The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix presented a turbulent test for Mercedes as heavy rain hit Interlagos. The Brackley-based team arrived in Brazil aiming for a clean race to officially seal the constructors’ championship, but both George Russell and drivers’ champion Kimi Antonelli suffered spins on the unpredictable wet-dry track.
Ferrari’s Poor Pace Eased Tension
Appearing on the NU Silver Arrows Radio Show podcast, Mercedes technical director James Allison and deputy team principal Bradley Lord explained that the team never felt pressured to strictly calculate championship points. According to Allison, this was because their nearest rivals, Ferrari, endured a disastrous performance throughout the race.
When asked if the pitwall had to focus on the championship math during the chaos, Allison offered a blunt assessment. As reported by Motorsport.com, Allison stated, “Also, Ferrari were having such a rubbish race; even our dramas in front of them were not really making it look like, at any stage, the red cars were going to trouble us.”
Securing the Championship
Ferrari’s pace faded in the tricky conditions despite a strong start from 20th-place starter Lewis Hamilton. Bradley Lord supported Allison’s view, noting that Mercedes strategists never genuinely worried about losing their grasp on the constructors’ crown while tracking the fluctuating progress of the red cars.
Lord explained to Motorsport.com, “Yeah, Lewis had that amazing start… [but] they were sort of making progress and then falling back, and you saw them overtaking and then being passed again. So I don’t think there was any point in the race where we actually wouldn’t have taken the championship regardless, because we were always ahead of the Ferraris on the road.”
The final classification confirmed the pitwall’s relaxed position, as Lando Norris won the race for McLaren while Russell finished fourth and Antonelli took fifth to secure the 2026 constructors’ championship for Mercedes. Charles Leclerc finished eighth and Hamilton ninth, leaving Ferrari with a small points haul and allowing Toto Wolff’s squad to clinch the title with three rounds remaining.
