Wolff: Mercedes face 'interesting exercise' after identifying 'something wrong'

Mercedes clinched its ninth constructors' title at the São Paulo Grand Prix, its first since 2021, but Toto Wolff left Interlagos with a puzzle. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both reported strange handling, and Wolff admitted the team may have got “something wrong” with tyre pressures or setup.

Why it matters:

The title is secure, but the W17's inconsistency is a warning. Russell and Antonelli are not habitual spinners, yet each lost control in costly moments. Mercedes needs to understand why the car swung from strong pace to unpredictable behaviour.

The details:

• Russell spun at the pit exit after switching to slicks, brushed the wall and fell to P10 before recovering to fourth.
• Antonelli led early but suspected a suspension issue, spun at Turn 1 and finished fifth.
• Wolff said both cars felt “very, very strange,” with rear tyres completely worn and fronts like new.
• Max Verstappen reported similar behaviour, suggesting a wider setup or pressure problem.
• Mercedes still showed race-winning pace at times, deepening the mystery.

What's next:

Wolff called it an “interesting exercise” to find the cause. Mercedes leaves Brazil with the championship and a positive mindset, but the investigation continues over the final three rounds.