Mercedes Triumphs at Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Secures 2026 Constructors' Championship
Mercedes Dominates the 2026 Season
At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Mercedes has successfully clinched the 2026 Formula 1 constructors' championship, marking a remarkable achievement as they also secured the drivers' title. This victory comes after a strong performance throughout the season, particularly under the new engine and aerodynamic regulations.
The team celebrated its first constructors' title since 2021, with George Russell finishing in fourth place and Kimi Antonelli, the newly crowned world champion, taking fifth at Interlagos. Antonelli had already made history by becoming the youngest Formula 1 champion at the previous weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.
TEAM STANDINGS (after 20 rounds) Mercedes strike gold #F1 #BrazilGP https://t.co/Zh4UBcoGYN
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 8, 2026
In other highlights, McLaren's Lando Norris achieved his second consecutive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, finishing 14.6 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who made an impressive recovery from starting in 21st position. Isack Hadjar, Verstappen's teammate, rounded out the podium.
Antonelli had a strong start, overtaking Norris at the beginning, but his race took a turn for the worse after switching to dry tires, leading to a spin at Turn 1 and losing positions to both Norris and Verstappen.
Russell's chances for a podium were also hindered when he spun at the pit lane exit during his first stop, dropping to eighth before managing to recover to fourth place.
THE TOP 10 IN SÃO PAULO
#F1 #BrazilGP https://t.co/cAKXMFL4u7
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 8, 2026
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, started from 20th due to engine issues in qualifying but made a strong opening lap to climb to ninth. However, he ultimately finished in that position after a challenging race that included a spin in the rain.
After the race, Antonelli received a five-second time penalty for an unsafe pit release, but this did not affect his finishing position. Similarly, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc dropped to eighth after incurring a five-second penalty for colliding with Liam Lawson late in the race.
Entering the 2026 season, Mercedes was favored due to new technical regulations that balanced conventional combustion power with electrical energy. The team lived up to expectations by winning the first six races and achieving victories in 12 out of the 20 races held so far.
This success signifies Mercedes' return to form after a challenging period from 2022 to 2025, where they secured only a few race wins under the previous ground-effect regulations. Their latest triumph also echoes their dominance at the start of the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014, establishing them as a leading force in the championship.
With three races left in the season, Mercedes has now secured both championship titles, showcasing their effective adaptation to the latest technical regulations in Formula 1.