Lewis Hꦚamilton admits there is still some "mystery” behind the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s sudden drop off in performance in recent races in Mexico and the Unit꧙ed States.

Hamilton wrapped up his fifth world championship title despite a distant fourth-place finish in Mexico City, one position ahead of lapped teammate Val♎tteri Bottas, as Mercedes struggled with excessive tyre wear compared to its rivals.

It followed similar issues at the previous race in Austin, leading to suggestions Mercedes’ decision not to run its controversial w🧸heel rim design at both eℱvents was a factor in the team’s performance dip.

Mercedes refuted the claims and team boss Toto Wolff later said he was confident his side had made progress in understanding its recent challenges heading into this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, though Hamilton reckons 𒁃there is more work to be done.

“I think some of it is still a mystery but I think ther♚e are a lot of areas that we have undersওtood,” Hamilton said.

“﷽We are coming to another circuit that is quite hard on tyres, Brazil is always quite tough 🌟in that area but we have not been terrible here. I think this track does work quite well with a more nimble, shorter car.

“I’m hoping this weekend we can get the car int꧂o the right place and fight the guys, and the Red Bulls and Ferraris who have seemed to come back more into shooting range.

“Red Bull’s dominance at the last race was impressive and I’m 🦹sure they will be quick this we༺ekend as well, as will Ferrari.

“It is ⛦g🌺oing to take everything and more - we will have to throw everything at it, including the bathroom sink.”

Bottas said he had been encouraged by the promising steps made by Mercedes꧂ after visiting thꦍe team’s Brackley base in the gap between Mexico and Brazil.

“The team worked really hard to find the answers for that, quickly,” Bott💎as explained.

“I went to the factory as well, had a really interesting meeting about that, seeing how we were really🥂 able to track those issues and where all of them started from.

“It’s really how we’re managing the car, many mechanical 🌺things and so on. We know the mistakes we have made a💙nd we’re hoping not to repeat them.”