Lewis Hamilton reveals he is ‘counting down the days’ and will be ‘happy’ when the season finishes after Max Verstappen wins the Brazilian Gran Prix sprint race

One step forward, two steps back. Welcome to the world of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.

“Just a few more races with this car and then it’s done, so I’ll be happy,” sighed the seven-time world champion after the sprint race in Brazil won by Max Verstappen. “This year I’m just counting down the days.”

But Hamilton’s explanation was not necessary to understand his predicament. The fact that he finished seventh, a Grand Canyon-esque 34 seconds off the pace in a sprint of just 24 laps, was devastating in itself.

So much for the improved floor that was supposed to be the key to a better future. It took him to an illegal second place in Austin two weeks ago and a legitimate second place in Mexico last Sunday. And now this is bulging.

It’s been two years and still no answers. Red Bull has to laugh about it.

The Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race in action on the opening lap, as smoke rises to the sky

About the exact problems, Hamilton, who starts today’s 71-lap Sao Paulo Grand Prix from fifth place, said: ‘It was a very tough race. We had a good start and then I tried to find the right balance with the wing. I had a lot of understeer, quick oversteer. And the rear tires failed. In the middle segment I had enormous understeer. We probably got the setup wrong.”

That was similar to the famous line about the England cricket team. “There are only three things wrong… They can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.”

But Hamilton wasn’t done yet, adding: ‘The car is frustrating. We have one of the most dragging cars. Our floor is not as strong as Red Bull’s, so we have to have a very big wing and we are just slow on the straight.

“The last few races we were excited that we were making progress. Then you get to another circuit and you have the worst tire degradation in a long time. You just don’t know what to expect.’

Only you do: unpredictability and defeat.

George Russell in the other Mercedes finished fourth, 26 seconds behind – still over a second per lap less than necessary.

As for their fellow Briton Lando Norris, his hopes of victory vanished in an instant. He started on pole, but you know who came right past on his way to his fourth sprint victory of the season.

There was only a slim chance that things would be different, or that victory would be contested in more than one corner of this entertaining lap through the undulating amphitheater of Interlagos, but Norris failed to break the path of Verstappen, who was second started, to close.

Max Verstappen won the race with McLaren’s Lando Norris second and teammate Sergio Perez third

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in action during the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing sixth

They launched the pair quite decently and they were evenly matched within those few metres. Who knows, maybe Norris would have immediately moved to the left to claim the inside line?

“I have to reconsider my start,” admitted Norris, who finished second, 4.2 seconds behind his friend. ‘My initial phase was good. I don’t think I had wheelspin. But maybe I was too conservative and on the safe side. So there are things that can be improved for tomorrow’s Grand Prix. I have a lot of ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘could’.

Norris’s McLaren had real pace, which was a surprise to him. By Thursday he had written off all hopes of success, figuring there were too many turns in second and third gear for his car’s characteristics.

The 23-year-old was passed by Russell on the first lap, a strong move from the inside. Four laps later, Norris reasserted himself ahead of the Mercedes.

“I got caught sleeping with George, but the pace was strong after that,” Norris reflected. ‘I tried to go after Max, but he was too strong. All in all a strong race, good points.’

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez started and finished third, despite a poor start. The Mexican, who struggled early on with both Mercedes, can be pleased to have increased his lead over Hamilton in their battle for second place in the world championship by four points to 24. Only today’s Grand Prix and the one in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi remain.

Verstappen starts from pole here and seems untouchable. For Mercedes, a face-saving improvement is a minimum requirement. As team boss Toto Wolff admitted: ‘This was a blood-curdling day.’ Another.

Hamilton has not come close to challenging Verstappen all season