Max Verstappen set the fastest lap in final practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris at Interlagos. However, a series of engine-related grid penalties means the competitive order in qualifying is unlikely to be reflected on Sunday’s starting grid.
Verstappen ended Saturday’s final practice session on top with a 1:11.622, just 0.025 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Antonelli. McLaren’s Norris completed the top three, 0.131 seconds off the pace, as the leading teams prepared for a potentially rain-affected qualifying session.
George Russell finished fourth, 0.184 seconds behind Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc placed fifth for Ferrari. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top six, with only 0.313 seconds covering the leading six drivers.
The close margins suggest a fiercely competitive qualifying session, although several of the leading contenders already face significant grid penalties.
Verstappen fastest but facing a back-of-grid start
Despite setting the benchmark in FP3, Verstappen is set to start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after Red Bull replaced several power unit components.
The Dutchman has been handed a 30-place grid penalty following changes to his internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust system.
Verstappen had already acknowledged that qualifying would have limited significance for his starting position, explaining that Red Bull decided to replace the engine shortly after Friday’s running.
The four-time world champion also continued to discuss the steering difficulties that had troubled him during Friday’s sessions, although he reported an improvement in the steering feel during FP3.
His late flying lap nevertheless demonstrated Red Bull’s outright pace, with Verstappen edging Antonelli by the narrowest of margins.
Antonelli and Norris keep the pressure on
Antonelli remained a consistent threat throughout the session despite reporting an early steering wheel issue.
The Mercedes driver eventually recorded a 1:11.647, putting him just 0.025 seconds behind Verstappen and ahead of Norris, who had briefly moved to the top of the timing screens during the final runs.
Russell also showed competitive pace in the second Mercedes, finishing fourth with a 1:11.806.
However, the British driver faces a five-place grid penalty following another internal combustion engine change.
At McLaren, Norris and Piastri secured third and sixth respectively, keeping the team firmly in contention ahead of qualifying.
Ferrari’s contrasting session as Hamilton encounters problems
Ferrari endured a mixed final practice session.
Leclerc finished fifth with a 1:11.896, completing 30 laps and ending the session 0.274 seconds behind Verstappen.
Hamilton, meanwhile, finished only 12th after completing seven laps.
The seven-time world champion returned to the pits during the session with smoke visible inside his cockpit and unusual noises coming from his SF-26.
The cause of the problem was not established in the session report, and Hamilton did not complete a representative fast lap on soft tyres.
Both Ferrari drivers also face ten-place grid penalties after changes to their internal combustion engines, further complicating the team’s prospects for Sunday’s race.
Racing Bulls impress as five drivers face grid penalties
Behind the leading six, Racing Bulls delivered an encouraging performance.
Arvid Lindblad finished seventh with a 1:12.060, ahead of team-mate Liam Lawson in eighth.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar followed in ninth, while Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top ten.
Pierre Gasly finished 11th for Alpine, recording exactly the same lap time as Bortoleto, while Nico Hülkenberg placed 13th ahead of Franco Colapinto and Haas rookie Rafael Câmara.
Further down the order, Sergio Pérez finished 20th for Cadillac. The Mexican also faces a 30-place grid penalty following power unit component changes.
In total, five drivers face penalties: Verstappen and Pérez have each received 30-place penalties, Hamilton and Leclerc ten places apiece, and Russell five.
Their final starting positions will depend on the qualifying classification and the application of those penalties.
Rain threatens to complicate qualifying
Weather conditions could become another decisive factor at Interlagos.
Cloud cover increased during the closing stages of FP3, with rain arriving as the session concluded.
The possibility of a wet qualifying session adds further uncertainty to an already unpredictable weekend, particularly with several front-running drivers facing significant grid demotions.
Verstappen may have demonstrated the strongest single-lap pace in final practice, but his penalty means the battle for the leading grid positions remains wide open.
With Antonelli, Norris and Russell all showing competitive speed, and the Racing Bulls drivers performing strongly, qualifying promises to be one of the most intriguing sessions of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
2026 Brazilian GP: Final FP3 Results
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull RBPT Ford RB22 | 1:11.622 | 19 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W17 | 1:11.647 | 21 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL40 | 1:11.753 | 22 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes W17 | 1:11.806 | 22 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-26 | 1:11.896 | 30 |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL40 | 1:11.935 | 20 |
| 7 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls RBPT Ford VCARB 03 | 1:12.060 | 25 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls RBPT Ford VCARB 03 | 1:12.171 | 20 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull RBPT Ford RB22 | 1:12.213 | 24 |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi F1 R26 | 1:12.644 | 24 |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Mercedes A526 | 1:12.644 | 26 |
| 12 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-26 | 1:12.833 | 7 |
| 13 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi F1 R26 | 1:12.865 | 27 |
| 14 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Mercedes A526 | 1:12.925 | 25 |
| 15 | Rafael Câmara | Haas Ferrari VF-26 | 1:12.981 | 19 |
| 16 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-26 | 1:13.109 | 20 |
| 17 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW48 | 1:13.147 | 25 |
| 18 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Honda AMR26 | 1:13.171 | 23 |
| 19 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes FW48 | 1:13.303 | 21 |
| 20 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac Ferrari MAC-26 | 1:13.573 | 32 |
| 21 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac Ferrari MAC-26 | 1:13.722 | 19 |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Honda AMR26 | 1:14.766 | 7 |
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