Interlagos: Norris masters the rain as Mercedes clinch the constructors' title

A poor start and a spin that changed everything

The whole field started on intermediates on a damp track, and Norris's pole did not survive the first corner. Antonelli went ahead, Lawson also got past him, and the Briton would later admit that this opening lap was not his best. He then had to deal with grip that kept shifting, from intermediates to soft tyres and back to intermediates again.

On lap 17, McLaren called him in for softs, one lap before Antonelli. The Italian kept the lead after his own stop, 3.7 seconds clear, but not for long. On lap 20, having reported a problem with his car, he spun at the first corner and handed first place to Norris. Four laps later he missed the same corner again, and Verstappen took the chance to pass him.

Verstappen, from 21st on the grid to second

Hit with an engine penalty, Verstappen started 21st. On lap 38, Red Bull told Hadjar to let him through, which put him second, 8.9 seconds behind Norris. He pitted again on lap 46, in a car that Red Bull said was losing rear downforce for reasons it could not identify.

The final third of the race scrambled everything. Norris stopped on lap 50 and rejoined fourth; Hadjar and then Antonelli led until the Mercedes finally pitted on lap 54. Norris was back in front, 7.5 seconds ahead of Verstappen. The rain returned with ten laps to go, and both McLaren and Red Bull brought their drivers in on lap 63 for intermediates. At the front, nothing changed after that: Norris took his third win of the season, 14.602 seconds ahead of Verstappen, while Hadjar completed a double podium for Red Bull, 24.485 seconds back.

Mercedes are champions, without the frills

It was hardly a quiet Sunday for Mercedes. Russell, who started seventh after a penalty, spun in the pit lane on lap 17 and rejoined well back. Antonelli lost the lead with his mistake on lap 20. On lap 64, at Mercedes' request, Russell moved past the Italian into fourth place.

Those points were enough. Fourth and fifth for Russell and Antonelli gave Mercedes the constructors' title with three Grands Prix still to run, on the heels of the Italian's drivers' crown in Mexico. It is the first since 2021 for a team that had won eight in a row between 2014 and 2021. Andrew Shovlin conceded the title had not been won in the most elegant fashion, while Toto Wolff chose to highlight the 2,500 people at Brackley and Brixworth rather than his two drivers.

Antonelli did not escape punishment: five seconds were added after the flag for an unsafe release as Franco Colapinto arrived in the pit lane, with no effect on his finishing position. Oliver Bearman, 17th, received the same penalty for the same offence.

Norris keeps his feet on the ground

Norris ranks this win among the hardest of his career, because of the weather and the circumstances, and praised McLaren's execution, from strategy calls to pit stops. The upgrades brought this weekend, including a new front wing, did their job, but he is not satisfied: the team still needs more, he said after the race.

In his view, McLaren are not yet at the level needed to fight for the 2027 world title. He wants a car that can compete across a whole season, not just on the odd Sunday.

Both crowns are now settled, but three Grands Prix remain, starting with Las Vegas. Wolff, who expects three or four teams to fight for the title in 2027, is already looking ahead. So is Norris, in his own way: winning in the rain is no longer enough for him.