Lando Norris Wins Rain-Hit Sao Paulo GP

Posted : 09 November 2026

Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance in challenging wet conditions to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, while Mercedes secured the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship to complete a remarkable title double.

The McLaren driver crossed the finish line 14.602 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar completing the podium in third place. The victory marked Norris’s 14th career win and his 50th podium finish.

Verstappen produced an impressive recovery after starting 21st on the grid, working his way through the field to claim second place. George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by teammate Kimi Antonelli in fifth.

Although Mercedes endured a challenging afternoon, the results were enough to secure the team’s ninth Constructors’ Championship after it outscored Ferrari. The achievement came a week after Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion at the Mexico City Grand Prix, completing a drivers’ and constructors’ title double for the team.

Norris admitted that the changing weather and tyre conditions made the race particularly demanding, but praised his ability to remain composed throughout the contest.

“It was a very tough race,” he said, highlighting the difficulties of managing the starts, switching to slick tyres on a wet track and maintaining speed without making mistakes.

Verstappen also described the race as challenging, but considered his recovery from 21st to second a strong result. Hadjar, meanwhile, spoke about the difficulty of adapting to changing grip levels as the drivers switched between intermediate and soft tyres before the rain returned.

The race began dramatically when Antonelli made an excellent start from the front row to take the lead into the opening corners. Norris, who started from pole position, dropped back as Liam Lawson also moved ahead.

Norris soon recovered second place from Lawson, but Antonelli built a significant advantage at the front while the drivers navigated the wet circuit on intermediate tyres.

As the track began to dry, teams faced difficult decisions over when to switch to slick tyres. McLaren made an early move with Norris, bringing him in before Antonelli. The strategy helped the Briton close the gap on the Mercedes driver.

Antonelli eventually lost control and spun at Turn 1 on lap 20, allowing Norris to take the lead. The Italian subsequently struggled to regain his rhythm as Verstappen and Hadjar moved into contention.

Further down the field, Russell also suffered a costly spin in the pit lane after changing tyres, losing valuable time but managing to continue.

Norris made another pit stop later in the race, briefly surrendering the lead as the Red Bull drivers and other rivals followed different strategies. However, McLaren’s decision-making and the Briton’s consistent pace helped him regain control.

With rain intensifying in the closing stages, Norris returned to intermediate tyres on lap 63. Verstappen and the rest of the leading runners also made the switch as conditions deteriorated.

Despite the difficult final laps, Norris maintained his advantage and secured a memorable victory in Brazil. Verstappen finished second, while Hadjar took third to give Red Bull a double podium.

Mercedes’ fourth- and fifth-place finishes for Russell and Antonelli confirmed its championship success, marking the team’s first Constructors’ title since 2021.

Lando Norris Wins Rain-Hit Sao Paulo GP

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