Norris takes São Paulo win as Mercedes claim ninth constructors' title
The British driver finished 14 seconds clear of Max Verstappen, who recovered from 21st to second, while Kimi Antonelli's fifth place secured the team championship for Mercedes.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, finishing 14 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.
The race featured shifting weather conditions and mechanical issues that reshaped the field. Norris, driving for McLaren, led from the midpoint of the contest after taking the front from Kimi Antonelli. The British driver controlled the lead despite rain falling in the final 10 laps, which forced a wave of pit stops for wet tires. His McLaren showed strong pace in clean air, allowing him to dictate the race without losing the lead to rivals.
Verstappen provided a dramatic counterpoint to Norris' performance. The Red Bull driver started from 21st place due to a full set of new engine components. He moved through the field with precision, reaching second place just past the halfway point. This result stands among his best comebacks at the circuit, following a 2016 run from 16th to third and a 2025 victory from 17th on the grid.
Mercedes secured its ninth constructors' world championship with the results. Antonelli, the reigning drivers' champion, struggled with tire temperature imbalances after his first pit stop. He went off the track twice and dropped to fifth place. Teammate George Russell finished fourth after a spin on exiting the pit lane cost him positions. These results were sufficient for Mercedes to outscore Ferrari, the second-placed team in the standings, by more than the three points required to close out the title.
This marks the first double for Mercedes since Lewis Hamilton won the drivers' championship in 2020. The team has recorded 12 wins across the 20 races of the season, with Antonelli contributing nine and Russell three. Mercedes developed the fastest car and engine under the new 2026 regulations, winning the first six races of the year before rivals closed the gap.
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, started from 20th on the grid due to an engine change penalty. It was his 400th grand prix start. He advanced to ninth place, while teammate Charles Leclerc finished seventh. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull took third, and Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished sixth.
For McLaren, the victory serves as a strong finish to a season where the drivers' title was lost. Norris claimed his third win of the year and the 14th of his career. The car's updated front wing, introduced for this round, appeared to provide the necessary race pace to challenge the field.
