In the run-up to this Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which was won by Max Verstappen – who else? – it was suggested the two good performances for the Silver Arrows in Austin and Mexico City would prove to be a false dawn.

Max Verstappen won his 17th race of the season Credit: AFP

Fernando Alonso beat Sergio Perez to third place Credit: Rex

They were all smiles for those weekends – as Lewis Hamilton finished second in both races – albeit being disqualified in the US for a technicality with his car.

Hamilton too had said he was not “dazzled” by his team’s position as he watched Verstappen romp to the title.

And this was another horror show, as they got it spectacularly wrong and proved they have their work cut out if they want to take the fight to Red Bull next season.

Hamilton was eighth and George Russell – who won this race last year to give the team some motivation for 2023 – was told to retire the car on lap 58 of 71.

It was a shocker for the former world champions, who look shadows of their former selves and again raises doubts if they will ever be able to catch Red Bull.

If he were a manager of a Premier League football club, the dreadful form over the past two seasons would have Merc boss Toto Wolff facing the axe.

Of course, F1 is a different beast altogether and the Austrian – who last week said he was interested in investing in Manchester United – is a three-way owner of the Mercedes F1 team.

There was drama before the race had even started as Charles Leclerc crashed on his way to the grid.

Charles Leclerc crashed out during the formation lap Credit: AFP

The Ferrari man was due to start in second place but suffered a hydraulic failure and crashed into the barriers.

Leclerc was left crushing his luck and said over the radio: “I lost the hydraulics. Why the f*** am I so unlucky?”

When the race got underway, there was a smash heading into Turn One as Alex Albon was caught in the middle of a Haas sandwich.

The Williams man was pinched by Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, who clipped his car and sent him crashing into the barriers.

Magnussen’s car also went into the rear of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, breaking his rear wing.

The multi-car accident saw the stewards red-flag the race and there was a 25 minute delay while they swept up the debris and repaired the barriers.

Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon crashed out before Turn One Credit: Splash

Verstappen again got away cleanly for the second start and this time there were no further accidents as the remaining 17 cars made it round unscathed.

Fernando Alonso pulled off an excellent overtake on Hamilton to move into third and drop the Mercedes man to fourth, one spot ahead of Russell.

And it caused a headache for the Mercedes pitwall as Russell started to make it clear that he was quicker than the seven-time world champion.

Russell made a series of pointed remarks over the team’s radio. At one point it was explicitly clear.

He said: “Either I need to overtake or he needs to manage more through there.”

Russell was a sitting duck as Sergio Perez was first to pass him. And then Lance Stroll.

Carlos Sainz and then Pierre Gasly. And then Esteban Ocon. It was an alarming drop for the man from Kings’ Lynn, who was eventually told to stop due to overheating problems.

Hamilton too was passed one after the other and left him down in the timesheets and looking unlikely that he will pip Perez to second in the drivers’ championship.

Verstappen’s 17th win of the year was routine while Lando Norris continued his excellent run of form with a brilliant second-place.

While Alosno overtook Perez on the final lap in what was a thrilling battle for the final place on the podium.

Fernando Alonso’s late efforts secured him third place Credit: AP

Lando Norris finished in second place Credit: Getty