George Russell experienced a significant incident during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, nearly obstructing the pit lane following a crucial tyre change. The Mercedes driver spun upon exiting the pits on Lap 17, losing control of his car.
The incident forced Russell to briefly drive against the direction of traffic to regain control. This manoeuvre occurred as other competitors, including Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Oscar Piastri, were filtering through the pit exit.
The spin resulted in Russell dropping several positions, falling to eighth place in the running order after the field had stabilised. The race at Interlagos commenced under damp conditions, with all cars initially on intermediate tyres.
The track surface dried rapidly, prompting an early switch to slick tyres. Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz initiated the move to red-marked soft tyres on Lap 15, with a wave of other drivers pitting on the subsequent lap.
Among those who followed suit on Lap 16 were Lando Norris, Russell, Hadjar, and Lawson. Russell’s spin occurred immediately after his transition to the soft compound.
Earlier in the race, Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, who was leading, also encountered issues. Antonelli pitted on Lap 18, maintaining his lead over Norris.
However, Antonelli subsequently spun from the lead at Turn 1 on Lap 20, reporting a potential issue with his car. This allowed Norris to take the lead of the Grand Prix.
Antonelli, the reigning 2026 World Champion, had also experienced a spin on his way to the grid at Turn 12 prior to the race start.
Pirelli had supplied softer tyre compounds for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, designating the C3 as hard, C4 as medium, and C5 as soft. This selection was a step softer than the 2025 allocation.
Resurfacing work on sections of the Interlagos circuit, specifically between Turns 3 and 5, and Turns 8 and 9, was noted as a factor that could influence grip levels and tyre degradation throughout the event.
The race weekend has been characterised by unpredictable weather. Qualifying was significantly affected by heavy rain, leading to a lengthy delay and challenging conditions for drivers.
Russell himself had qualified second for the Grand Prix but started seventh due to a five-place grid penalty for an engine component change.
His qualifying session was further complicated by a ‘miscommunication’ with his team, which he stated cost him a potential pole position lap.
The FIA regulations stipulate that drivers are prohibited from stopping unnecessarily in the pit lane’s fast lane. At Interlagos, specific instructions allow drivers to create gaps at the pit exit by moving to the left.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is the 20th round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. Mercedes entered the race with an opportunity to secure the Constructors’ Championship.
Lando Norris started the race from pole position. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both began from the back of the grid due to engine penalties.
