Kimi Antonelli acknowledges ongoing race start issues after Miami win

Despite securing his third consecutive victory of the 2026 season at the Miami Grand Prix, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli has labeled his race starts as "not acceptable." The Italian rookie lost positions at the start for the second time this weekend, surrendering his pole position to Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen before fighting back to win. His admission highlights a persistent weakness in an otherwise dominant start to his F1 career.

Why it matters:

In a season where Mercedes appears to have the fastest car, consistent race starts are critical to converting pole positions into straightforward victories. Antonelli's struggles, if unresolved, could hand crucial track position to rivals in tighter races, forcing him into more difficult recovery drives and potentially costing points in a championship fight that is now heating up internally with teammate George Russell.

The details:

• Antonelli cited a lack of confidence and "a bit of uncertainty" with the clutch drop as the core issue, acknowledging the problem is largely on his side.
• The Miami weekend exemplified the problem: he lost six places at the start of the Sprint Race and two places at the start of the Grand Prix from pole position.
• He noted that the team's pre-start procedure was correct during the Sprint, but the anticipated level of grip was not present, indicating a potential calibration or communication issue between driver and engineering team.
• Despite the frustration, Antonelli managed his emotions better during the Grand Prix, stating he "kept it a bit cool" and focused on the race, which allowed him to execute a successful comeback.

What's next:

Antonelli now leads the Drivers' Championship with 100 points, holding a 20-point advantage over teammate George Russell. However, Russell has made it clear he is not conceding the title fight, praising Antonelli's speed but affirming his own confidence and experience. The internal Mercedes battle adds another layer of pressure for Antonelli to solve his launch issues quickly, as the team assesses its performance over the coming weeks to maintain its competitive edge.