Sao Paulo GP Power Rankings: Norris Shines, Verstappen Charges, and Alonso Impresses
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix saw Lando Norris showcase his wet-weather prowess, while Max Verstappen executed another remarkable comeback. Fernando Alonso proved he's still got it, securing Aston Martin's first Q3 of the season.
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix delivered an intriguing twist: Mercedes clinched the Constructors’ Championship, yet none of their drivers made the podium. Lando Norris of McLaren took advantage of the wet conditions to cruise to his third victory of the season, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen executed yet another of his famous comeback drives.
How it works Our Power Rankings are determined by a panel of five judges who evaluate each driver’s performance over the Grand Prix weekend, scoring them out of ten. These scores are averaged to produce a race score, which are then added up throughout the season to form an overall leaderboard.
McLaren was the only team to bring upgrades to Interlagos, and while Lando Norris was cautious about their impact, his skill in navigating the wet weather was undeniable. Starting from pole, he managed to keep his cool and avoid mistakes, finishing with a 14-second lead.
Max Verstappen, notorious for his thrilling Sao Paulo performances, didn’t disappoint. Starting from P21, he surged to P5 on intermediates and, despite struggling on softs, caught up to his teammate to secure second place. This performance solidified his hold on second in the drivers’ standings.
Liam Lawson was another standout, benefiting from the chaotic qualifying to start P5, later adjusted to P3. Though overtaken by top teams as the race went on, he defended admirably against Charles Leclerc, whose penalty for contact boosted Lawson to P7 post-race.
Isack Hadjar, grappling with car handling issues in recent races, found his rhythm in Sao Paulo. Starting fifth, he excelled on soft tyres, battling fiercely with Kimi Antonelli, and finished on the podium for the first time since Azerbaijan.
Fernando Alonso, a veteran of Interlagos success, made a remarkable return to form by securing Aston Martin’s first Q3 appearance of the season. He engaged in a thrilling duel with Alex Albon and finished a respectable P12, just outside the points.
In wet conditions, the midfield often finds opportunities, as Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg demonstrated. Despite a poor start and a penalty for leaving the track, late rain helped him secure P10, overtaking Arvid Lindblad in the process.
Lindblad, who faced a grid penalty due to a power unit issue, impressed by climbing from P18 and challenging rivals like Alonso and Hulkenberg throughout the race, though he ultimately finished just outside the top 10.
Lewis Hamilton, also penalized on the grid, made an impressive start by gaining 11 positions. His race strategy initially seemed promising, but tyre degradation and a subsequent spin in the rain saw him finish in P9.
George Russell had a frustrating qualifying session, starting behind Norris due to a five-place grid penalty. Despite this, he made significant progress in the race, recovering to finish P4, his best result since Baku.
Missing out Ollie Bearman and Alex Albon narrowly missed out on the Power Rankings leaderboard. Bearman suffered from contact and strategic mishaps, while Albon’s pace faded as the track dried, leaving him outside the top tier.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix offered a mix of strategic gambles and standout individual performances, reshaping the season's narratives as teams look forward to 2027.