Antonelli flags bumpy Turn 1 as São Paulo weekend challenge

Kimi Antonelli topped Friday’s second practice in São Paulo, but said bumps under braking at Turn 1 would remain a challenge for the rest of the weekend. He finished second in FP1; across the two sessions, drivers ran wide after locking up at the first downhill left of the Senna S.

The bumps, together with low tyre temperatures, made braking difficult. Antonelli also cut across the run-off on his first soft-tyre lap in FP1.

He said grip was building, so he was trying to brake later, while the bumps made brake pressure difficult to manage. When he tried to do a little more, he said, it was too much.

Antonelli felt good with the W17 over one lap, but said longer runs still needed work. Ahead of qualifying, he thought Mercedes had a good chance; he also said the field was close, McLaren and Red Bull were strong, and the weather remained to be seen.