Mercedes Secures P2 in Constructors’ Championship as Lando Norris Claims World Title
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Despite a challenging race that saw both drivers finish outside the podium positions, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport clinched second place in the Constructors’ Championship, while Lando Norris was crowned World Champion. The team now turns its focus to a significant rules overhaul slated for 2026.
Mercedes concluded the season with a mixed bag of results, highlighted by George Russell’s fifth-place finish and Kimi Antonelli’s 15th. The team’s performance underscored the competitive intensity of the season and the dominance of McLaren, who secured both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
Russell’s Frustrating Fifth
Russell experienced a difficult start to the race, losing positions off the line and finding himself behind both Leclerc and Alonso. While he managed to overtake Alonso, a move to secure the undercut proved nearly successful but ultimately fell short. “I had a poor start and dropped down to P6; I got back ahead of Alonso to take P5, but it was a lonely night from there,” Russell stated. He ultimately finished fifth, a result that, despite its individual frustrations, proved crucial for the team’s championship ambitions.
A senior official acknowledged the team’s struggles, noting that they “struggled to find the pace that would threaten those ahead throughout the whole Grand Prix.” Despite not challenging for the podium, the team remained focused on securing P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, a goal they achieved.
Antonelli’s Difficult Debut
Rookie driver Antonelli faced an even more challenging race, starting on the hard tire and becoming trapped in a DRS train, hindering his ability to make strategic progress. “I struggled with the balance of the car this evening and didn’t have the pace to get back into the points sadly,” Antonelli explained. He finished 15th, marking a difficult end to a promising season.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Despite the season’s conclusion, Mercedes is already looking ahead to the significant regulatory changes planned for 2026. “We’ve ticked that box [P2 in the Constructors’] but ultimately, we want more than this and that is what we are fully focused on delivering in 2026 with the seismic rules change,” Russell emphasized.
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, echoed this sentiment, describing the race as “mediocre” but expressing satisfaction with securing second in the championship. He added that the team’s ultimate goal is to be “worthy of being in a world title fight” in the future.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, concurred, stating that the team is “very mindful that McLaren won this championship comfortably” and will “redouble our efforts” over the winter to prepare for the new regulations. A detailed comparison of Mercedes’ and McLaren’s aerodynamic development throughout the season would illustrate the performance gap.
Congratulations to a Worthy Champion
Throughout the post-race commentary, congratulations were extended to Lando Norris on his World Championship victory. “He is a worthy winner,” Wolff stated, adding praise for Zak Brown and Andrea Stella’s leadership at McLaren. Russell also offered his congratulations, saying, “He is more than deserving of the title. Hopefully we can do battle on track next year for the 2026 crown!” Antonelli also extended his congratulations, acknowledging the brilliance of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri as well.
The 2025 season may have concluded, but for Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, the groundwork for a renewed championship challenge in 2026 is already underway.
