Norris wins in São Paulo as Mercedes clinch constructors' title

Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix for McLaren as Mercedes secured the 2026 constructors' championship despite costly mistakes by both its drivers. According to BBC Sport's race report, Norris finished ahead of Max Verstappen after managing changing weather at Interlagos, claiming his first victory since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

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Norris started from pole but lost the lead immediately to Kimi Antonelli, who had clinched the drivers' championship a week earlier. Antonelli built an advantage of more than eight seconds by lap 13 before the drying circuit changed the contest. Norris switched to slick tyres on lap 16, one lap before Antonelli, and the earlier stop brought the McLaren close behind the Mercedes when the leader rejoined.

Antonelli initially kept Norris back, but reported an unusual feeling from the car under acceleration. On lap 20 he spun at the first corner, surrendering the lead. Another mistake at the same corner four laps later allowed Verstappen into third. Norris subsequently maintained control of the race, making a further stop for soft tyres before returning to intermediates as rain intensified during the final 10 laps.

Verstappen's second place came after an engine penalty left him starting 21st. He had reached sixth by lap 10 and continued advancing as the race developed. Red Bull instructed Isack Hadjar to allow him through on lap 39 in an attempt to challenge Norris. The McLaren driver, however, retained enough pace to stay ahead in both dry and wet conditions, denying Verstappen a victory from near the back of the grid.

George Russell also had to recover from a significant error. Having started seventh and moved into podium contention, he spun at the pit-lane exit after stopping on lap 16. BBC Sport reported that the incident cost him between 15 and 20 seconds and dropped him to 10th. Russell recovered to fourth, with Mercedes ordering him past Antonelli late in the race. Their fourth- and fifth-place finishes secured the team's ninth constructors' title and its first since 2021.

Oscar Piastri finished sixth in the other McLaren, followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson and Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hulkenberg took the final point in 10th for Audi. For Norris, the result ended a wait of more than two months for another win; for Mercedes, it completed a championship double despite a difficult race for both drivers.