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Norris Wins Wild Wet São Paulo GP as Verstappen Storms From 21st and Mercedes Clinch Constructors’ Title

Editorial illustration of two unbranded open-wheel race cars, one orange and one dark blue, racing through heavy rain and spray on a hillside circuit with a city skyline at dusk. No real logos or recognizable people.

Rain, spins and a recovery drive for the ages: Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix had all of it. McLaren’s Lando Norris kept his head through a wet-dry-wet race at Interlagos to win by 14.6 seconds over Max Verstappen, who charged from 21st on the grid to second. Behind them, Mercedes stumbled but still did enough to wrap up the 2026 Constructors’ Championship.

Here is how a chaotic 71 laps played out and why the result matters.

Antonelli led early, then the race flipped

Norris started from pole, his first since the Spanish Grand Prix in September, but lost the lead immediately to new world champion Kimi Antonelli. According to BBC Sport, the Mercedes driver pulled out a five-second gap in 10 laps and led by more than eight seconds by lap 13 as the track began to dry.

The turning point came in the pit lane. Norris switched to slick tyres on lap 16, a lap before Antonelli, and gained so much time that he rejoined right on the Mercedes’ gearbox. Antonelli, who complained over the radio that his car felt strange under acceleration, spun at Turn 1 on lap 20 and handed Norris the lead. Formula1.com noted it was his second spin of the day, after one before the start.

Norris controls the late rain

From there, Norris was never seriously threatened. BBC Sport reported he had too much pace for Verstappen whether the track was wet or dry, and he handled a late shower that forced the field back onto intermediate tyres in the closing laps. It was his third win of the season and his first since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

Verstappen’s comeback and a Red Bull double podium

Verstappen started 21st after an engine penalty and once again turned a wet Interlagos into his playground. He moved into podium contention as Antonelli faded, and Red Bull ordered teammate Isack Hadjar to let him through on lap 39 in the hope he could catch Norris. The gap held, but Hadjar finished third to give Red Bull a double podium.

Mercedes clinch the title anyway

Mercedes went into the weekend needing to outscore Ferrari by just three points. Both of its drivers made costly errors: George Russell, who started seventh after a grid penalty, spun exiting the pits and lost 15 to 20 seconds, according to BBC Sport. Even so, Russell finished fourth and Antonelli fifth, sealing the constructors’ crown a week after the 20-year-old Italian became the youngest drivers’ champion in Formula 1 history in Mexico City. Reuters reported it is Mercedes’ first constructors’ title since 2021.

Ferrari never mounted a real challenge. Charles Leclerc finished seventh after passing Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson on the penultimate lap, and Lewis Hamilton recovered from 20th on the grid to ninth on his 400th Formula 1 start, despite a spin of his own. Oscar Piastri was sixth for McLaren and Nico Hulkenberg took the final point for Audi.

Elsewhere in the field

Home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th for Audi, while Brazilian Rafael Câmara made his Formula 1 debut for Haas and came home 20th. Lance Stroll retired from the race for Aston Martin, and Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac was wheeled off the grid before the start with a problem, per Formula1.com.

Why it matters

With both championships now decided, the final rounds of 2026 become a battle for pride and momentum. For McLaren, Norris’ win is a sign its car has come back to life after a difficult stretch. For Verstappen, a run from 21st to second underlines why he remains the benchmark in tricky conditions. And for Mercedes, a messy afternoon still ended with the team completing a championship double for the first time in five years.