Liam Lawson 'hypocrisy' warning to Racing Bulls as Max Verstappen shows 'true colours' - International Media reacts

Lando Norris mastered the treacherous conditions at Interlagos to claim victory in a dramatic São Paulo Grand Prix, as Mercedes secured the constructors' championship and Max Verstappen produced another memorable performance.

The McLaren driver delivered a timely reminder of his talent with victory in the wet, while Isack Hadjar impressed with a podium finish for Red Bull.

There was further intrigue at Ferrari, where the battle for supremacy between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc continued to intensify, while questions remained over Liam Lawson's future within the Red Bull organisation.

With Norris back on the top step, Mercedes celebrating another championship and several drivers facing growing scrutiny, the Brazilian Grand Prix provided plenty of talking points for the world's media.

Here's how international media reacted to the São Paulo Grand Prix, the 20th round of the 2026 F1 season.

🇬🇧 The Times – Lando Norris issues timely reminder of talent as he sets sights on 2027

The Times focuses on Norris' impressive victory at Interlagos, arguing that the McLaren driver has delivered a timely reminder of his ability as he looks ahead to another championship challenge in 2027.

Despite losing ground at the start, Norris mastered the changing conditions to secure his third victory of the season, finishing more than 14 seconds clear of Verstappen.

The British publication suggests that the performance demonstrated Norris remains capable of fighting for another world title, provided McLaren can supply him with a sufficiently competitive car.

With Antonelli having already secured this year's championship, Norris' Brazilian triumph offered encouragement that he could return to the forefront of the title battle next season.

🇳🇱 De Telegraaf – Not only during, but also after a sensational race in Brazil, Max Verstappen showed his true colours

De Telegraaf focuses on Verstappen's remarkable recovery drive at Interlagos, where the four-time world champion climbed from 21st on the grid to finish second.

The Dutchman demonstrated his wet-weather prowess once again, gaining eight positions in the opening five laps before continuing his charge through the field as conditions changed.

His performance was particularly impressive given the difficulties Red Bull had encountered in qualifying, with Verstappen ultimately finishing comfortably ahead of team-mate Hadjar.

The Dutch publication also draws attention to Verstappen's conduct after the race, presenting his actions away from the cockpit as another demonstration of his character following one of his strongest performances of the season.

🇮🇹 Gazzetta dello Sport – Hamilton vs Leclerc: the battle for supremacy at Ferrari

Gazzetta dello Sport examines the increasingly intriguing battle between Hamilton and Leclerc for supremacy within Ferrari as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.

The Italian publication considers how the two drivers have measured up against one another, with their performances raising questions about which should lead the Scuderia's challenge next season.

In Brazil, Leclerc finished eighth after he was penalised following a late battle with Lawson, while Hamilton recovered from 20th on the grid to finish ninth on his 400th Formula 1 start.

The contrasting fortunes of the Ferrari pair provide another chapter in an internal rivalry that could prove significant as the team looks to establish itself as a championship contender in 2027.

🇫🇷 L'Équipe – Isack Hadjar: a podium that confirms his new status – 'In difficult conditions, whether dry or wet, he was very intelligent and very calm'

L'Équipe celebrates Hadjar's impressive podium finish at Interlagos, highlighting the Frenchman's growing maturity and importance within Red Bull.

Hadjar handled the changing conditions with considerable composure, running second during the middle stages before eventually finishing third behind Norris and Verstappen.

The French publication emphasises his intelligent approach to the race, with his ability to remain calm on both wet and dry tyres helping him secure his second podium of the season.

His performance alongside Verstappen underlines the progress he has made in 2026, with L'Équipe portraying the result as further evidence that Hadjar is establishing himself as a genuine front-running Formula 1 driver.

🇳🇿 NZ Herald – The hypocrisy if Racing Bulls decide to drop Liam Lawson for 2027

The NZ Herald questions the fairness of Red Bull potentially dropping Lawson for 2027 despite the New Zealander continuing to deliver impressive performances for Racing Bulls.

Lawson enjoyed a particularly strong race in Brazil, briefly running second in the opening stages before eventually finishing seventh and collecting another six championship points.

The opinion piece challenges the prospect of Racing Bulls overlooking those results when assessing its driver line-up.

With Lawson continuing to demonstrate his ability in difficult conditions, the publication suggests that dropping him would raise serious questions about the consistency of Red Bull's driver-management decisions.

🇦🇺 Herald Sun – Lando Norris wins wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Mercedes seals constructors' championship

The Herald Sun focuses on Norris' commanding victory in Brazil and Mercedes securing its ninth constructors' championship.

Norris overcame a difficult opening lap and the constantly changing weather to take control of the race, eventually finishing 14.6 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who produced an extraordinary recovery from 21st on the grid.

Hadjar completed the podium to secure a Red Bull double, while Russell and Antonelli finished fourth and fifth respectively to give Mercedes an unassailable advantage in the constructors' standings.

The result completed a championship double for the Silver Arrows, with Antonelli having already secured the drivers' title in Mexico, while Norris' victory provided another reminder of McLaren's competitiveness.

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