Lewis Hamilton's cryptic radio message after Sao Paulo Grand Prix raises fears of immediate Mercedes exit

And it was another frustrating weekend for the 39-year-old in Sao Paulo, a track which holds fond memories for Hamilton after clinching his first world title at the iconic venue.

Hamilton failed to finish in the points in Saturday's sprint and qualified 16th for the Grand Prix.

He did manage to fight his way through the pack to finish 10th, but Hamilton cut a forlorn figure after the race.

And he appeared despondent on team radio as he slowly made his way round Interlagos with a cryptic message to his Mercedes team.

"To all the guys that are p***ed off, if this is the last time that I get to perform, it's a shame," he said.

"It wasn't great, but great for you."

The short message was picked up on social media with Hamilton's fans unsure what he really meant.

One bemused fan posted: "Maybe he's stepping away for the last three races?"

Another asked: "Is he leaving Mercedes early?"

A third wrote: "Wonder if they're putting Kimi in for the last few races."

One other said: "This is painful to listen to."

Another sarcastically queried: "Have Merc bust the cost cap and can only afford one car for the remaining races?"

While Hamilton had a weekend to forget, George Russell managed to finish fourth after a strong qualifying result along with three more points in the sprint.

It saw Russell leapfrog Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship with just three race weekends left.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton branded the car the 'worst ride' he's ever experienced with Mercedes.

"We were just slow," he told Sky Sports F1. "The car was really, really tough. I do really want to say still a big thank you to the guys in the garage. They turned up super early this morning and still did a great job throughout the weekend.

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"Everyone back at the factory I know they'll be feeling the pain. The team could've won also today so at least one car was behaving OK.

"The car is like a plank of wood. No suspension, bouncing on the tyres everywhere and can't get on the power anywhere.

"The worst ride definitely that we've ever had, particularly through corners. Just so stiff. But hopefully, we won't have any more bumpy tracks. I think the last three aren't so bumpy. I could happily go and take a holiday."