News Summary
- Mercedes can secure the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship at the São Paulo Grand Prix after Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinched the Drivers’ title in Mexico.
- The German team leads Ferrari by 126 points, with a maximum of 129 points available across the three scheduled rounds after Brazil.
- Mercedes needs to outscore Ferrari by at least three points at Interlagos, reaching a championship lead that its rivals cannot overturn.
Mercedes could complete a historic Formula 1 championship double at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday (November 8), just one week after Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the Drivers’ World Championship in Mexico. The German manufacturer arrives at Interlagos with 630 points, 126 ahead of Ferrari, and needs only a small increase in that advantage to guarantee the Constructors’ title.
With four Grands Prix remaining on the scheduled calendar, the championship is firmly in Mercedes’ hands. However, Ferrari retains a mathematical opportunity to extend the contest beyond Brazil.
How can Mercedes win the Constructors’ Championship in São Paulo?
Mercedes leads the Constructors’ standings with 630 points, followed by Ferrari on 504.
Red Bull is further behind and can no longer catch the championship leader under the remaining scheduled points allocation.
After the São Paulo Grand Prix, the calendar currently includes Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
A maximum of 129 points remains available across those three weekends, including the additional sprint points scheduled later in the season.
Mercedes therefore needs to leave Interlagos at least 129 points ahead of Ferrari.
That requires Antonelli and George Russell to score three more points than Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc combined in Brazil.
If the teams finish the season level on points, Mercedes holds the advantage on countback because of its superior number of Grand Prix victories.
Constructors’ Championship before São Paulo
| Position | Constructor | Points | Gap to Mercedes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 630 | — |
| 2 | Ferrari | 504 | -126 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 382 | -248 |
| 4 | McLaren | 365 | -265 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 110 | -520 |
| 6 | Alpine | 69 | -561 |
| 7 | Haas | 31 | -599 |
| 8 | Audi | 27 | -603 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 | -618 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 7 | -623 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 | -630 |
Championship totals incorporating the post-race penalties from the Mexican Grand Prix.
What results would secure the title for Mercedes?
Mercedes has several possible routes to the championship.
A victory for either Antonelli or Russell would put the team in a strong position, particularly if the second Mercedes also finishes among the leading cars.
A Mercedes one-two would guarantee the title regardless of Ferrari’s result, as would first and third or first and fourth, given the maximum points Ferrari could collect in those circumstances.
If Ferrari wins the Grand Prix, Mercedes can still secure the championship, but both drivers would need to finish on the podium and the second Ferrari would need to finish sufficiently far down the order.
The decisive factor is not one particular finishing position but the difference between the points scored by the two teams.
The championship calculation
| Scenario | Mercedes’ lead after Brazil | Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes outscores Ferrari by 3 or more | 129+ points | Mercedes champions |
| Mercedes outscores Ferrari by 2 | 128 points | Not yet secured |
| Both teams score equally | 126 points | Not yet secured |
| Ferrari outscores Mercedes | Below 126 points | Not yet secured |
The calculation assumes the remaining scheduled calendar and points allocation remain unchanged.
Antonelli’s title gives Mercedes first half of championship double
Mercedes arrives in Brazil after one of the most significant weekends in its recent history.
Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest world champion at the Mexico City Grand Prix, securing the title at just 20 years old.
The Italian finished third in Mexico behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, establishing an unassailable advantage in the Drivers’ Championship.
Russell, meanwhile, endured another difficult race and subsequently admitted that 2026 had been the most challenging season of his career.
Despite their contrasting individual campaigns, both drivers have contributed to Mercedes’ commanding position among the constructors.
The team’s performance under the 2026 technical regulations has provided a platform for Antonelli’s historic championship and left Mercedes within reach of both world titles.
Could changes to the F1 calendar affect the calculation?
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain subject to security-related uncertainty in the Middle East.
The current championship calculation assumes both races take place as scheduled.
If either event is cancelled without replacement, the number of points still available would decrease, potentially allowing Mercedes to secure the championship earlier.
If both races were removed, the team’s existing 126-point lead would already exceed the points available from the remaining events.
However, Formula 1 has not confirmed those cancellations, so the championship must currently be calculated using the published calendar.
The São Paulo Grand Prix takes place on November 8 at Interlagos, with Antonelli making his first appearance as world champion.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
FAQ
Can Mercedes win the 2026 Constructors’ Championship in Brazil?
Yes. Mercedes can secure the title at the São Paulo Grand Prix by increasing its lead over Ferrari from 126 to at least 129 points.
How many points does Mercedes need to gain on Ferrari?
Mercedes needs to score at least three more points than Ferrari in Brazil.
Who has already won the 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the title at the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest champion in Formula 1 history.
