Rivals Congratulate Mercedes on 2026 F1 Constructors’ Championship After Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Mercedes’ pursuit of Formula 1 supremacy reached its crowning moment at Interlagos, as the German marque officially clinched the Constructors’ Championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Entering the race weekend needing only to outscore key challengers Ferrari by a narrow margin, the Silver Arrows delivered the necessary result through a controlled drive from their lineup. George Russell crossed the line in fourth position, followed immediately by newly crowned Drivers’ World Champion Kimi Antonelli in fifth, ensuring the team accumulated enough points to put the title out of reach.

The achievement marks Mercedes’ first Constructors’ Championship since the 2021 campaign, ending a multi-year drought following major competitive hurdles under prior aerodynamic frameworks. The triumph elevates Mercedes to nine constructors’ crowns in the record books, moving them level with Williams and placing them third in Formula 1 history behind only Ferrari (16 titles) and McLaren (10 titles).

Wolff and Shovlin Reflect on Long Road Back to the Top

Speaking after the race in Brazil, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff commended the perseverance of the staff at Brackley and Brixworth who engineered the comeback under the sport’s massive 2026 regulations, which overhauled both aerodynamics and power units.

“I’m so proud for the organisation,” said Team Principal Toto Wolff after the race in Brazil. “We’ve taken a few years to be back on the top spot. Not many teams have been able to come back from such a situation. And it just shows that, you know, the great work, the great people that we have in our organisation. And it’s fantastic to be among them.”

Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin highlighted the monumental operational commitment required to master the technical shift, pointing out the psychological resilience demanded during the leaner seasons leading up to 2026.

Shovlin admitted that “we’ve never put so much effort into a new set of regulations” before, continuing: “We had periods where it looked like we were going to get there [win another title], and then you weren’t, and you have all these setbacks. When you’ve finally done it again, it’s just immensely satisfying. And, you know, no one gave up. They just kept pushing, kept working hard. There was obviously a big rule change this year. We’ve never put so much effort into a new set of regulations.”

Paddock Rivals and Formula 1 Leadership Offer Tributes

Paddock competitors were quick to acknowledge Mercedes’ dominance and technical execution throughout the season. McLaren, who conceded the constructors’ crown won the prior season, offered praise from its executive leadership.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown posted on X: “Congratulations to Mercedes and HPP on securing the Constructors’ Championship title after an impressive season. Looking forward to fighting you for it again next year.”

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella added during a post-race media session: “[I want to] congratulate Mercedes on winning the Constructors’ Championship. Formula 1 is operating, like I’ve been saying for some time, at very, very high level, very high standards. So to be able to win in this kind of competitive context is a reflection of great work that must have happened at Mercedes, so they deserve to be certainly acknowledged.”

Former Mercedes driver and current Ferrari competitor Lewis Hamilton, who secured six drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles during his tenure with the team, took to social media to celebrate his former colleagues. Hamilton posted on Instagram: “Congratulations guys, am so happy for you all. So well deserved.”

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies also pointed to the early development pivot that allowed Mercedes to hit the ground running under the new engine and aero regulations.

“I think they have done an outstanding job. We all recall how dominant they were at the start of the season,” Mekies stated during his post-race media session. “And of course, we knew they had switched earlier than most [last year to focus on 2026], but it’s something to switch earlier than most, something else to convert it into lap time, and that’s what they have done. And you know they started the season with more than a second advantage on us, so they have obviously done a very good job, so well done to them.”

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali framed the accomplishment in historical terms, celebrating the dual success of the team and its rookie world champion.

“My huge congratulations to everyone at the Mercedes Formula 1 Team on becoming 2026 Constructors’ World Champions. Reaching the summit of Formula 1 is never the achievement of one person alone,” Domenicali said. “It is the result of extraordinary talent, relentless determination and the shared belief of hundreds of people, at the circuit and back at the factory, all united by the same ambition. Every single member of this team should feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

“This is also a moment that will have a special place in the history of our sport. With his ninth Constructors’ title, my friend Toto Wolff draws level with the great Sir Frank Williams, one of Formula 1’s true legends. To stand alongside Frank in the record books is an extraordinary achievement and a powerful testament to Toto’s leadership, vision and relentless pursuit of excellence over so many years.

“To win the Constructors’ Championship in the same season that Kimi Antonelli became the youngest ever Drivers’ World Champion makes 2026 truly unforgettable for Mercedes and for Formula 1. This is what our sport is all about: dreaming big, pushing beyond the limits, and proving what is possible when great people come together with one shared purpose. Mercedes have returned to the very top, and in doing so have written another remarkable chapter in the history of Formula 1.”

Why This Matters

Mercedes’ 2026 sweep represents a definitive recovery from the performance challenges that plagued the outfit during the ground-effect era starting in 2022. By committing early engineering bandwidth and power unit resources at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) toward the 2026 regulatory overhaul, the team successfully leapfrogged direct rivals Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren from the very first round.

Furthermore, the milestone cements a generational transition. Pairing the constructors’ championship with Kimi Antonelli’s historic achievement as the youngest-ever Drivers’ World Champion validates Mercedes’ long-term driver development pipeline following the departure of Lewis Hamilton, setting a formidable standard as the current regulation cycle takes root.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Mercedes secure the championship in Brazil?

Mercedes entered the Sao Paulo Grand Prix needing only to outscore second-placed Ferrari by a handful of points. George Russell’s fourth-place finish alongside Kimi Antonelli’s fifth-place result provided the points tally required to mathematically clinch the team title.

Where does Mercedes rank in all-time Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships?

With their ninth title win in 2026, Mercedes is now tied with Williams for third place in Formula 1 history. They sit behind only McLaren, who hold 10 titles, and Ferrari, who lead with 16 constructors’ championships.

What major regulations influenced the 2026 Formula 1 season?

The 2026 season introduced sweeping changes across the sport, featuring comprehensive redesigns of vehicle aerodynamics alongside entirely new power unit architectures, which Mercedes leveraged to establish an early pace advantage over the rest of the grid.