Every session, every upgrade, every rumour checked.
Mercedes secured the 2026 Constructors' Championship at Interlagos, but Toto Wolff launched an immediate investigation into severe balance problems. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli spun out due to strange car behavior on intermediate tires, leaving the team unable to challenge for third place.
Breaking from the paddock
Lewis Hamilton finished ninth at Interlagos after missing the pit lane entrance during a sudden downpour. The seven-time world champion claimed he lacked critical rain data from his engineer, leaving him behind Charles Leclerc and trailing Kimi Antonelli by 129 points.
Practice, qualifying, race
2026 World Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | 390 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | 279 |
| 3 | George Russell | 262 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | 261 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 251 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | 246 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 152 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 122 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 87 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 42 |
| Pos | Team | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-AMG Petronas | 652 |
| 2 | Scuderia Ferrari | 512 |
| 3 | Red Bull Racing | 415 |
| 4 | McLaren Racing | 398 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 112 |
| 6 | Alpine F1 Team | 69 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 31 |
| 8 | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 28 |
| 9 | Williams F1 Team | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin F1 Team | 7 |
Beyond the lap times
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history at 20 years old after securing the title at the Mexico Grand Prix. He finished the campaign with nine Grand Prix victories, breaking the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel.
Aero, power units, rules
McLaren is the only team introducing new parts at Interlagos, featuring a new front wing, rear wing, beam wing, and floor. The upgrade package aims to improve the MCL40 performance as Lando Norris seeks to end a five-race podium drought.
In their own words
