Mercedes probes strange car behaviour after Brazil spins

Mercedes is trying to establish why Kimi Antonelli and George Russell both reported strange behaviour from their cars in Brazil, the first grand prix of 2026 in which the team failed to finish on the podium. The team had already secured the constructors' championship with three rounds remaining, but internally there is a strong feeling that a victory was lost.

Russell spun while leaving the pitlane on soft tyres, while Antonelli spun out of the lead while under pressure from Lando Norris. Antonelli recovered to second but then fell behind both Red Bull drivers, and the pair eventually finished fourth and fifth. Antonelli said he was very angry, noting he had felt something unusual with the car when he fitted the soft tyres.

Russell said he did not fully understand his pitlane spin, which came from a high-risk move. Team boss Toto Wolff said both drivers reported a very strange behaviour of the car, possibly linked to suspension or tyre pressures, and that Max Verstappen had reported something similar. Mercedes will want to understand the drop-off before the cold conditions expected in Las Vegas.