# Mercedes Explains Unusual Car Behaviour Behind Kimi Antonelli's Interlagos Spin Mercedes attributes Kimi Antonelli's Brazilian Grand Prix spin to critical tyre temperature management issues. - **Source:** [Motorsport.com – F1](https://www.motorsport.com/f1) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/866ae975-a4e6-4feb-9d45-2ef9f9e2b79a ## Unexpected Handling Anomalies During the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli experienced sudden, unprovoked spins that hindered his race performance. Despite leading early, Antonelli reported that his W17 felt like it was pulling to one side, leading to a critical loss of rear-end grip that ultimately dropped him to a fifth-place finish. ## Technical Investigation Findings Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord confirmed that the team investigated the handling issues reported by both Antonelli and George Russell. The analysis concluded that no mechanical failure occurred within the suspension or chassis. Instead, the team identified that the car's erratic behavior was directly linked to extreme environmental track conditions. ## Tyre Temperature Challenges The primary cause of the instability was the inability to maintain tyres within their optimal operating window. In the cooler Brazilian conditions, the soft tyres frequently dropped below the required temperature range. This fluctuation created a highly unpredictable car balance, causing the drivers to perceive a false sense of mechanical breakage. ## Impact on Race Strategy Antonelli’s race was compromised after switching to slick tyres on lap 18, which exacerbated the oversteer issues. The driver noted a lack of warning before the car snapped under braking, forcing him off the track at Turn 1. These incidents significantly disrupted his pace, leaving him 41 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris. ## Team-wide Performance Struggles The issue was not isolated to Antonelli, as teammate George Russell also struggled with a spin at the narrow pit exit. Despite these setbacks, Mercedes managed to secure fourth and fifth place finishes. The team noted that during specific stints, they remained the fastest car on track despite the difficult handling characteristics. ## Constructors' Championship Context Despite the chaotic nature of the Interlagos race, Mercedes successfully clinched its first constructors' title since 2021. This championship victory provided a buffer for the team, allowing them to analyze the technical anomalies without the pressure of a tight points battle, focusing instead on data collection for future race weekends. ## Driver Feedback and Analysis Antonelli expressed frustration regarding the lack of feedback from the car during the spin, noting that the rear end lost grip without warning. The team is now reviewing the telemetry to understand how to better manage tyre thermal cycles when track temperatures fluctuate rapidly during wet-dry-wet race scenarios in future events. ## Broader Technical Implications This incident highlights the sensitivity of modern Formula 1 cars to tyre temperature management in variable weather. As teams push for maximum performance, maintaining the narrow operating window remains a critical engineering challenge. Mercedes will use these findings to refine their setup procedures for upcoming races to ensure better stability under pressure. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-explains-unusual-car-behaviour-behind-kimi-antonellis-costly-brazil-spin/10873891/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RSS-F1&utm_term=News&utm_content=www — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._