Lewis Hamilton is set to face a grid penalty for this weekend’s Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix after Ferrari’s weakest Friday of 2026 so far.
Hamilton was the fastest Ferrari in FP2, but he was 0.450 seconds slower than Kimi Antonelli’s benchmark, with teammate Charles Leclerc almost three tenths further behind – a deficit that was mainly explained by a deployment problem on the start/finish straight.
Ferrari’s pace on the long runs also appeared to be fourth best, with Leclerc’s long run more than half a second per lap slower than Antonelli’s on the same tire.
Long-term pace of FP2
Antonelli 1m15.331s (S)
Norris 1m15.497s (M)
Verstappen 1m15.501s (M)
Piastri 1m15.520s (S)
Hadjar 1m15.569s (S)
Russell 1m15.657s (S)
Leclerc 1m15.872s (S)
Hamilton 1m16.027s (men)
The Ferrari is weak where you’d expect it to be – Juncao’s long, full-throttle run to the timing line – as Hamilton (red line) sends three tenths to Antonelli (blue line) in that section alone.
Hamilton was also 11 km/h slower than Antonelli on the second straight before reaching left turn 4, Descida de Lago, losing more than a tenth and a half there.
But Ferrari’s usual cornering prowess wasn’t on full display in Brazil either, as Leclerc confirmed after FP2, saying “the car in the corners was probably feeling one of the worst Friday sensations of the season.”
Team boss Fred Vasseur admitted there was “a lot of work to do on the scales” overnight.
The Race understands Hamilton faces a grid penalty as Ferrari has planned engine component changes after FP2.
Hamilton bounced back from a five-place grid penalty to win the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid, after moving from 20th to fifth in the sprint race.
George Russell has already confirmed a five-place grid penalty.
His teammate Leclerc could receive a grid penalty at the next round in Las Vegas for engine component changes.
Ferrari must avoid being edged out by Mercedes by three points in Brazil to avoid the constructors’ championship being sealed this weekend.
This is something that promises to be tricky after Friday since the Mercedes of world champion Kimi Antonelli was the fastest on the short and long stints.
Gn sports
