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Lando Norris wins Sao Paulo GP as Mercedes seals 9th F1 constructors' title

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris celebrates with his trophy in the podium after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)
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McLaren's British driver Lando Norris celebrates with his trophy in the podium after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)
November 09, 2026 10:44 AM GMT+03:00

McLaren's Lando Norris fought back from a difficult start to win the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, while Mercedes secured its ninth constructors' championship with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finishing fourth and fifth.

Norris started from pole position at Brazil's Interlagos circuit but lost ground early before recovering to take victory ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who climbed from 21st on the starting grid to finish second.

Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar rounded out the podium in third place, while Mercedes collected enough points to wrap up its first constructors' title since 2021.

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)
McLaren's British driver Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Norris fights back as Verstappen charges through field

The 71-lap race got underway with Antonelli overtaking Norris before the opening corner, while Liam Lawson also moved past the McLaren driver, pushing him down to third.

However, Norris gradually regained his pace and moved back into the lead on lap 20 after Antonelli spun at Turn 1 following a pit stop to switch to dry-weather tires.

Meanwhile, Verstappen worked his way through the field and moved into second place on lap 38 after Red Bull instructed its drivers to swap positions.

Despite changing weather conditions and multiple pit stops, Norris held on to the lead and stretched his advantage to more than 14 seconds in the closing stages.

Behind the podium finishers, Russell and Antonelli secured fourth and fifth, followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri in sixth. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished seventh, while teammate Lewis Hamilton crossed the line ninth.

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris arrives to the pit lane after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)
McLaren's British driver Lando Norris arrives to the pit lane after winning the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, aka Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 8, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Mercedes completes championship double after 5-year wait

Mercedes wrapped up its ninth constructors' championship, the title awarded to Formula 1's highest-scoring team, ending a five-year wait since its previous triumph in 2021.

Russell and Antonelli's combined results were enough to secure the title regardless of a post-race investigation into Antonelli's potentially unsafe release from the pit lane.

The team had built up a commanding lead earlier in the season after opening its campaign with a one-two finish in Australia and winning the first six Grands Prix.

With 12 race victories and 24 podium finishes this season, Mercedes completed a championship double, having already celebrated Antonelli's maiden drivers' world title at the Mexican Grand Prix.

November 09, 2026 10:45 AM GMT+03:00
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