Antonelli says Mercedes start issues are fundamental, not solved by FIA tweak

Mercedes’ title‑contending driver Kimi Antonelli has warned that the new FIA start‑boost rule won’t solve the team’s chronic launch problems. Despite strong qualifying pace, Antonelli and teammate George Russell have repeatedly lost positions off the line, a weakness that has cost valuable points.

Why it matters:

• A poor start erodes the advantage of a front‑row grid slot, turning potential wins into podiums or lower finishes.
• Mercedes’ reputation for engineering excellence is at stake; launch issues undermine its competitive edge against Red Bull.
• The FIA’s temporary MGU‑K boost, allowed below 50 km/h, can only rescue a clean launch, not a driver struggling with clutch control.

The details:

• The rule tweak lets the MGU‑K deliver a short power burst if the ECU flags a “catastrophic” launch, overriding the ban on electrical deployment under 50 km/h.
• Antonelli identifies the root cause as clutch‑paddle ergonomics and hand positioning, requiring hardware changes rather than software tweaks.
• During the break, Mercedes ran practice starts, isolating the problem to a combination of clutch bite point and driver input timing.
• Prototypes of a revised clutch paddle and a new hand‑position guide are being tested, but both need mechanical revisions and driver retraining.
• George Russell has reported similar launch slip, confirming the issue isn’t isolated to Antonelli.

What's next:

• Miami will be the first on‑track test of any interim fixes, offering data on whether small adjustments improve launch consistency.
• After Miami, a second break before the next European round gives Mercedes time to implement hardware changes.
• Solving the fundamental launch problem could convert Mercedes’ strong qualifying performance into race‑day results, tightening the championship battle with Red Bull.