Hamilton links sudden Ferrari oversteer to early tyre fade

Hamilton launched from 20th and was fighting Oliver Bearman for ninth by Turn 5 at the São Paulo Grand Prix. By Lap 3, he had begun to slide down the order. He said the intermediate tyres fell away after a few laps, leaving the SF-26 with pronounced oversteer.

On the opening intermediate stint, drizzle and a drying track sent surface temperatures sharply higher, while drivers struggled with graining. The rear of Hamilton's Ferrari began to step out under throttle. He said Ferrari had struggled to get the tyres into the right operating window and suggested the higher temperature also raised tyre pressure.

Hamilton said Ferrari had struggled for general pace all weekend, although it looked a little better on slicks. He was the first driver to stop for slick tyres, on Lap 15, and said he wanted to pit sooner. He also said overtaking was difficult afterwards because only one racing line was available.

Verstappen moved from 21st to second, while Hamilton finished his 400th grand prix ninth and a lap down. It was the first time Hamilton had been lapped since the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.