Lando Norris Wins Dramatic Wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Mercedes Clinch 2026 F1 Constructors' Championship

SAO PAULO, Nov 10 — McLaren's Lando Norris claimed victory at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, November 8, mastering changing weather conditions at Interlagos as Mercedes secured the Formula One Constructors' World Championship.

Norris recovered from a difficult start to win the 71-lap race by 14.602 seconds over Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who delivered an extraordinary recovery from 21st on the starting grid.

Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar finished third, completing a double podium for Red Bull.

Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished fourth and fifth, scoring enough points to secure their team's ninth constructors' title.

Norris fights back after losing the lead

Norris entered the race as the pole-sitter after a strong qualifying performance in difficult weather conditions.

However, Mercedes driver Antonelli made a better start and moved into the lead, while Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson also passed Norris during the opening corners.

The McLaren driver found himself in third place as the field navigated a damp and slippery circuit.

As the track began drying, teams faced a difficult decision over when to replace intermediate tyres with slick tyres.

McLaren brought Norris into the pits earlier than his main rival, helping him reduce the gap to Antonelli.

The Mercedes driver later made a mistake at Turn 1, allowing Norris to take control of the race.

Changing weather tests tyre strategies

Weather played a decisive role throughout the Grand Prix.

Drivers began the race on intermediate tyres before switching to slicks as the track dried.

However, rain returned during the closing stages, forcing teams to reconsider their strategies.

The changing conditions produced several spins and mistakes as grip levels fluctuated.

Norris managed the situation effectively, maintaining his advantage and avoiding major errors.

He eventually crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 35 minutes and 23.504 seconds to secure his third Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season.

It was also his second consecutive win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Verstappen charges from the back

Verstappen produced one of the standout drives of the race.

Starting 21st after a penalty for replacing power unit components, the Red Bull driver quickly worked his way through the field.

His recovery continued throughout the race as he overtook rivals and benefited from carefully managed tyre changes.

He eventually finished second behind Norris, securing 18 championship points.

Hadjar completed Red Bull's strong performance by finishing third, giving the team two drivers on the podium.

Mercedes celebrate ninth constructors' crown

Although Mercedes did not win the Grand Prix itself, the team achieved the most significant milestone of the weekend.

Russell's fourth-place finish and Antonelli's fifth-place result were sufficient to place the constructors' championship beyond the reach of their remaining rivals.

The success marked Mercedes' ninth F1 constructors' championship and its first since 2021.

The German manufacturer also drew level with Williams on nine constructors' titles.

Mercedes' achievement completed a championship double for the team, with Antonelli having already secured the drivers' world title in Mexico.

Team principal Toto Wolff praised the organisation's determination to return to the top after several challenging seasons.

Hamilton makes his 400th Grand Prix appearance

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also reached a major career milestone in Brazil, competing in his 400th Formula One Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver started from 20th on the grid and worked his way into the points despite a spin in the difficult conditions.

Hamilton eventually finished ninth, while teammate Charles Leclerc was classified seventh after a post-race penalty.

The championship enters its final stages

With both major world championships decided, attention now turns to the remaining battles in the drivers' and constructors' standings.

Norris' victory demonstrated McLaren's ability to perform under challenging weather conditions, while Verstappen's recovery highlighted Red Bull's competitive race pace.

For Mercedes, however, Sao Paulo will be remembered primarily as the venue where the team secured its long-awaited return to the top of Formula One.

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