Norris wins São Paulo Grand Prix by 14 seconds as Mercedes seal constructors' title

Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, finishing 14 seconds clear, The Guardian reported. The win also settled the team championship for Mercedes, who clinched the constructors' title on the same afternoon.

Norris started from pole position, having beaten George Russell to it in qualifying, which was held in heavy rain. Formula 1 described it as his third consecutive pole at the Brazilian track. He had also won here last year for McLaren.

The biggest move of the day came from Max Verstappen. He started 21st after taking a full set of new engine components, which meant he began near the back of the grid. He still finished second, behind Norris. Before the race, Verstappen had 74 Grand Prix wins to his name, according to Reuters.

Behind them, Isack Hadjar took third. Russell was fourth, Kimi Antonelli fifth and Oscar Piastri sixth. Charles Leclerc finished seventh, and Lewis Hamilton recovered from 20th on the grid to take ninth.

The constructors' title is awarded to the team, not the driver, and it adds the points from both of a team's cars. Mercedes needed to finish ahead of Ferrari by three points in Brazil to secure it. Per the Guardian, the result gave Mercedes their ninth constructors' title. Their drivers' rivalry remains a separate contest for the individual crown, which is decided by the points each driver scores over the season.

Friday's practice sessions gave an early hint of the pace. Norris topped the opening session, and Verstappen went fastest in the third practice, with a lap of one minute 11.622 seconds. Antonelli was just 0.025 seconds slower in that session.

Verstappen's climb from 21st is the story many fans will remember. It shows how much a car can change in one race. Norris, meanwhile, leaves Brazil with a clear lead in the race itself and the pole he earned in the rain.