WHAT THE TEAMS SAID – FRIDAY IN BRAZIL

Kimi Antonelli dominated Friday running at Interlagos, topping FP2 by a quarter-second in his first practice day as a World Champion. The Mercedes rookie built on his Mexico breakthrough with confident pace on both tyre compounds, leading George Russell home while McLaren and the field hunted tenths behind him. Russell ran his usual programme despite a five-place grid penalty incoming Sunday for a fresh power unit — the drop makes qualifying crucial, but his long-run pace suggests the W16 can recover positions on race day.

McLaren brought upgrades to Brazil and the early read is positive. Lando Norris led FP1 before slotting second in the afternoon, eight-hundredths clear of Oscar Piastri, who returned after giving his seat to reserve driver Leo Fornaroli in the morning. Both drivers reported the package added load without disrupting balance, a clean gain if it holds. The grid looks compressed — Red Bull and Ferrari lurk close on single-lap pace. Rain Saturday could shuffle everything. Antonelli's margin suggests Mercedes has found something; whether it survives a wet qualifying is the next test.