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Lando Norris claimed victory in a wet thriller at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while Mercedes did enough to secure the 2026 Constructors’ Championship. The race featured a runner-up finish for Max Verstappen after starting at the back of the grid, alongside a standout performance in the tricky weather conditions from midfield driver Liam Lawson.
Norris overcomes weather for back-to-back Interlagos wins
Interlagos proved to be a successful venue for Norris once again, as the McLaren driver secured pole position during Saturday’s thunderstorms after showing strong pace in dry practice sessions. The Briton immediately lost his advantage off the starting line to fellow front-row starter Kimi Antonelli and slipped another spot to Lawson through the opening corners. After recovering second place when Lawson’s intermediate tires overheated, Norris pitted a lap earlier than Antonelli for slick rubber, wiping out a seven-second gap and forcing the Mercedes driver into a spin at Turn 1. Norris then controlled the pace at the front, managing tricky conditions in the final stages after switching back to intermediate tires to claim his third win of the season by 14 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Reflecting on his performance, Norris stated, “The main thing today was I just kept it cool and I didn’t make any mistakes. I had the pace when I needed to, so it was good. Nice to be back on the top step, and what a place to do it as well.”
Mercedes clinches constructors’ title amid driver spins
Mercedes entered the weekend needing only a solid result to secure the constructors’ crown for the first time since 2021, arriving just one weekend after Antonelli claimed his maiden drivers’ championship. Antonelli outpaced teammate George Russell in wet qualifying to take second and third quickest, though Russell carried a five-place grid penalty for an Internal Combustion Engine change that dropped him to seventh on the grid. Drama struck Antonelli even before the start when the new world champion ran wide at Turn 12 on his reconnaissance lap, spinning onto the grass before returning to the pits undamaged. During the race, Antonelli spun at Turn 1 and handed the lead to Norris, while Russell also spun on the damp pit exit after switching to slick tires.
As rain fell in the closing stages, Russell was allowed to pass his teammate for fourth position. Antonelli crossed the finish line in fifth and retained the position despite receiving a five-second post-race penalty for an unsafe pit release at his final stop, sealing this year’s team championship for Mercedes.
Verstappen surges from the back to finish second
Verstappen delivered another remarkable recovery drive, storming to the podium from the very back of the grid after taking a penalty for changing multiple power unit components. The Red Bull driver sliced through the field in the opening laps to secure second place, adding to his history of strong performances at Interlagos, which included winning the 2024 wet race from 17th and finishing third last year from the pit lane. The result marked a double podium for Red Bull as Isack Hadjar finished in third place, representing the team’s second double podium of the season following a similar result in Baku. Starting in fourth, the Frenchman had advanced to second during the middle portion of the race before receiving team orders to let Verstappen pass after running wide and losing time at Turn 1.
Ferrari experiences a complete disaster in Brazil
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton combined for just six points in a disappointing outing for Ferrari. Hamilton celebrated his 400th Formula 1 start with an impressive opening lap charge, gaining 11 positions from his 20th-place grid drop for power unit penalties. However, his intermediate tires degraded rapidly, causing him to drop back while he also faced an investigation for leaving the track to gain an advantage and a late spin that resulted in a ninth-place finish. Leclerc likewise served a grid penalty for replacing his internal combustion engine and struggled to match his teammate’s early progress through the field. He gradually gained positions via pit stops and switched to intermediate tires at the right time, allowing him to fight past Lawson for seventh before a post-race five-second penalty for contact with the New Zealander dropped him to eighth, prompting Leclerc to describe the day as a complete disaster.
Lawson shines again for Racing Bulls
Lawson put in a strong performance for Racing Bulls, qualifying fifth in Saturday’s rainstorm and starting third on Sunday due to grid penalties. He overtook Norris on the opening lap and chased Antonelli before the faster cars recovered their positions. Lawson finished as the best of the midfield, using his defensive skills late in the race to battle Leclerc and beat both Ferraris, securing valuable points for his team in their pursuit of fifth place in the constructors’ standings. Despite scoring points in 15 of the 20 grands prix this season and occasionally stepping in for the injured Hadjar at Red Bull, Lawson’s seat for next year remains unconfirmed alongside teammate Arvid Lindblad, with Nikola Tsolov also waiting in reserve.
Meanwhile, the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2035 following a contract extension announced ahead of the weekend. The historic circuit delivered another unpredictable race filled with strategic dilemmas, spins, and overtakes, maintaining its reputation for producing high-emotion racing moments.
