Norris wins in Sao Paulo as Mercedes clinch constructors' title

Lando Norris won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming his first race victory since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August. The McLaren driver finished ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.

The result delivered the Formula One constructors’ championship to Mercedes, the first such title for the German manufacturer since 2021. The team secured the trophy with points from George Russell and new world champion Kimi Antonelli, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Norris started the race from pole position but ceded the lead to Antonelli immediately after the start. The Italian built an advantage of more than eight seconds by lap 13 while the track remained wet. Norris then executed an early pit stop for dry-weather slick tires, a move that placed him on the tail of the Mercedes when it rejoined the track.

Antonelli defended the lead for a few laps but complained over radio that the car felt strange under acceleration. On lap 20, he lost control entering Turn One and spun, handing first place to Norris. Norris maintained the lead through a late shower of rain, switching to intermediate tires in the final 10 laps.

Verstappen, who started in 21st place due to an engine penalty, completed a comeback to finish second. He moved up through the field to challenge Red Bull teammate Hadjar, who led the team’s efforts until lap 39. Red Bull ordered Hadjar to let Verstappen by, but Norris maintained sufficient pace to hold off the Dutchman.

Russell’s race was complicated by a spin exiting the pit lane on lap 16. The maneuver cost him 15 to 20 seconds and dropped him to 10th place. He recovered to fourth, overtaking Antonelli in the closing laps as Mercedes ordered a position swap to secure the championship. Antonelli’s finish was unaffected by a post-race penalty, but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc dropped to eighth after a collision with Liam Lawson.

Norris described the race as very tough, citing challenging conditions and a difficult start. He stated that keeping cool and avoiding mistakes was the main priority. The season continues with a triple header in Las Vegas, where the night race is scheduled to start at 04:00 GMT on Sunday, November 22.