Mercedes
Russell had loads of wheelspin off the road, and dropped behind Leclerc and Alonso which was removed from preferrred. He managed to select off the Aston Martin man, however couldn’t get the Ferrari forward. As such, he stopped early to attempt the undercut, which very almost labored. However he misplaced tempo within the final stint and got here house a distant fifth – which was greater than sufficient to safe P2 within the Constructors’ for Mercedes. As for Antonelli, he began on the laborious tyre however couldn’t fairly make that technique play out after getting caught in a DRS prepare for a lot of the race.
George Russell, fifth
“That was a really powerful race for us this night. We struggled to search out the tempo that may threaten these forward all through the entire Grand Prix. I had a poor begin and dropped right down to P6; I obtained again forward of Alonso to take P5, nevertheless it was a lonely night time from there. We knew in regular circumstances that we probably didn’t have the tempo to problem for the rostrum, nevertheless it was nonetheless irritating.
“While the season didn’t finish in the best way we wished, we could be happy that we secured P2 within the Constructors’. It has been a difficult 4 years on this floor impact period for us as a workforce and getting P2 was positively our intention from after the summer time break. We’ve ticked that field however in the end, we wish greater than this and that’s what we’re totally targeted on delivering in 2026 with the seismic guidelines change.
“Lastly, I wish to want congratulations to Lando (Norris) as he turns into World Champion. We’ve raced collectively for therefore lengthy and he’s greater than deserving of the title. Hopefully we are able to do battle on monitor subsequent yr for the 2026 crown!”
Kimi Antonelli, fifteenth
“I struggled with the steadiness of the automobile this night and didn’t have the tempo to get again into the factors sadly. It was a tricky night time and a troublesome race and that’s unlucky. We’d loved a superb run of Grands Prix as much as that time however that’s racing generally. We’ve obtained some work to do with the check on Tuesday and our full focus is already on 2026.
“It’s been fairly a journey this season. It’s not the best way we wished to finish the yr, however a very powerful factor is that we introduced house P2 within the Constructors’ Championship. Fortunately, we have been ready to try this. Over the winter, we’ll look again over the season, see the place we may have achieved higher, and are available again a lot stronger.
“Congratulations to Lando (Norris) too. He deserves it but additionally effectively achieved to each Max (Verstappen) and Oscar (Piastri) who’ve additionally been sensible this yr. It was a terrific battle all yr.”
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“Congratulations firstly to Lando Norris on profitable the World Championship. He’s a worthy winner; I’m actually completely satisfied for him and everybody that’s near him. His mother and father shall be fairly rightly pleased with his achievement, and I’m positive they may get pleasure from it. Congratulations additionally to Zak (Brown) and Andrea (Stella); they’ve achieved a terrific job at McLaren to safe each titles this yr.
“Our race could be summed up in a single phrase: mediocre. It was a lonely one for George who wasn’t threatened from behind however didn’t have the tempo of the entrance 4 vehicles. He was managing his tyres to convey the automobile house on the one-stop, and he did that efficiently. For Kimi, he tried his finest from a troublesome beginning place, however we simply didn’t have the velocity within the automobile to allow him to get again into the factors. It isn’t the best way we wished to finish the yr, however we could be happy we secured P2 within the Constructors’. For the reason that midpoint of the season, that has been our intention. It isn’t what we as Mercedes in the end wish to be preventing for although and hopefully, we are able to show ourselves worthy of being in a world title struggle subsequent yr.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
“That was an underwhelming approach to finish our season. We got here into the race hoping to struggle for the rostrum with George and to assist Kimi battle again right into a stable factors scoring place. Sadly, we did not have the tempo as we speak to try this and needed to bear a irritating night. Each drivers misplaced locations firstly and issues did not enhance a lot from there. George was in no man’s land between the highest 4 and the remainder of the sector. He drove sensibly to convey the automobile house P5. For Kimi, he wanted a superb begin and a powerful automobile to get better from qualifying and sadly didn’t have both.
“We’re happy to have secured second place within the Constructors’ Championship in an entertaining, season lengthy battle with Ferrari and Crimson Bull, we go into the winter very aware that McLaren gained this championship comfortably. We sit up for the immense problem of the brand new laws; we have been working laborious on the W17 for a very long time and can redouble our efforts throughout the winter in a bid to get again to profitable methods.
“Lastly, effectively achieved to Lando. He drove brilliantly within the ultimate races and is a worthy champion.”
