Norris wins São Paulo Grand Prix as Mercedes clinch constructors' title

Interlagos welcomed Kimi Antonelli back to the track as the newly crowned drivers' champion. On November 6, the BBC reported that Mercedes also had a chance to secure the constructors' championship during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend.

The early pace suggested a contest between Antonelli and Lando Norris. Norris led the opening practice session, according to World News CNA, before Antonelli topped the second session ahead of Norris and Max Verstappen, Infobae reported.

By November 7, grid penalties were already changing the stakes. The BBC reported that Ferrari team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would each receive a 10-place penalty, with Verstappen also facing a penalty.

Then the weather intervened. Qualifying was interrupted almost as soon as Q1 began, and the delay approached an hour as rain continued, according to Perfil.com.

Norris ultimately took pole in the wet conditions. CNN Brasil reported that the McLaren driver set the fastest qualifying lap at Interlagos on Saturday, November 7.

George Russell was second fastest, but his own grid penalty meant that qualifying order would not become starting order, Arab News reported. Antonelli instead secured the other front-row position, with Lawson and Hulkenberg on the second row, according to Fanpage.

Verstappen's session ended after Q1, nu.nl reported. His multiple engine-component changes meant he was already facing a start at the back, according to Rss.

Norris starts first alongside Antonelli, with penalties separating several leading drivers from the front of the field. La Repubblica reported penalties for Russell, both Ferrari drivers and Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri will start tenth after the disrupted wet qualifying session, according to ABC Australia. The distinction between qualifying times and starting positions is central to this grid: Russell was second fastest, but Antonelli takes the front-row place beside Norris.

More rain is forecast for Sunday's race, according to Sky Sports. That leaves another weather variable for Norris at the front and for Verstappen, Hamilton and Leclerc as they try to recover from their penalties.

Norris and Russell were both hoping for more rain despite qualifying conditions being described as borderline, the BBC reported. Mercedes also has the constructors' championship opportunity identified at the start of the weekend.