Following Kimi Antonelli’s historic first Formula 1 world title victory at the Mexico Grand Prix, Mercedes stands ready to secure a ninth constructors’ championship trophy in Brazil.
The Silver Arrows have clinched 12 victories out of the 19 grands prix held this season, affirming their dominant position in the championship standings. Currently, only Ferrari has a theoretical chance to catch them, yet they face a challenging 126-point gap.
Mercedes initially had a chance to clinch the title in Mexico, but that scenario required a 1-2 finish along with Ferrari scoring a maximum of four points. Presently, the current gap allows the Brackley-based team to simply outpoint Scuderia by a minimum of three points in Sao Paulo.
Ways Mercedes can secure the title at the Brazil GP (not exhaustive)
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- Both Mercedes cars finish in the points and ahead of the Ferraris
- Mercedes achieves a 1-2, 1-3, or 1-4 finish
- Mercedes comes in 2-3 or 2-4, provided that Ferrari doesn’t secure a win
- Both Mercedes cars land in the top five without any Ferrari on the podium
- Either Antonelli or Russell secures a top-eight finish while both Ferraris retire from the race
Throughout the first 19 rounds of the season (excluding sprint races), Mercedes has consistently outscored Ferrari by three points or more on ten separate occasions.
Antonelli stepping up as the new Mercedes star
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
The 2026 season is notable as it marks the first occasion in which Mercedes has clinched world titles without Lewis Hamilton since 1955, with young talent Antonelli stepping into the spotlight.
“The championships with Lewis were truly remarkable and fulfilling,” team principal Toto Wolff remarked.
“I felt that we all participated in Lewis’ legacy as one of the greatest champions, and I believe we’ll reflect on it in years to come and assert, ‘We were world champions with Lewis Hamilton’. That thought remains vivid in my mind. He has remained significant and culturally relevant beyond the realm of Formula 1.
“It was an extraordinarily special series of championships that will stay with me for life, and this current one feels different. To me, [Kimi] is still the kid who hasn’t visibly aged much.
“It’s incredibly refreshing. A few weeks back, I attempted to get in touch with him and joked, ‘Where’s Kimi?’. He was celebrating his birthday at a water park. Fantastic! As long as we can help maintain that connection, his journey is intertwined with Mercedes, which is heartening to witness.”
Additional reporting by Roberto Chinchero and Ronald Vording
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