Every session, every upgrade, every rumour checked.
Toto Wolff clarified that his 1,000-word email to Mercedes staff after Kimi Antonelli won the drivers' title was meant to stay internal. Bradley Lord shared it on LinkedIn, highlighting the team's ninth constructors' championship and Antonelli's 390 points.
Breaking from the paddock
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.
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
Fernando Alonso finished 12th at the Brazilian Grand Prix after front wing damage from Oliver Bearman. Despite the setback, he noted the AMR26 was competitive in wet conditions, losing only four tenths per lap to Mercedes drivers.
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
