Verstappen tops FP3 at Sao Paulo GP, Antonelli and Norris close behind
Synopsis
Verstappen topped FP3 at São Paulo by the finest of margins — 0.025s — ahead of newly crowned World Champion Antonelli, but Sunday's race picture is scrambled by grid penalties hitting Verstappen, Russell, Hamilton and Leclerc, while Hamilton's session ended early with smoke in the cockpit and an ominous engine note.
Key Takeaways
Max Verstappen posted the fastest FP3 lap of 1m 11.622s at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace on 7 November 2026 .
Kimi Antonelli , who has clinched the 2026 Drivers' Championship , finished 0.025s behind in second; Lando Norris was third.
Verstappen will start from the back of the grid in Sunday's race due to multiple power unit changes.
Lewis Hamilton ended his session early after reporting 'smoke in the cockpit' and an irregular engine note, with 25 minutes remaining.
George Russell faces a five-place penalty ; both Hamilton and Leclerc carry 10-place grid drops for ICE changes.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace has been confirmed on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035 .
Max Verstappen clocked the fastest lap in Free Practice 3 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Saturday, 7 November 2026, posting a 1m 11.622s at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace to edge new World Champion Kimi Antonelli by just 0.025 seconds. Lando Norris finished third, with the top four — including George Russell — covered by fewer than two tenths of a second.
Session Highlights
Despite the threat of rain and thunderstorms over São Paulo, most teams were in no rush to venture out when the session began at 11:30 local time. Antonelli was quickest in the early phase of the session, initially leading on a 1m 12.214s before Verstappen improved. The flurry of qualifying simulations in the final 15 minutes — when Pirelli soft tyres made their first FP3 appearance — reshuffled the order, with Verstappen ultimately taking top spot ahead of heavy rain that arrived at the chequered flag.
Grid Penalties Cloud Race Picture
Verstappen is set to start from the back of the grid in Sunday's race following multiple power unit changes. Russell faces a five-place grid drop for an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) change, while both Ferrari drivers — Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc — have been handed 10-place grid penalties for ICE changes of their own. The penalties significantly alter Sunday's starting order despite the competitive FP3 times.
Hamilton and Hamilton's Troubled Session
Hamilton endured a troubled practice, reporting 'strange vibrations with the engine' before returning to the pits early. He headed back out but was forced to retire immediately after reporting 'smoke in the cockpit' and an irregular engine note, ending his session with 25 minutes still remaining. The seven-time World Champion could face further power unit changes ahead of qualifying, potentially deepening his grid disadvantage.
Other Incidents and Mechanical Woes
Nico Hulkenberg of Audi suffered an early mechanical issue that curtailed his running — his first on-track time since Freddie Slater drove his car in FP1 on Friday. Lance Stroll's difficult season continued as an Energy Recovery System (ERS) fault ended his session after just 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Cadillac driver Sergio Perez was placed under investigation for discarding an object from his cockpit.
Full FP3 Classification
Leclerc finished fifth, ahead of Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) to complete the top ten. Pierre Gasly's Alpine was P11, with Hamilton in P12. The order was completed by Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Rafael Camara and Ollie Bearman (Haas), Alex Albon (Williams), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Perez, Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), and Stroll. The Autódromo José Carlos Pace has been confirmed on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035. With qualifying next, the grid penalty arithmetic will make for one of the more complex starting order calculations of the season.
Point of View
Yet the Hamilton situation is the most urgent subplot: smoke in the cockpit and an erratic engine note in practice is rarely a good omen for a qualifying session, let alone a race. Ferrari's decision to take ICE penalties for both Hamilton and Leclerc simultaneously suggests the team is treating Brazil as a rebuild lap rather than a points opportunity. With the Constructors' title still potentially in play, that calculation deserves scrutiny.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the FP3 results at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in FP3 with a 1m 11.622s, followed by Kimi Antonelli at 0.025s behind and Lando Norris in third. George Russell completed the top four, with the quartet separated by less than two tenths of a second.
Why will Verstappen start from the back of the grid in Brazil?
Verstappen is set to start from the back of the grid at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after taking multiple power unit component changes beyond the permitted allocation. Despite topping FP3, his qualifying position will not reflect his likely race starting spot.
Has Kimi Antonelli already won the 2026 F1 Drivers' Championship?
Yes. Kimi Antonelli has already clinched the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The Italian finished second in FP3 behind Verstappen, just 0.025 seconds off the pace.
What happened to Lewis Hamilton in FP3 at Sao Paulo?
Hamilton's FP3 session ended early after he reported 'smoke in the cockpit' and a sub-optimal engine noise, returning to the pits with 25 minutes remaining. He had already reported 'strange vibrations with the engine' earlier in the session and may require further power unit changes.
How long is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix circuit under contract with Formula 1?
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, host of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, has been confirmed on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035, ensuring Brazil's long-term presence on the schedule.
