Lando Norris has achieved his third victory of 2026 during an exciting race at the F1 Brazilian GP, held under changing weather conditions. The McLaren driver overcame a Max Verstappen in great form, while the Mercedes team secured their constructors’ world title.
After reclaiming the first position from his successor as world champion, Kimi Antonelli, who suffered a spin that cost him time, Norris controlled the race exemplary. The competition began and ended with rain, marking a contrast with a brief dry period during the race.
At the start, Antonelli was able to overtake Norris, who had started from pole position, but lost the lead following his error. With the track in inter conditions, Liam Lawson, who also started from the front row, took the opportunity to position himself in second place behind Antonelli.
Fernando Alonso, for his part, experienced a significant disappointment, losing six positions at the start of the race. Lewis Hamilton, who started from the back of the grid due to penalties, climbed 10 spots in the opening laps, while Verstappen made a leap from 14th to 13th place.
Antonelli established a small gap of five seconds with Lawson and Norris, while Hamilton and Verstappen were locked in a fierce battle for the top 10. In a demonstration of his experience, Hamilton asked the team to switch to slick tires, which materialized on lap 15, triggering a series of pit stops throughout the grid.
After the tire change, Antonelli maintained the lead, but soon began to feel pressure from Norris, who reported issues with the suspension of the Italian’s car. This culminated in a loss of control for Antonelli on lap 29, sending him spinning and clearing the way for Norris.
The fight for victory intensified as Verstappen, who had started from the rear, managed to position himself in second place midway through the race. While the McLaren team opted for their second switch to slick tires, Antonelli, now in third position, stuck to a more conservative strategy, trying to avoid a second stop.
The weather conditions complicated the race again in the final laps. With just 23 laps to go, a new rain meant that both Norris and Verstappen switched back to intermediate tires. Despite the tense moments, Norris maintained control until the end, thus securing his third victory of the season with Verstappen 14 seconds behind.
George Russell completed the podium in fourth place, while Antonelli finished fifth, contributing to the constructors’ championship for Mercedes, who have won again after their last victory in 2021. Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc completed the top six, while Hamilton ended up ninth on a mixed day.
Rafael Câmara, making his home debut as a substitute for Esteban Ocon, crossed the line in 20th place, while Lance Stroll retired for the 14th time this season with Aston Martin.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
