Mercedes explains Antonelli's Brazil GP handling mystery

Mercedes believes the mysterious handling problems that derailed Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Brazilian Grand Prix were caused by tyres falling outside their operating window, not a broken car. The newly crowned champion led early in wet-dry-wet conditions before a sudden rear-end snap at Turn 1 dropped him to fifth, while Mercedes still sealed its first constructors' title since 2021.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's first race as champion was a reminder of how quickly mixed conditions can swing a result. Mercedes left Brazil with the teams' crown, but the W17's strange behaviour raised concerns before the team traced the issue to tyre temperatures rather than a mechanical fault.

The details:

• Antonelli started second and took the lead after polesitter Lando Norris made a poor start, building a buffer over the first 15 laps.
• After switching to slicks on lap 18, he reported suspension-like issues and a car pulling to one side. Two laps later, the rear snapped under braking at Turn 1; he had already run off at Turn 12.
• He recovered to finish fifth, 41 seconds behind Norris. George Russell survived a spin at the pit exit to finish fourth.
• Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord said Antonelli flat-spotted all four tyres, limiting his pace, and that the car was 'very oversteery' with very low tyre temperatures.
• Lord added that both drivers, and others, thought something was broken, but data showed the tyres were below their operating window and occasionally dropping in and out in the damp conditions.
• Mercedes still called it a 'topsy-turvy' race, having survived a formation-lap spin and several incidents to take fourth and fifth, with periods where it was the fastest car.

What's next:

Mercedes will review the data from Brazil as it manages tyre windows in cool, mixed conditions. The result cost Antonelli a shot at victory in his first race as champion, but the constructors' title softens the blow.