Mercedes have officially secured the 2026
The championship was mathematically sealed after George Russell crossed the line in fourth place, with his teammate and newly crowned drivers' champion
A Season of Technical Mastery
Entering the 2026 season as the team to beat, Mercedes successfully navigated the transition to new technical regulations, which mandate a near 50-50 split between conventional combustion power and electrical energy. Their dominance was evident early on, as the team claimed victory in the first six races of the year. Across the 20 rounds contested to date, Mercedes have secured 12 race wins, marking a significant return to the top of the sport after a challenging period between 2022 and 2025.
The Sao Paulo race itself proved eventful for the newly crowned champions. Antonelli initially surged into the lead by overtaking pole-sitter Lando Norris at Turn 1. However, his race became more complicated following a switch to dry tyres, which resulted in a spin at Turn 1 and a subsequent loss of track position. Despite receiving a five-second time penalty for an unsafe pit release, his fifth-place classification remained unaffected. Russell also faced adversity, spinning at the pit lane exit during his opening stop and dropping to eighth, though he managed to fight back to finish fourth.
Race Results and Wider Context
While the focus remained on the championship celebrations, McLaren’s Lando Norris secured his second consecutive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He finished 14.6 seconds clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who delivered a standout performance by climbing from 21st on the grid to second place. Isack Hadjar rounded out the podium for Red Bull.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton’s race was hampered by a difficult start from 20th on the grid due to qualifying engine issues. Despite a strong opening lap that saw him climb to ninth, he struggled with the conditions, including a spin in the rain, and ultimately finished in that same position. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also faced a post-race penalty, dropping to eighth after a five-second sanction for a collision with Liam Lawson.
With three rounds left in the season, Mercedes’ achievement mirrors their historic start to the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014. Having now secured both titles, the team has successfully demonstrated its ability to adapt to the latest regulatory landscape, cementing a return to the front of the grid.
