SÃO PAULO — Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos on Saturday, leading a Mercedes front-row lockout ahead of team-mate George Russell. The 20-year-old Italian set the fastest time in the final minutes of Q3 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

Mercedes have set the pace for much of the 2026 season under Formula One's new engine and chassis regulations. Antonelli finished second at Interlagos last year and returned to the circuit as one of the leading contenders for the championship. Interlagos is not a sprint venue this season, so Saturday's single qualifying session set the order for Sunday's race.

The loudest cheers of the afternoon were for Gabriel Bortoleto, the São Paulo-born Audi driver, who reached the top-ten shoot-out in front of his home crowd. Bortoleto and his childhood karting friend Rafael Câmara, a Ferrari academy driver, have been at the centre of Brazilian attention all weekend. Bortoleto is the first Brazilian to race full-time in Formula One since Felipe Massa retired in 2017.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team had found a good balance on the medium compound after struggling with tyre temperatures in Friday practice. Rival teams, including McLaren and Ferrari, failed to match the Mercedes pace through the slow middle sector. That leaves the Silver Arrows in a strong position before the final three rounds of the season.

Sunday's race starts at 14:00 local time, with forecasters at Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology predicting a chance of afternoon showers. Rain has repeatedly reshaped results at Interlagos, most recently in 2024. The weather could yet hand the midfield, and Bortoleto, an opportunity to upset the Mercedes duo.