Kimi Antonelli has been fully backed by Mercedes after struggling with poor starts during both the Sprint and Grand Prix at the Miami GP 2026. Team principal Toto Wolff made it clear the issue lies with the team’s technical execution rather than the driver.
Antonelli lost positions at the start in both races, continuing a pattern seen throughout the season. Despite securing four pole positions in four events, Mercedes has yet to lead out of Turn 1, highlighting a fundamental weakness in launch performance.
From a technical perspective, race starts depend heavily on clutch calibration, track grip estimation, and torque delivery. Wolff indicated that Mercedes has not yet optimised these parameters, leaving drivers without the precision tools required to consistently execute strong launches.
“It’s not at all on him. Both the Sprint and the Grand Prix were a team mistake.”
“We are not giving them the right tools, whether it’s clutch or grip estimation. We are the only ones not getting it right at the moment.”
Despite its poor starts, Mercedes continues to demonstrate strong race pace and remains unbeaten in terms of grand prix victories this season. This underlines the strength of its aerodynamic package and tyre management capabilities.
However, Wolff stressed that pace alone cannot compensate for unreliable starts. In a tightly contested field, losing positions off the line compromises race strategy and increases exposure to traffic-related setbacks.
“We need to dig deeper to understand how to fix this. The gaps are not big enough to rely purely on pace.”
“You cannot afford to miss starts in this situation.”
With the Canadian Grand Prix next on the calendar, improving launch performance is now a priority for Mercedes. Converting pole positions into track position at the start will be critical in sustaining its championship momentum under increasing pressure from rivals.
Baca Juga
Mercedes akui kesalahan start Kimi Antonelli di Miami GP 2026, soroti masalah clutch dan grip yang berdampak pada performa awal balapan.
Charles Leclerc membela strategi Ferrari di Miami GP 2026, soroti kesalahan sendiri dan dampak pit stop terhadap hasil akhir.
Lando Norris kritik regulasi F1 2026 dan efek baterai, soroti penalti performa serta fenomena yo-yo di Miami GP.
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