Rivals congratulate Mercedes after ninth Constructors' title

Mercedes has clinched the 2026 Constructors' Championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, ending a five-year wait since its last teams' title in 2021. George Russell's P4 and new world champion Kimi Antonelli's P5 were enough to outscore Ferrari, securing Mercedes' ninth constructors' crown and moving it level with Williams in the all-time standings.

Why it matters:

The title is Mercedes' first under the sweeping 2026 regulations, which overhauled both aerodynamics and power units. It also completes a double with Antonelli's drivers' championship and validates the team's early pivot to the new rules. Rivals were quick to acknowledge the scale of the achievement.

The details:

• Toto Wolff called the title a proud moment for the organisation, saying few teams have recovered from such a long gap at the top.
• Andrew Shovlin said Mercedes had "never put so much effort into a new set of regulations" and praised the team's persistence through setbacks.
• McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella both congratulated Mercedes, with Stella calling the win a reflection of great work in a highly competitive field.
• Lewis Hamilton, who won six of his seven drivers' titles with Mercedes, posted: "Congratulations guys, am so happy for you all. So well deserved."
• Red Bull's Laurent Mekies said Mercedes converted its early 2026 switch into lap time, starting the season with more than a second advantage.
• F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali noted Wolff's ninth constructors' title draws level with Sir Frank Williams, and called Antonelli's youngest-ever drivers' crown part of an unforgettable season.

What's next:

Mercedes has both championships secured, but the final races still matter for momentum and pride. Rivals will be watching closely as they try to close the gap before the next phase of the current rules cycle.