Norris wins F1 Sao Paulo GP as Mercedes clinches constructors' title

McLaren's Lando Norris overcame a poor start and treacherous conditions to win Sunday's Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while Mercedes secured the constructors' championship despite errors from both its drivers.

Norris started from pole position on a damp track but lost the lead to newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap, before recovering through a well-timed switch to dry-weather tyres and capitalizing on a spin by the Italian.

Drivers compete during the Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace Circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 8, 2026. (Xinhua)

The Briton then controlled the remainder of the race, holding off Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who produced a remarkable recovery from 21st on the grid to finish second. Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar completed the podium.

The victory was Norris' first since the Dutch Grand Prix in late August and ended a winless run of more than two months for McLaren.

"It was a very tough race, very, very tough," Norris said. "Not the best of launches off the line, but a lot of challenges today with the conditions and going on slicks in the wet is always tough."

"The main thing today was that I just kept it cool and I did not make any mistakes. I had the pace when I needed to."

Antonelli, who secured his maiden world championship in Mexico last weekend, made an excellent start to seize the lead and quickly established an advantage of more than eight seconds as Norris struggled in the wet conditions.

However, as the track began to dry, McLaren brought Norris in for slick tyres on lap 16, one lap before Antonelli.

The earlier stop proved decisive, with Norris closing rapidly on the Mercedes as Antonelli struggled to bring his tyres up to temperature.

On lap 20, Antonelli spun at Turn 1, surrendering the lead to Norris. The Italian subsequently ran wide at the same corner and lost further positions, reporting unusual handling problems with his car.

Norris thereafter maintained a comfortable advantage, even as another rain shower forced drivers back onto intermediate tyres in the closing stages.

Behind him, Verstappen delivered one of the standout performances of the afternoon.

Starting 21st following an engine-related grid penalty, the four-time world champion surged through the field, reaching sixth by lap 10.

After passing Antonelli, Verstappen closed on Hadjar, who was instructed by Red Bull to yield second place on lap 39. However, the Dutchman was unable to make significant inroads into Norris' advantage.

Mercedes endured a difficult afternoon despite securing its ninth constructors' championship and first since 2021, with three rounds remaining.

George Russell, who started seventh, had worked his way into podium contention before spinning at the pit exit following his lap-16 tyre change, losing around 15 to 20 seconds and dropping to 10th.

Russell recovered to finish fourth after passing Antonelli in the closing stages following a well-timed switch to intermediate tyres, with the Italian taking fifth despite receiving a five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release.

The result marked Mercedes' first grand prix without a podium finish this season, but was nevertheless sufficient to secure the teams' crown one week after Antonelli clinched the drivers' title.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished a distant sixth, more than 56 seconds behind his race-winning teammate.

Ferrari also endured a disappointing afternoon, with Charles Leclerc classified eighth after receiving a five-second penalty for a late collision with Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, who was promoted to seventh.

Lewis Hamilton, who had climbed rapidly from 20th on the grid, struggled for pace later in the race and finished ninth, while Audi's Nico Hulkenberg claimed the final point in 10th.

The 21st round of the 2026 F1 season is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21.