Ted Kravitz says one Sao Paulo Grand Prix moment was a real ‘shocker’ for Lewis Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult Sprint for Mercedes ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in the middle of a difficult weekend.

Hamilton started on the wrong foot in the only practice session of the weekend, as the track was much bumpier than before.

The British driver struggled at Interlagos after the track had been resurfaced creating a lot more bumps than before. This caused Mercedes issues and, in particular, Hamilton, who suffered in practice.

It is more difficult to setup a car over a Sprint weekend as there is just one practice session rather three on a more conventional event.

Hamilton suffered a difficult 24-lap Sprint as he floundered in the midfield and eventually finished outside the points in 11th place.

Ted Kravitz explained during the race on Sky Sports F1 that Hamilton was having a difficult race stuck behind Alex Albon.

Ted Kravitz explained Lewis Hamilton had a ‘shocker’ of a start

Hamilton started the race in 11th place after a difficult qualifying and getting knocked out in SQ2 on Friday.

He lost three places in the opening stages of the race, dropping behind both Williams of Albon and his teammate Franco Colapinto.

The rest of the 24-lap race was a struggle for Hamilton as he lacked the top speed to get past the Argentinian despite having two DRS zones on the track.

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He eventually passed the Williams driver after he made a slight mistake at Turn 1, which allowed Hamilton past towards the end of the race.

Kravitz explained that Hamilton had a poor start before be began to challenge Colapinto in the midfield and getting past.

He said: “Alex Albon holding some people up behind him. That’s meaning that Lewis Hamilton, who got a shocker of a start, didn’t he, down three places, is now right on the gearbox of Albon’s Williams teammate, Franco Colapinto.”

Mercedes are continuing to struggle over bumps in the ground effect era

Mercedes have struggled since Formula 1 changed the regulations in 2022 to introduce ground-effect which they have struggled with.

The German team have had issues over the past three seasons on bumpy circuits, which has cost them time and valuable points.

Mercedes has suffered from those issues in Brazil although George Russell has dealt with them better than Hamilton as he finished the Sprint in sixth place.

The Grand Prix could be a difficult event for them at a circuit where they have recently succeeded, taking a one-two finish in 2022.