Norris Masters the Rain in São Paulo as Mercedes Seal Ninth Constructors' Title

Lando Norris in his McLaren MCL40 during qualifying at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix (Photo: Liauzh, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; representative image — Norris's race-winning McLaren in 2026)

Rain, spray and a drying track could not stop Lando Norris at Interlagos. The McLaren driver won a thrilling wet São Paulo Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday, November 8, beating Max Verstappen by 14.6 seconds — and in the same afternoon, Mercedes sealed the Formula 1 constructors' championship for the first time since 2021.

It was Norris's third win of the season and his second victory in a row in Brazil, a result that underlined once again just how good the 2025 world champion is when the weather turns against the field.

A Race That Kept Changing Shape

The 71-lap race at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace began in the wet, dried out, and then turned wet again in the closing stages. Norris, who had taken pole in soaking conditions on Saturday, led for 47 of the 71 laps and held his nerve through every change in grip.

His biggest scare came early. New world champion Kimi Antonelli, who had sealed the drivers' crown a week earlier in Mexico City, spun out of the lead in the slippery conditions, handing Norris control of the race. From there, the McLaren driver never looked back, crossing the line in 1 hour 35 minutes 23.5 seconds.

Verstappen's charge from 21st on the grid to second was the drive of the day, and his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar completed the podium. Behind them, George Russell finished fourth and Antonelli recovered to fifth — results that were more than enough for Mercedes to clinch the teams' title with three races still to run.

Mercedes Are Champions Again

For Mercedes, the title is a ninth constructors' championship, drawing them level with Williams on the all-time list. It ends a four-year wait since their last teams' crown in 2021, and completes a championship double just a week after 20-year-old Antonelli became the youngest drivers' champion in history.

Team principal Toto Wolff celebrated the title on a separate podium with his drivers and staff, as Mercedes moved to 652 points — a total Ferrari can no longer catch. The German team had needed only three more points than Ferrari to settle the title, and the Italian team never threatened to prolong the fight on the treacherous track.

Hamilton Reaches 400 Starts

The race also belonged to Lewis Hamilton, who became only the second driver in Formula 1 history to reach 400 Grand Prix starts, after Fernando Alonso. The Ferrari driver started from the back of the grid in 20th after engine trouble on Saturday, climbed to ninth by the end of the first lap, survived a spin, and still finished in the points.

Brazil football great Neymar waved the chequered flag as Norris took the win, and the McLaren driver's celebrations were so enthusiastic that his usual champagne spray went slightly wrong — a fitting end to a chaotic afternoon.

What Happens Next

The championship may be settled, but the season is not over. Formula 1 now takes a week off before the final triple-header, starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21. Norris's win keeps the fight for pride alive at the front, while Verstappen's recovery drive showed that Red Bull will not give up a single position without a fight.

After a season of records, rain and a new champion, Interlagos delivered one more classic. The question now is who finishes the year on top of the standings behind the champions — and whether anyone can stop Norris from adding a fourth win in Las Vegas.

Who impressed you most in São Paulo — Norris in the rain, or Verstappen's charge from 21st to second? Tell us in the comments.