News Summary
- Red Bull confirmed it considered returning second place to Isack Hadjar after ordering him to let Max Verstappen through in São Paulo.
- Lando Norris warned that cold conditions in Las Vegas could make Formula 1’s 2026 tyres extremely difficult to manage.
- Isack Hadjar revealed a near miss with Red Bull mechanics, while Laurent Mekies questioned whether the new technical regulations are too restrictive.
Red Bull’s admission that it considered returning second place to Isack Hadjar after the São Paulo Grand Prix team order dominated Formula 1 news on Monday, November 9. Team principal Laurent Mekies explained why Max Verstappen ultimately kept the position, while Lando Norris raised concerns about the performance of the 2026 tyres ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Hadjar also revealed that he nearly hit Red Bull’s mechanics during a pit stop in Brazil, describing the difficult conditions at Interlagos. Meanwhile, Mekies questioned whether Formula 1’s new technical regulations are too restrictive after four teams reached similar levels of performance earlier than expected.
Elsewhere, McLaren explained the improvements behind Norris’ São Paulo victory, Andrea Kimi Antonelli discussed an unusual problem with his Mercedes, and Lewis Hamilton reflected on another disappointing weekend for Ferrari.
Here are the main Formula 1 stories published by GRANDE PRÊMIO on November 9.
Red Bull admits it considered returning second place to Hadjar
Laurent Mekies confirmed that Red Bull intended to reverse the position swap between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar if the two drivers had remained close together during the closing stages of the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Hadjar had been running second when Red Bull instructed him to let Verstappen through on lap 38. The Dutchman, recovering from 21st on the grid, was given the opportunity to pursue race leader Norris.
However, Verstappen was unable to catch the McLaren driver, raising the possibility that Hadjar could regain second place.
Mekies explained that the growing distance between the Red Bull drivers and the return of heavier rain made the reversal impractical.
“Yeah, I think we would have done it if the cars had stayed close together; we would have done it,” Mekies said.
The team principal praised Hadjar’s pace and the cooperation between both drivers, who eventually finished second and third.
Read the full story on why Red Bull decided against returning second place to Hadjar.
Norris warns Las Vegas could become ‘horrible’ for F1 drivers
Lando Norris raised concerns about the low temperatures expected at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, warning that Formula 1’s current tyres can become extremely difficult to manage outside their ideal operating window.
The McLaren driver explained that the compounds performed reasonably well at Interlagos once they reached the correct temperature. However, Las Vegas could present a more demanding challenge because of its long straights and cold evening conditions.
“You need a much better tyre than what we have here because that’s going to be horrible,” Norris warned.
Verstappen also criticised the narrow operating window of the wet-weather compounds, comparing their behaviour when cold to a rock.
Hadjar questioned the grip available from the extreme-wet tyres during qualifying in Brazil, arguing that aquaplaning remained a serious concern even when the amount of standing water appeared manageable.
The comments highlighted two distinct problems: tyre warm-up in cold conditions and the performance of wet-weather compounds.
Read Norris’ warning about Las Vegas and the tyre concerns raised by Verstappen and Hadjar.
Hadjar reveals near miss with Red Bull mechanics in Brazil
Isack Hadjar revealed that he nearly crashed into Red Bull’s mechanics while entering his pit box during the São Paulo Grand Prix.
The Frenchman described the conditions at Interlagos as among the most difficult he had experienced in Formula 1, particularly when rain returned during the closing stages.
Hadjar was trying to defend his position against Andrea Kimi Antonelli when the circuit became increasingly slippery.
“I nearly shunted into my pit crew when boxing, but they did a fantastic job,” Hadjar admitted.
The Red Bull mechanics completed the stop successfully, allowing the Frenchman to continue without losing his podium position.
Hadjar eventually finished third behind Norris and Verstappen, securing his third podium of the season.
Read the full report on Hadjar’s near miss with Red Bull mechanics during the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Mekies questions whether F1’s 2026 regulations are too restrictive
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies suggested that the rapid convergence between Formula 1’s leading teams could indicate that the 2026 technical regulations are more restrictive than expected.
Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all won races this season, with the leading drivers sometimes separated by only two tenths of a second in qualifying.
“The convergence is probably happening earlier than what we all thought,” Mekies said.
“I’m guessing somehow it’s perhaps an indication of fairly restrictive regulations.”
However, the Frenchman welcomed the increasingly competitive championship, arguing that the uncertainty surrounding race winners was positive for the sport.
Mekies also highlighted the importance of development and operational execution, with small differences in setup, strategy and tyre preparation becoming decisive.
McLaren credits upgrades for Norris’ São Paulo victory
McLaren attributed part of its improved performance at Interlagos to aerodynamic updates introduced during the weekend.
Norris secured his third victory of the season after recovering from a difficult start and taking advantage of Antonelli’s spin while leading the race.
The British driver eventually finished 14.602 seconds ahead of Verstappen, giving McLaren an important result as the season approaches its final three rounds.
Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that the upgrades had improved the car’s competitiveness and confirmed that further components are planned for Las Vegas.
McLaren’s development programme also provides valuable information for its 2027 car, making the final races important beyond their immediate championship results.
Read McLaren’s explanation of the upgrades behind Norris’ São Paulo victory and its plans for Las Vegas.
Antonelli reveals unusual Mercedes problem behind São Paulo spins
Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed that his Mercedes developed an unexpected handling problem after switching to slick tyres during the São Paulo Grand Prix.
The newly crowned world champion had taken the lead at the start and controlled the opening stages before spinning at the Senna S on lap 20.
The mistake allowed Norris to move ahead, while a second incident cost Antonelli further positions.
The Italian reported unusual instability at the rear of the Mercedes, particularly through high-speed corners, leaving the team investigating why the car’s balance changed so dramatically.
Antonelli eventually recovered to fifth, helping Mercedes secure the constructors’ championship alongside George Russell, who finished fourth.
Read Antonelli’s explanation of the strange Mercedes problem that contributed to his São Paulo spins.
Hamilton reflects on Ferrari disappointment as Mercedes celebrates title
Lewis Hamilton described his São Paulo Grand Prix as another deeply disappointing experience after finishing ninth for Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion endured a difficult weekend at Interlagos, where Ferrari struggled with tyre performance and changing weather conditions.
Hamilton subsequently congratulated Mercedes on securing the constructors’ championship, recognising the achievement of the team with which he won six drivers’ titles.
Mercedes completed its championship double after Antonelli secured the drivers’ crown in Mexico City.
Ferrari, meanwhile, faces further questions about its competitiveness as the season approaches its conclusion.
Read Hamilton’s reaction to his difficult São Paulo weekend and Mercedes’ championship success.
Lawson moves closer to Racing Bulls seat for 2027
Liam Lawson’s strong performance at the São Paulo Grand Prix strengthened his prospects of remaining with Racing Bulls in 2027.
The New Zealander finished seventh at Interlagos after briefly running near the front during the opening stages.
His recent results have improved his position within the Red Bull driver programme, although the team has yet to formally confirm its complete line-up for next season.
Lawson has repeatedly argued that his performances demonstrate he deserves another opportunity in Formula 1 following his difficult experience with Red Bull in 2025.
Read the latest developments concerning Lawson’s Racing Bulls future for 2027.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every development in the 2026 Formula 1 season as teams prepare for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with breaking news, technical analysis and updates in its Formula 1 section.
