Lando Norris converted pole position into a win at the wet-dry-wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, while Mercedes clinched the constructors’ championship for the first time since 2021. The victory came as Lewis Hamilton reached a milestone, completing his 400th Formula 1 race.
Norris managed to navigate the changing conditions at Interlagos with a composed drive, crossing the line ahead of Max Verstappen. Verstappen started at the back of the grid after an engine penalty but recovered to finish second. His Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar secured third, completing the podium.
Mercedes sealed the constructors’ title on Sunday thanks to a fourth-place finish from George Russell and fifth from Kimi Antonelli, the new world champion. This marked a return to the top for Mercedes after a period of relative struggle, particularly during the ground-effect car era from 2022 to 2025.
Hamilton’s 400th race was a moment of quiet celebration amid the team’s success. The 41-year-old driver has amassed more than 100 pole positions across his career, a record that only a few drivers have come close to. Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most championships, with seven each, though some argue he deserved an eighth after the controversial end to the 2021 season.
Despite dips in form during the last few seasons, Hamilton has returned to strong performances with this year’s new car. He is racing closely with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc once again, dispelling doubts about his adaptability and pace. Hamilton acknowledged the milestone quietly, saying, “I never ever thought that I would be reaching numbers like that. It’s crazy because I still feel young, and regardless of the things that people say, you saw my pole last week, I still have the pace, I still have the speed and I still have the dedication, which is most important and the focus. For me, that number is kind of irrelevant.”
Hamilton’s future in the sport remains a topic of interest. His current contract with Ferrari is believed to expire next year, and he has expressed a desire to compete until F1 returns to Africa, potentially in 2030, when he would be 45. The longevity of his career compares to Fernando Alonso, who at 45 continues to perform at a high level, demonstrated by his strong showing in Brazil.
The Sao Paulo race also highlighted the changes in F1’s race dynamics this season. Early in the year, “yo-yo racing” was common, a pattern where drivers repeatedly exchanged positions due to fluctuations in electrical energy use in the power units. These units, introduced this year, split power roughly evenly between internal combustion and electrical energy, with features like “boost” and “overtake” modes affecting race strategy.
More recently, this yo-yo effect has diminished. Tracks in the latter part of the season have been less “energy-starved,” reducing the need for drivers to conserve and deploy energy in bursts. Teams and drivers have also gained experience with the new power units, refining their use and minimizing vulnerabilities. Rule changes, such as energy limits on certain tracks, have further smoothed energy availability.
Looking ahead, further adjustments to the power unit are planned to make their operation more conventional. The electrical power split will shift to 60-40 by 2028, which is expected to reduce the frequency of overtaking but may also simplify race strategy.
At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the mix of weather, strategy, and driver skill produced an eventful race that saw Mercedes return to the top of the constructors’ standings and Hamilton reach a career landmark. The next races will test whether Mercedes can maintain their momentum and how Hamilton’s form evolves as he approaches the next chapters of his career.
According to BBC Sports.
