Lando Norris delivered a masterclass for victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix, taking the flag at a ­meeting marked by a series of ­striking comebacks.

Max ­Verstappen was once more outstanding at Interlagos by taking second from 21st on the grid and for McLaren it was a victory they have sought since mid-season. But of most import was confirmation of a definitive return from the wilderness for Mercedes as they claimed their ninth Formula One constructors’ world championship.

What it meant to Mercedes was clear, with as many of the team personnel as could be squeezed on to the podium in São Paulo celebrating the achievement. The drivers – the newly crowned world champion, Kimi Antonelli, and George ­Russell – and the team principal, Toto Wolff, ­sportingly allowed them their moment before joining them to share in the redemptive joy.

With it Mercedes have sealed their first drivers’ and ­constructors’ double since Lewis Hamilton last took the drivers’ title in 2020, and their first constructors’ championship at all since 2021. They needed to outscore second-placed Ferrari by three points in Brazil; Antonelli finishing fifth and Russell fourth proved more than enough.

The feat is even more impressive given how much Mercedes struggled under the last set of regulations. They endured four long years of battering away to little effect, a drought from which there was no guarantee they could return to winning ways.

The competitive edge might have been dulled, the operational execution in question, yet coming back at the first time of asking to close out with such control was a reminder of what a fearsome operation the Brackley-based squad remain and that they will finish the season as the early benchmark of this era in F1.

The achievement – tying them with Williams as the third most successful constructor in F1, behind only Ferrari and McLaren – is the culmination of a remarkable season for the team. The race at Interlagos was not their smoothest of the year – Antonelli had tyre temperature issues that cost him the lead and Russell spun on ­exiting the pit lane – but the hard work had long since been done.

Dominant for the opening half of the year, having developed both the best car and the best engine, they have taken 12 wins from 20 meetings. Indeed reliability has been their only real weakness, which was perhaps to be expected given the new regulations, and will be something the team can be expected to address going forward.

They rightly enjoyed the ­plaudits but Norris and Verstappen were also stars in an incident-packed race in Brazil, in difficult, mixed, wet and dry conditions.

Verstappen, after a grid penalty for taking a new engine, was hugely impressive and making it up to ­second ranks among his best comebacks on a track where he has already delivered some mighty performances, not least in winning from 17th on the grid in 2024.

This was a classic performance from the Dutchman, showing sharp decisiveness and touch to come through the field. Just taking ­podiums is not where he wants to be but the pace of the Red Bull indicated that the team, after starting the season well off the pace, are very much on course to be in the mix next season.

McLaren share that ambition, and they will be similarly buoyed by their showing. Antonelli had led for the opening phase of the race having beaten Norris off the line but had issues with his grip after his first pit stop, allowing Norris into the lead from where the British driver was all but untouchable.

The McLaren had immense pace even amid late tension when rain swept the track in the final 10 laps, causing a flurry of pit stops for wet rubber. Norris nonetheless had the conditions’ measure to the flag, where he ­finished with a 14-second lead.

The victory represents a real result for McLaren, as the final set of upgrades they brought to this round, notably the front wing, appear to have paid off. They have not won since Norris took the Dutch GP and were hoping these final developments to their car would prove they were going in the right direction for 2027. On this form they, too, have turned the corner, indicating that for all of Mercedes’s success they will surely have a fight on their hands when it comes to defending those well-earned titles next season.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was in third. Hamilton, who marked his 400th grand prix by taking a grid ^­penalty for an engine change, made it to ninth from 20th for Ferrari, with his teammate Charles Leclerc eighth.