Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has equalled Sir Frank Williams’ record of nine Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships, an achievement Wolff stated he ‘never thought that was ever possible.’ This milestone was reached as Mercedes secured the 2026 Constructors’ Championship at the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 8, 2026.
The Constructors’ title in Brazil completed a championship double for Mercedes. This followed Kimi Antonelli’s Drivers’ Championship victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix one week prior.
Antonelli, aged 20 years and 68 days, became the youngest Formula 1 World Champion in history. He secured his maiden title by finishing third in Mexico City on November 1, 2026.
Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second. Antonelli’s third-place finish was sufficient to clinch the championship with four rounds remaining in the season.
In São Paulo, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished fourth and fifth respectively. This result was enough to place the team beyond Ferrari’s reach in the Constructors’ standings.
Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix for McLaren, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar completing the podium. Mercedes had entered the Brazilian event needing to outscore Ferrari by three points and achieved this by a margin of 14 points.
Ferrari’s challenge for the Constructors’ title concluded with Charles Leclerc finishing seventh and Lewis Hamilton ninth in São Paulo. This marks Mercedes’ ninth Constructors’ Championship in Formula 1.
The 2026 title is Mercedes’ first Constructors’ Championship since 2021, ending a period that followed their eight consecutive titles from 2014 to 2021. The team’s return to the top follows a challenging period under the initial ground effect regulations introduced in 2022.
Mercedes’ W13 car in 2022 did not secure a single victory. Subsequent iterations, the W14, W15, and W16, progressively improved but did not contend for championships.
The 2026 season introduced significant regulation changes, including a revised power unit configuration and new active aerodynamics. These regulations feature a 50-50 split between electrical and combustion energy.
Cars for 2026 are lighter and smaller, with active front and rear wings that adjust dynamically. Flatter floors have replaced the Venturi tunnels to reduce turbulent air and porpoising effects.
Wolff expressed immense pride in the Mercedes organisation, highlighting the team’s ability to return to championship contention after several difficult years.
‘Frank is such an unbelievable icon of the sport, and to be tied on constructors’ championships, I never thought that was ever possible,’ Wolff stated.
He acknowledged his close relationship with Sir Frank Williams, who founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1977. Sir Frank Williams oversaw nine Constructors’ Championships for his team between 1980 and 1997.
Wolff also noted that some long-serving team members, who were with the team during its Brawn and Honda iterations, have accumulated more than nine titles. The 2026 Formula 1 season will conclude with races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
