Key Highlights:
- Mercedes is on the brink of securing its ninth Formula 1 constructors’ championship at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo.
- Following Kimi Antonelli’s maiden drivers’ title win in Mexico, Mercedes needs only to outscore second-placed Ferrari by at least three points to clinch the teams’ crown.
- The 2026 campaign represents the first time Mercedes has captured world championship titles without Lewis Hamilton since 1955.
Mercedes Targets Ninth Constructors’ Championship at Interlagos
Fresh off celebrating Kimi Antonelli’s maiden Formula 1 world drivers’ title at the Mexico Grand Prix, Mercedes heads to the Brazil Grand Prix with an immediate opportunity to seal the 2026 constructors’ championship. The Brackley-based squad has mounted a dominant campaign, taking victory in 12 of the opening 19 grands prix to establish a commanding 126-point lead over Scuderia Ferrari—the only rival team that remains mathematically in contention.
Mercedes experienced its first mathematical chance to wrap up the teams’ title at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, though that scenario required a flawless 1-2 finish combined with Ferrari scoring four points or fewer. Heading into São Paulo, the equation becomes significantly simpler: Mercedes needs only to outscore Ferrari by at least three points to guarantee a ninth constructors’ trophy in team history. Across the 19 standard grands prix held thus far (excluding sprint events), Mercedes has outscored Ferrari by three or more points on 10 separate occasions.
Championship Scenarios: How Mercedes Can Clinch in Brazil
There are multiple avenues for Mercedes to close out the battle at Interlagos. Non-exhaustive finishing combinations that would confirm the constructors’ championship include:
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- Both Mercedes cars finish in the points and ahead of the Ferraris
- Mercedes takes a 1-2, 1-3 or 1-4
- Mercedes finishes 2-3 or 2-4 and Ferrari doesn’t win
- Both Mercedes cars finish in the top five, no Ferrari on the podium
- Antonelli or Russell finishes in the top eight, both Ferraris retire
A New Era: Toto Wolff on Life After Lewis Hamilton
The 2026 season stands as a historic milestone for Mercedes, representing the team’s first world championship success without seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton since 1955. With Antonelli stepping directly into a championship-winning role alongside George Russell, team principal Toto Wolff reflected on the distinct emotional landscape of securing silverware in this new era compared to the historic run shared with Hamilton, who now drives for Ferrari.
“The championships with Lewis were absolutely incredible and rewarding,” team principal Toto Wolff said.
“I felt that we all were part of Lewis’ history, of the greatest champion, and that we would look back many years to come and say, ‘We’ve been world champions with Lewis Hamilton’. And this is something I’m very much still thinking about. He is one that stayed relevant and is very much culturally relevant beyond Formula 1.
“So that was very, very special championships that I will have for my whole life with me, and this one is different. As I said before, for me [Kimi] is still the kid that hasn’t even changed visually a lot.
“It’s so refreshing. I tried to get hold of him a few weeks ago and said, ‘Where’s Kimi?’. Kimi, for his birthday, he’s in the water park. Great! And as long as we can all help to preserve it, he’s intertwined with Mercedes, and that’s also great to see.”
Why This Matters
Securing the constructors’ championship in Brazil would cement Mercedes’ return to the absolute pinnacle of Formula 1, pairing the teams’ crown with Antonelli’s historic drivers’ championship triumph. Transitioning from the era of Lewis Hamilton—the sport’s most successful driver—was seen as a massive institutional test for the Brackley outfit. By prevailing with a lineup featuring Antonelli and Russell against a Ferrari squad featuring Hamilton himself, Mercedes proves its operational strength and long-term sustainability as a championship-winning force.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mercedes need to win the constructors’ title in Brazil?
Mercedes must outscore Scuderia Ferrari by at least three points during the Brazil Grand Prix race weekend to mathematically eliminate Ferrari and clinch the 2026 constructors’ championship.
When did Mercedes last win a world title without Lewis Hamilton?
Prior to the 2026 championship success led by Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes had not won a Formula 1 world title without Lewis Hamilton since the 1955 season.
Who can still mathematically challenge Mercedes for the title?
Only Ferrari remains in mathematical contention for the constructors’ championship, though they face a 126-point deficit behind Mercedes with limited rounds remaining.
