Mercedes has officially claimed its ninth Formula One constructors’ world championship, completing a dominant campaign following a wet and unpredictable race in Sao Paulo. The team’s success was solidified on Sunday, marking their first constructors’ crown since 2021. This milestone arrived just one week after Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Italian, made history by becoming the youngest-ever drivers’ champion with four races remaining in the season.
Lando Norris, the 2025 world champion driving for McLaren, secured his second consecutive victory at this circuit. Starting from pole position, Norris navigated treacherous, rain-soaked conditions to cross the finish line 14.602 seconds ahead of the pack. The victory serves as the Briton’s 14th career win and his 50th podium finish, representing McLaren’s first triumph since the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass performance, finishing second despite starting from 21st on the grid due to engine-related penalties. The race, which saw Brazilian football star Neymar waving the chequered flag, was defined by challenging weather that forced drivers to constantly adjust between slick and wet tire strategies. Norris acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions, noting the mental discipline required to maintain his lead without error. “A lot of challenges today with the conditions and going onto slicks in the wet is always tough, especially when you are pushing for the lead and trying to catch up a little bit,” added the Briton, who lost out to Antonelli when the start lights went out.
The constructor standings battle concluded decisively, as Ferrari failed to apply sufficient pressure on the track. Charles Leclerc finished eighth following a post-race penalty, while Lewis Hamilton, competing in his 400th career race, finished ninth. With this result, Mercedes has successfully equaled Williams’ historical record of nine constructors’ titles. “The main thing today was I kept it cool and didn’t make any mistakes and had the pace when I needed to.
Team principal Toto Wolff credited the achievement to the organization’s strong start to the season, which provided the necessary cushion to navigate the challenges of the final races. Mercedes, which also supplies engines to the McLaren team, celebrated the consistency that ultimately got them over the line.
Elsewhere on the grid, Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar secured third place. George Russell crossed the line in fourth for Mercedes, while Antonelli finished fifth after recording the fastest lap of the race. The afternoon was marked by numerous spins and slippery incidents, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri taking sixth and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls finishing seventh following a strong opening stint. Both made costly errors on an eventful afternoon, after leading at the start. Nice to be back on the top step and what a place to do it as well.”.
Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the points-paying positions in tenth place for Audi. In the drivers’ standings, Verstappen further extended his lead in the fight for second place overall, now sitting 17 points ahead of Russell, who has moved up to third in the championship rankings.
