2026 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Norris wins as Mercedes seals constructors’ title

Norris wins the rain-hit race as Red Bull takes two podium places

Lando Norris won the 71-lap Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos on 8 November, Round 20 of the 2026 Formula 1 season, in 1:35:23.504. Max Verstappen climbed from 21st on the grid to second, 14.602 seconds behind, while Isack Hadjar completed the podium. Fourth for George Russell and fifth for Kimi Antonelli secured the Constructors’ Championship for Mercedes.

Two places lost at the start, then a change of lead on slicks

On the wet start, second-placed Antonelli passed polesitter Norris before Turn 1, and Lawson then went by at Turn 2, dropping Norris to third. Norris subsequently regained second from Lawson and resumed his pursuit of Antonelli.

As the track dried, drivers moved from intermediates to slicks. The decisive change of lead came on Lap 20: F1 records that Antonelli, already on dry tires, spun at Turn 1, allowing Norris through. Antonelli continued, but lost the position from which he had been controlling the race.

The Guardian records Norris briefly falling to fourth during the second pit cycle, then regaining the lead. He remained first after returning to intermediates as rain arrived late, securing his third win this season.

Verstappen recovers to second after a power-unit grid penalty

Verstappen’s 21st-place start followed a power-unit penalty. FIA Document 33 imposed ten places each for his fifth engine, turbocharger and exhaust set, totaling 30. He qualified 16th and was placed 21st on the final grid.

RacingNews365 reports that he passed Antonelli for third on Lap 24, then took second on Lap 38 when Hadjar complied with a team order. The Red Bulls finished 9.883 seconds apart, earning 18 and 15 points.

Mercedes seals the title as Hamilton scores on his 400th start

Mercedes did not need to win the race to secure the title. Its pre-race announcement stated that outscoring Ferrari by three points would be enough. Russell’s fourth and Antonelli’s fifth delivered 22, against eight for Leclerc in seventh and Hamilton in ninth: Mercedes outscored Ferrari by 14. Norris’s 25 and Piastri’s eight for sixth also gave McLaren 33 points, matching Red Bull’s total.

Antonelli missed the podium but set the fastest lap, 1:12.689, on Lap 55. He spun twice during the afternoon, including once before the start; the Lap 20 incident cost him the lead.

Ferrari’s Leclerc passed Lawson on the penultimate lap for seventh, leaving Lawson eighth. Hamilton’s 400th Formula 1 start also came from the back: successive power-unit changes brought penalties of ten and 65 places, totaling 75, moving him from 11th in qualifying to 20th on the grid. Despite a spin, he recovered to ninth for two points. Hulkenberg took the final point in tenth for Audi, with Lindblad 11th.

Brazilian Rafael Camara completed his Formula 1 debut for Haas in 20th. Stroll retired after 30 laps, while a problem with Bottas’s Cadillac saw it wheeled off the grid before the start. They are classified as DNF and DNS respectively.

Stewards’ decisions and classification status

FIA Document 67 gave Albon five seconds and two licence penalty points for an unsafe rejoin: after leaving the track at Turn 2, he returned at Turn 3 in front of Gasly, forcing the Alpine to brake. Document 65 took no further action against Hamilton. The stewards found that he had left the track to avoid a collision while attempting to pass Bearman, had gained no advantage and had subsequently given the position back.

A final ruling on the alleged unsafe release involving Antonelli has not yet been obtained. FIA Document 69 summons Colapinto and a team representative to a hearing; it is not a penalty decision. The 22-car table below follows Document 70, the provisional classification issued at 15:55 local time. Any later ruling that changes the result will be covered separately using the new official document.

Provisional Sao Paulo race results

Winner’s time is h:mm:ss.mmm; other gaps are seconds or laps behind the winner. DNF means did not finish; DNS means did not start.