Mercedes points to tyre temperatures behind Antonelli's Brazil handling problems

Kimi Antonelli lost the lead to Lando Norris after spinning at Turn 1 in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix. Mercedes says the unusual handling Antonelli reported beforehand was largely due to difficulty getting the tyres into their operating window in the cooler conditions, deputy team principal Bradley Lord said.

Lord said both Mercedes drivers, as well as other drivers in the field, thought something was broken. Mercedes' assessment pointed to tyre temperatures just below the operating window, sometimes entering it before dropping out again in damp conditions. Lord said the soft-tyre stint was particularly difficult to drive, with very low tyre temperatures.

Antonelli changed from worn intermediates to slicks on lap 18, one lap after Norris stopped. He then reported that his W17 felt odd and pulled to one side. Two laps later, the car's rear snapped under braking at Turn 1. Antonelli recovered but finished fifth, 41 seconds behind Norris.