Lando Norris delivered a superb performance at Interlagos on Sunday, converting pole position into victory in a dramatic Brazilian race to secure his third win of the 2026 season. The McLaren driver controlled the final stages despite changing weather conditions, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who produced an incredible recovery from 21st on the grid. Isack Hadjar completed the podium with an outstanding performance for Red Bull.
The opening stages immediately produced an unexpected battle at the front. Kimi Antonelli, already crowned world champion in Mexico, made an excellent start and quickly moved into the lead, building an advantage over Norris. The Mercedes driver looked comfortable at the front, while Norris concentrated on keeping his tyres in good condition and maintaining contact. Behind them, Verstappen was already making impressive progress through the field, taking advantage of every opportunity to climb towards the leading positions.
The race changed dramatically around lap 20. Antonelli, who had been complaining about his car’s behaviour, suddenly lost control and spun, allowing Norris to take the lead. Hadjar also capitalised on the mistake to move ahead of the Mercedes driver, while Verstappen continued his charge towards the podium. George Russell suffered a spin of his own during the pit-stop phase, losing valuable positions and compromising what had initially looked like a promising afternoon for Mercedes.
Verstappen’s comeback became one of the defining stories of the afternoon. Starting from 21st following power-unit penalties, the Dutchman produced an aggressive and consistent recovery, overtaking rivals and making the most of Red Bull’s strategy. He eventually caught Hadjar, and a team decision allowed him to move ahead of his teammate into second place. Despite his remarkable progress, Norris had already established a comfortable advantage and managed to keep the Red Bull at a safe distance.
The closing stages brought another challenge as rain intensified around Interlagos, forcing teams to reconsider their tyre strategies. Norris remained composed and avoided any major mistakes, while Verstappen concentrated on protecting second place. Hadjar held on to third to complete a fantastic double podium for Red Bull. Russell finished fourth, ahead of Antonelli, who recovered to fifth after his spin. Oscar Piastri took sixth, Charles Leclerc seventh, Alexander Albon eighth and Lewis Hamilton ninth. Nico Hülkenberg completed the top ten.
Although Antonelli had already secured the drivers’ championship in Mexico, Mercedes had another reason to celebrate. Russell’s fourth place and Antonelli’s fifth were enough to secure the constructors’ title, giving the team its ninth championship and its first since 2021. Ferrari could not mount a serious challenge, with Leclerc seventh and Hamilton ninth. For Norris, however, the spotlight belonged entirely to him: another victory at Interlagos, another brilliant performance under pressure and a perfect conversion of pole position into victory. Verstappen stole the show with his incredible comeback, but Sunday belonged to McLaren’s British star.
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