Norris wins in wet Brazil as Mercedes take constructors' title

SAO PAULO, Nov 8 : Mercedes secured their ninth Formula One constructors' world championship and completed a title double on Sunday in a wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix won by McLaren's Lando Norris from pole position for the second year in a row.

The title was Mercedes' first team crown since 2021 and came a week after 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli made headlines as the youngest drivers' champion with four races to spare in Mexico City.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished second, putting on a masterclass from 21st on the grid due to engine penalties, in a race that started and ended in the rain.

Teammate Isack Hadjar was third with George Russell fourth for Mercedes and Antonelli fifth, with the fastest lap and after leading at the start, but both making costly errors on an eventful afternoon. 

Mercedes had needed to score only three points more than Ferrari to clinch the title and the Italian team never threatened to prolong the fight on a treacherous track with Charles Leclerc seventh and Lewis Hamilton ninth in his 400th race.   

"It was a very tough race, very, very tough," said Norris, the 2025 world champion, of his 14th career win and 50th podium as well as his team's first victory since August when he won the Dutch Grand Prix.

"A lot of challenges today with the conditions and going onto slicks in the wet is always tough, especially when you are pushing for the lead and trying to catch up a little bit," added the Briton, who lost out to Antonelli when the start lights went out.

"The main thing today was I kept it cool and didn't make any mistakes and had the pace when I needed to. Nice to be back on the top step and what a place to do it as well."

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Norris took the chequered