Lewis Hamilton’s São Paulo GP preparations hit a dramatic snag as his Ferrari SF-26 emitted thick smoke during the final practice at Interlagos, compounding his challenging weekend. The seven-time world champion had already accepted a heavy 10-place grid penalty after Ferrari installed a new internal combustion engine in his car, a move mirrored by teammate Charles Leclerc.

Just 35 minutes into the session, Hamilton reported “smoke in the cockpit” over the radio, abruptly cutting his run short. Upon returning to the pits, dense plumes of smoke billowed from multiple parts of the SF-26, accompanied by the unmistakable stench of burning oil. Ferrari’s mechanics quickly reversed the stricken car into the garage as Hamilton exited, his day effectively ended early and his crucial qualifying simulation laps forfeited.

This latest mechanical failure intensifies the pressure on Hamilton and Ferrari, who are scrambling to resolve the issue ahead of Sunday’s race. The setback not only jeopardizes Hamilton’s ability to fine-tune his setup but also threatens his competitiveness after a significant grid drop. The incident starkly highlights Ferrari’s ongoing reliability concerns at a critical juncture in the Formula 1 season.