Kimi Antonelli leaves everyone without an answer before the possible rain; Alonso, difficult challenge with this engine
Kimi Antonelli He wants to celebrate the title in style, with a victory in Brazil, a week after being crowned the youngest world champion in history. He warned after achieving the dream of his life, in Mexicowho now just wanted to enjoy the last four races. And that means going to the limit without any pressure, with the work already done, and above all, winning. And for now, the Italian exhibited that liberation of already being champion with a strong hit on the table in Free Practice 2.
Everything seemed to indicate that in Interlagos equality would be huge. At least, for leading in Free Practice 2. Norris He put himself first with his McLaren (the only team that brought improvements, up to 4 performance innovations), and Verstappen It was only 6 thousandths away. Russell accompanied them, just 20 thousandths behind Lando. And Piastri was only 68 thousandths behind. There were 4 cars in 68 thousandths. And up to five cars in one tenth, with Hamilton in 5th place at that moment, very close.
But then, a cyclone came. It is expected that it may rain this Saturday, and above all, the rain forecast for Sunday is between 90 and 100% from early morning to afternoon. But before that water and any possible storm, Typhoon Kimi appeared.
The brand new F1 world champion took first place with a great turn. After finishing second behind Norris in FP1, the Italian dealt the first blow of the weekend by ending that theoretical equality with the time he set. It left Norris (2nd) at 0.253, Verstappen (3rd) at 0.259, Russell (4th) at 0.273, Piastri (5th) at 0.321 and Hamilton in 6th place at 0.450.. While, Leclerc was 7th at 0″720 after not being able to set his time in his first turn on soft rubber due to a final scare with Camara, who almost locked him against the wall at the entrance to the straight because he didn’t see it coming.
However, the results of this Friday day should be quarantined more than ever, since if it finally rains in qualifying (there is a 45% probability), things could be completely different. Even more so ahead of the Sunday race, where rain seems to be guaranteed.
Alonso, 15th
Fernando Alonso finished 13th in FP1, but we already warned that behind him he had two cars that should have been ahead, such as Beganovic’s Ferrari (who replaced Leclerc in Free Practice 1) and Slater’s (driven by Hülkenberg). That was two positions less for Fernando, although he ultimately lost them in FP2 without Nico finishing ahead due to problems with his Audi. The Asturian finished 15th this Friday.
The man from Oviedo is in the middle zone fight, but his rivals seem ahead. And furthermore, his test start after the session was not encouraging, with visible power delivery problems in the first meters and clear signs from Fernando that something was not right when changing gears. The endless drivability problems, plus lack of power.
In fact, Fernando was seen on several occasions warning by radio that he did not have “power for the tires and brakes to work.” After that, he let several cars pass, and with clear air he tried again, but the result was the same and the Spaniard said he preferred to go to the pits. “It’s difficult,” his engineer told him. “No, for the rest it is very easy,” he pointed out. All said on a radio.
10th was Bearman’s Haas, 1″2 from the headand Fernando was 15th, 1.7 off the best, that is, half a second from the Top-10. In fact, there was a lot of equality from 10th to 14thº, a tenth in four cars, and the jump in times occurs from a Fernando who was one step below that fight.
On Thursday, the man from Oviedo set the goal of finishing in the classification from 12th to 14th, positions from which he believes it is possible to fight for the points on Sunday, but perhaps he needs some mistake from an opponent to be in those positions. The possibility that it rains and that the track conditions are delicate could help him, since there his chassis could work well, and in water, the engine does not count as much. For now, against him is the time he loses in the more than two kilometers of pure acceleration and straight areas, in which he gives up a second of engine power without doing anything more than accelerating.
Sainz, without options
Carlos Sainz missed FP1 because he gave up his seat to young Browning and got into his car in FP2 in which it was very clear that Williams is still far from any fight for points. Carlos was 17th, 1.9 off the best, two tenths behind Alonso, being able to at least surpass the other Aston Martin, Lance Stroll, and his teammate Albon, who was 19th, 2.1.
