Mercedes has initiated an investigation into the performance of its W17 car following significant balance issues experienced by both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix. The team secured its ninth Constructors’ Championship at Interlagos, but the race was marred by unexpected difficulties.
Both drivers encountered spins during the Sao Paulo event on Sunday, November 8, 2026, leading to a loss of potential podium finishes. This marked the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season where Mercedes failed to secure a podium.
Russell’s incident occurred on Lap 16, where he spun at the pit-lane exit while transitioning from intermediate to slick tyres. He briefly made contact with the wall and dropped to tenth position before recovering to finish fourth.
Russell admitted he took a “high risk” during this crossover period, aiming to capitalize on track conditions. However, he later stated he was “not really too sure what happened” to cause the spin.
Kimi Antonelli, who had clinched the Drivers’ title at the preceding Mexican Grand Prix, also suffered a critical spin. His incident took place on Lap 20 at Turn 1, costing him the race lead to Lando Norris.
Antonelli reported that his car felt “weird” and was “pulling on one side when accelerating” after fitting soft tyres. He suspected a suspension problem and noted receiving “no warning” before the loss of grip.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the unusual nature of the problems. He stated that both drivers were given a “very tricky car at times”. Wolff indicated that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are not drivers prone to such errors.
Wolff’s initial assessment points towards incorrect tyre pressures or a flawed set-up as potential causes. Post-race data revealed the rear tyres were “completely worn,” while the fronts appeared “like new”.
Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin confirmed that both drivers reported balance difficulties. He emphasized the need to understand the “unusual balance” Antonelli reported after switching to slicks.
The team’s initial theory for the late-race slump centered on an “irrecoverable spike in tyre temperatures” during the out-laps on intermediate compounds. Russell noted that being the first onto intermediates on a drying track might have damaged the tyres.
Pirelli had anticipated higher-than-expected tyre degradation and overheating at Interlagos, suggesting a two-stop strategy for dry conditions. Cooler temperatures on race day also introduced challenges, including potential graining.
Max Verstappen, who finished second for Red Bull, also reported similar strange car behaviour during the race. This suggests the issues might not have been exclusive to Mercedes.
Despite the setbacks, Mercedes demonstrated strong pace at various points, particularly on the soft compound tyres. Russell highlighted that Mercedes had the “fastest race pace” on softs.
Antonelli received a five-second post-race penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane, impeding Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. This penalty did not alter his fifth-place finishing position.
The upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix presents further concerns, with even colder conditions anticipated. Mercedes will aim to resolve these W17 issues before the next event to prevent a recurrence.
