonelli set the standard throughout the Friday sessions at Interlagos. He demonstrated superior pace in both qualifying simulations and extended race runs. A standout moment was his 20-lap stint on soft tyres, which highlighted the car’s efficiency. George Russell also showed strong form, though he trailed his teammate by roughly 0.3 seconds per lap. The Silver Arrows were particularly effective in the twisty second sector and the fast third sector, suggesting a well-rounded setup.

Ferrari’s Performance Struggles

In contrast, Ferrari encountered significant difficulties. The team struggled with overall balance and tyre degradation, leaving them well behind the leaders. Adjusted long-run averages for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were more than a second slower than Antonelli’s pace. The deficit was most apparent in the second sector’s corners and the third sector’s straights, where energy deployment issues were noted. The team is now working to refine the car’s feel before the main events.

Midfield Competition And Tyre Wear

The battle for the midfield positions is expected to be intense, with Racing Bulls, Audi, and Alpine showing very similar long-run times. Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto were among the fastest drivers outside the top tier, keeping their teams in contention. Further back, Haas, Williams, and Aston Martin faced a steeper climb to close the gap.

Strategic Implications For Sunday

Tyre management will be critical for the upcoming race. Pirelli introduced softer compounds this year, moving to a C3 through C5 range. High degradation levels observed during practice suggest that tyres wear out quickly at this circuit. This trend points toward a high probability of a two-stop race strategy, making the endurance shown by the top drivers even more significant.