Andrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted his anger and disappointment after missing out on a potential victory at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, while Mercedes investigates an unusual balance problem with its W17 that affected both drivers. The newly crowned Formula 1 world champion had led the race in wet conditions before a costly spin on slick tyres undermined his chances of winning at Interlagos.
Just one week after securing the drivers’ world championship in Mexico, the 20-year-old Italian endured a frustrating afternoon on the same day Mercedes mathematically clinched the constructors’ title. It was a weekend of contrasting emotions for the Brackley team, which finished a Grand Prix without either car on the podium for the first time this season.
Kimi Antonelli explains how Brazilian GP victory slipped away
Andrea Kimi Antonelli had made an excellent start, immediately moving into the lead and establishing a strong rhythm in the opening wet conditions. Mercedes demonstrated impressive competitiveness on intermediate tyres, allowing the Italian to control the race with convincing pace. However, the situation changed after the switch to slicks, when the behaviour of the W17 became increasingly difficult to understand.
“I’m very disappointed with the race. To be honest, I’m very angry,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted. “But for now I’ll put all that aside because we’ve won the constructors’ championship and the whole team deserves it. I’m proud to be part of this group, which has done and continues to do so much for me. Speaking about the race, though, it was a huge disappointment because we were fighting for the win.”
The decisive moment came after the switch to soft tyres. Andrea Kimi Antonelli initially struggled to find the right balance before appearing to recover a competitive rhythm. However, a sudden loss of rear grip caused him to spin at Turn 1, opening the door for Lando Norris.
“I was starting to find my rhythm, and then came the spin. It’s something I still need to analyse because I can’t explain how I lost the rear so quickly. I had no warning at all. As soon as I fitted the Softs, I’d already felt something strange in the car’s behaviour. We need to understand what happened because that’s where we lost the race.”
The initial impression was that Andrea Kimi Antonelli had pushed too hard before the tyres had reached their ideal operating temperature, subsequently braking slightly off the racing line, where the track was still damp. However, the consequences extended beyond the time lost in the spin itself.
The lock-up and sliding damaged the tyres, compromising the remainder of his stint. When the Italian eventually fitted a fresh set, his competitiveness returned to a high level, adding to the frustration of a missed opportunity. The performance demonstrated earlier in the race made the outcome particularly difficult to accept for the driver who had recently celebrated his first Formula 1 world championship.
Mercedes investigates mysterious W17 set-up and tyre problem
Mercedes suspects that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s difficulties were not entirely the result of a driving error. Post-race findings suggested a potentially wider problem with the W17, particularly after George Russell reported similarly unusual handling characteristics. The team’s engineers have therefore begun examining whether the car’s set-up or tyre pressures contributed to the unexpected behaviour.
“Both of them had to deal with a car that was very difficult to drive at certain moments,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained. “George isn’t someone who spins at the exit of the pitlane, and the same goes for Kimi. They both described very strange behaviour, almost as if something was broken in the suspension or the tyre pressures were too high.”
Toto Wolff also highlighted a particularly significant finding from the examination of the tyres after the race. The difference in wear between the front and rear axles suggested that Mercedes had failed to identify an important element of the car’s behaviour.
“I think we got something wrong with the pressures or the set-up. Looking at the cars, the rear tyres were completely worn out, while the fronts looked new. There’s something we haven’t identified. And yet, at certain moments in the race, we were incredibly fast.”
The comments point to an unresolved technical question rather than a confirmed mechanical failure. Although Mercedes displayed excellent pace during certain phases of the Grand Prix, the team was unable to maintain that performance consistently once conditions changed. The contrast between the car’s speed and its unpredictable balance has become a central focus of the post-race investigation.
Andrew Shovlin confirms similar problems for George Russell
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin shared Toto Wolff’s assessment, acknowledging that the team had failed to maximise the potential demonstrated during different stages of the race. Both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell encountered handling difficulties, suggesting the problem was not isolated to one driver.
“Kimi looked to be in a very favourable position in the early stages and had good pace on both the intermediates and the Softs, but the spin compromised his afternoon. We need to understand the strange balance he reported after switching to slicks. George had similar problems too.”
The fourth- and fifth-place finishes were therefore below Mercedes’ expectations, particularly considering the competitiveness shown in the opening stages. The outcome also highlighted the contrast between the team’s championship success and its difficulties during the race itself.
Mercedes leaves Interlagos with the constructors’ championship secured but with an important technical question still unanswered. For George Russell, the Brazilian Grand Prix also continued a challenging period alongside his world champion team-mate, following Toto Wolff’s earlier assessment of the performance difficulties against Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Kimi Antonelli’s emotional connection with Brazil and the Senna family
Beyond the disappointment of missing out on victory, the Brazilian Grand Prix carried particular emotional significance for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian received an exceptionally warm welcome from the local supporters, with the relationship that has developed between the young Mercedes driver and the Senna family contributing to the affection shown towards him.
“I really wanted to win here in Brazil, in front of this incredible crowd. The support I’ve received throughout the weekend has been special. It would have been wonderful to finish with a victory, but unfortunately I couldn’t do it. I hope to come back next year and manage to win.”
Toto Wolff also revisited the comparisons between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ayrton Senna, a subject he had previously preferred to discourage to avoid placing additional expectations on such a young driver. The Mercedes team principal acknowledged the affection shown by the Senna family while emphasising that the Italian must be allowed to develop his own identity.
“Kimi is Kimi and Senna was Senna. It’s lovely to see how the Senna family has welcomed him. They say it’s the first time they’ve seen something like a second little Senna. Perhaps, at this point, we can say he’s a little Senna, but not Senna yet. Let’s allow him to grow.”
Interlagos will therefore remain a memorable but bittersweet chapter in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary season. Mercedes’ constructors’ championship completes a remarkable year for the team, although the achievement does not entirely erase the disappointment of a victory the Italian had hoped to add to his record.
“This team helped me achieve my dream last week,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli concluded. “And today I’m extremely happy that we’ve managed to achieve this goal together as well. We’ll enjoy the moment, but we want to keep winning. We’ll continue pushing to finish the season in the best possible way.”
More news about Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli
- Toto Wolff praises Kimi Antonelli after his world championship triumph
- Kimi Antonelli’s father reveals when he recognised his son’s world championship potential
- How Peter Bonnington helped Kimi Antonelli secure victory in Austin
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