Lando Norris has won a rain-hit São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, beating Max Verstappen — who charged from 21st on the grid to second — as Mercedes sealed the 2026 constructors’ championship.
Norris won the 71-lap race on Sunday, 8 November 2026, in 1:35:23.504, in a race that started and ended in rain. It was his third win of the 2026 season, his second in a row at Interlagos, the 14th victory of his career and his 50th podium. He led 47 of the 71 laps.
The McLaren driver started from pole but lost the lead at the start to front-row starter Kimi Antonelli, who swept past and pulled away before spinning out of the lead. Norris then took control and won by 14.602 seconds.
Verstappen, starting 21st because of engine penalties, produced a storming drive through the field in the wet to finish second for Red Bull. His team-mate Isack Hadjar was third, 24.485 seconds behind the winner.
George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes after recovering from a pit-exit spin. Newly crowned world champion Antonelli finished fifth after spinning out of the lead, keeping the place despite a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane.
Oscar Piastri finished sixth, 56.475 seconds back, after his second consecutive Q2 exit in qualifying — a quiet afternoon in which the Australian could not match his team-mate’s pace and could not hold off the recovering Verstappen.
Mercedes clinched the 2026 constructors’ championship — their ninth teams’ title and a title double, drivers’ and constructors’ — with 652 points against Ferrari’s 510, uncatchable with three races left. Brazil soccer star Neymar waved the chequered flag.
There was a viral moment on the podium: Norris was unhurt after a firework from the podium display caught the side of his head during the celebrations.
It follows a dramatic weekend at Interlagos, from Antonelli topping practice with Piastri fifth to Norris taking pole in a rain-hit qualifying session. The next race is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 21 November.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.