Table of Content
Lando Norris secured his third victory of the 2026 season at the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, fending off a charging Max Verstappen in a race defined by changing weather conditions. The event, which started and ended on a wet track with a dry spell in between, also saw Mercedes claim the world constructors’ championship.
Race Start and Early Drama
Pole-sitter Norris lost the lead at Turn 1 to Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the Mercedes driver recovered from sliding onto the grass during the formation laps. Liam Lawson slotted into third for Racing Bulls behind the leading pair. Further down the order, Fernando Alonso dropped six places after running wide at Turn 3, while Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen each made significant early progress after starting at the back of the grid due to engine penalties.
Antonelli built a five-second cushion at the front as Hamilton struggled on worn tyres in traffic. On lap 15, Hamilton became the first driver to switch to slick tyres, sparking a wave of pit stops across the field as everyone transitioned to soft compound tyres.
Weather Shifts and Strategic Battles
Following the pit stops, Antonelli maintained his advantage over Norris, Isack Hadjar, and Verstappen, who had both passed Lawson. George Russell dropped positions after spinning in the pit lane exit. Antonelli soon reported suspension issues that caused his car to pull to one side, culminating in a spin at Turn 1 that handed the lead to Norris.
Red Bull drivers Hadjar and Verstappen quickly capitalized on Antonelli’s handling troubles to move into the podium places. Verstappen climbed to second place shortly past the race halfway point and pitted for fresh soft tyres on lap 46. When light drizzle began falling with 23 laps remaining, McLaren brought Norris in for another set of soft tyres, prompting Hadjar to follow suit.
Mercedes initially attempted an alternate strategy by keeping Antonelli on track for a potential safety car, but as he lost over a second per lap, they brought him in on lap 54 for dry tyres.
Late Rain and Final Results
Heavy rain returned on lap 62, triggering a rapid shift back to intermediate tyres as both Norris and Verstappen pitted on lap 63. Norris managed the difficult conditions through the final laps to win by 14.602 seconds over Verstappen, with Hadjar taking third place.
Russell finished fourth ahead of Antonelli, with their combined points securing Mercedes its ninth constructors’ championship and its first since 2021. Oscar Piastri took sixth for McLaren ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lawson, while Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the points-scoring positions.
Further back, Rafael Camara completed his home debut in 20th position as a replacement for Esteban Ocon, while Lance Stroll retired for the 14th time this season. Valtteri Bottas failed to start the race due to a cross-threaded wheel nut on his Cadillac.
