Norris wins wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Mercedes clinch ninth team title
Lando Norris claimed victory from pole position in Sao Paulo while Mercedes secured the constructors championship to complete a Formula One title double.
By Larissa Bell ·
Mercedes sealed their ninth Formula One constructors world championship on Sunday at a rain-hit Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where McLaren’s Lando Norris won from pole position for the second successive year. The result delivered Mercedes their first constructors crown since 2021 and brought them level with Williams on nine team championships.
The championship completed a double for Mercedes, coming a week after Kimi Antonelli became the youngest drivers champion with four races remaining. The 20-year-old Italian finished fifth in Sao Paulo and set the fastest lap, with teammate George Russell taking fourth. Both Mercedes drivers led during the race, but costly mistakes affected their afternoons.
Mercedes needed to outscore Ferrari by just three points to settle the constructors contest. Ferrari could not extend the championship battle in the difficult conditions. Charles Leclerc was classified eighth after a post-race penalty dropped him one position, while Lewis Hamilton finished ninth on his 400th race appearance.
Norris recovered after losing the lead to Antonelli at the start and ultimately finished 14.602 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The victory was the 14th of Norris’s career and his 50th podium finish. It also ended McLaren’s wait for a win stretching back to August, when Norris triumphed at the Dutch Grand Prix. Brazilian football forward Neymar waved the chequered flag.
Verstappen climbed from 21st on the grid, following engine penalties, to take second in a race that began and finished in rain. His performance earned him Driver of the Day, while teammate Isack Hadjar completed the podium in third. Verstappen also strengthened his hold on second place in the drivers standings, extending his advantage to 17 points over Russell, who moved into third overall.
Norris, the 2025 world champion, described the challenge of switching to slick tyres on a wet circuit while pursuing the lead. He credited his victory to staying calm, avoiding mistakes and finding speed when required. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the organisation’s strong opening to the season had provided the foundation for its championship success, despite more challenging recent races. Mercedes also supply McLaren’s engines.
Behind Antonelli, Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren. Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson took seventh after starting third and holding second place for the opening five laps. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg collected the final point in a race marked by spins, slippery conditions and changing weather.
