There is a strange kind of beauty in how quickly personal frustration can be swallowed whole by a team's collective glory. Kimi Antonelli walked away from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix feeling “extremely disappointed” with his P5 finish, yet the rookie was more than happy to bury those feelings in the champagne of Mercedes’ constructors' championship triumph.
Coming straight off the back of his own title win a week prior in Mexico City, Antonelli rolled into Interlagos full of life and locked down a brilliant P2 grid slot for the start. When the lights went out, he didn't hesitate: he snatched the lead right out from under polesitter Lando Norris and began building a confident gap at the front. But racing has a cruel way of turning on you. Mercedes pitted him slightly later than his rivals for slick tyres, leaving him exposed just as Norris caught up on rubber that was already up to temperature.
I’m extremely disappointed with the race, but I’m going to put it aside, because today is a great day for the team,
Out on track and desperately lacking grip, Antonelli suffered a spin off at Turn 1 and watched Norris breeze past. Things got even stranger when he radioed in to report that his machine felt like it was “steering by itself”. The team back in the garage checked the data and could find no clear mechanical issue. Though he managed to briefly claw his way back into first place, the pace simply wasn't there to hold the position. He ultimately had to settle for fifth place, right behind team mate George Russell, clinging onto that spot despite being hit with a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release.
Victory at Interlagos wasn't his, but the points haul was more than enough for the Silver Arrows to lock down their first teams’ crown since 2021, sparking unforgettable scenes on the podium.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the race, but I’m going to put it aside, because today is a great day for the team,” Antonelli reflected, praising the entire crew at the track and back at the factories in Brackley and Brixworth. “I’m very grateful to be part of this group, because they were the ones to help me to achieve this dream of mine.”
This championship double is the first time Mercedes have swept both titles since 2020. Looking ahead, Antonelli is eager to use this momentum to attack the final triple header and lay the groundwork for the 2027 season. With a chance now to catch his breath after two intense rounds, the young Italian made his ambitions crystal clear: “I really want to finish on a high and hopefully come back… finish with a couple more wins, and finish the season on a high. All we want is to keep the momentum going, as well into 2027, and the goal is to keep being successful.”
F1
F1
