Mercedes has issued an explanation following the several spins endured by its drivers during Formula 1‘s Brazilian Grand Prix.
It was a triple header of celebration for the Silver Arrows: Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Drivers’ title in Mexico, with the team wrapping up the Constructors’ title in São Paulo. But despite the celebrations following Sunday’s race in Brazil, the team faced a difficult Grand Prix with both drivers.
In changeable conditions, Antonelli looked likely to secure his first win as an F1 World Champion. However, his fairy tale came with far more complications than expected.
After responding to Lando Norris’ earlier pit stop, the Italian found himself struggling on slick tyres. Antonelli continually reported via team radio that he felt suspension issues with his W17, causing his car to pull to one side. Two laps after his stop, the 20-year-old went off in Turn 1 as his car’s rear end suddenly snapped under braking. Allowing Norris to secure a lead, he didn’t let up until the checkered flag. Meanwhile, Antonelli dropped to fifth.
But the issues impacted both Mercedes cars, as George Russell also faced the same problems throughout the race. Following his pit stop, Russell found himself the survivor of a pit lane spin, before recovering to fifth.
When reflecting on the race, Antonelli discussed the uncertainty of the issues across the race.
“The spin is something I need to look at. Because I don’t know why I lost the rear so quickly as well,” Antonelli explained.
“Like no warning, nothing. But already when I put on the softs, I felt something weird with the car. So, we need to check what happened but on the other hand yeah, shame because we lost the race there.”
Lord says tyre temperatures to blame for Mercedes during Brazilian GP
After the celebrations of claiming yet another Constructors’ title, Mercedes investigated the handling issues both drivers experienced in Brazil. Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord explained that the issues potentially stemmed from the cooler temperatures during the race. Thus, making it harder for the tyres to be at the right temperature and grip levels.
“Kimi obviously had had a spin, flat-spotted all four tyres, and so his pace was somewhat limited,” Lord explained via Mercedes’ social media channels.
“We did really struggle as we went onto that dry soft tyre and then in the final inter-stint as well. With a car that was very, very tricky to drive, very oversteery and in the soft-tyre stint in particular, with very low tyre temperatures.
“That meant both of the drivers, and indeed other drivers in the field, actually thought there was something broken with the car. But looking at it, it looked like we were just below the tyre temperature window. Sometimes popping into it, but then dropping back out of it in the damp conditions. And that’s what was causing the very strange and unusual car behaviour.”
Lord highlighted that this issue added an extra layer of difficulty in the changeable weather conditions. However, praising the drivers for their strong performances that gifted the team its ninth Constructors’ title.
“It was a really topsy-turvy race. It’s not very often that you spin off on a formation lap and almost make contact with a barrier, that you spin in the pit lane with the other car, that you have several incidents on track as well and nonetheless manage to come home fourth and fifth.
“There were periods of the race in Brazil. The first inter tyre at the start and then during a large part of that dry soft-tyre stint, that we actually were the fastest car on track.”
Mercedes heads into the final triple header with both titles wrapped up, looking for a strong end to its successful 2026 campaign.
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