Verstappen seeks steering fix before São Paulo qualifying

Max Verstappen finished third in second practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, 0.259s behind session pacesetter Kimi Antonelli and just 0.006s off George Russell's Mercedes. Lando Norris was second for McLaren.

Verstappen had reported heavy steering feel during the opening session on Friday, a problem affecting the car's rotation through the lap, and it remained on his mind after the session. He said the team needs to fix the issue before qualifying, adding that there is still work to do but nothing major. The cause, whether hydraulic assistance or front geometry, is not yet clear.

Weather could also play a part. Saturday's qualifying faces an estimated 50 to 70 percent chance of rain, with possible afternoon thunderstorms, while Sunday's race has precipitation odds of 40 to 60 percent through the afternoon.