Formula 1 exposed an unexpected weakness of Mercedes in 2026. Kimi Antonelli revealed recurring difficulties at starts and described the problem as ‘fundamental’.
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This issue has directly impacted the young driver’s initial race performance, who lost positions in all starts so far, including the Sprint race in China. Even starting on the front row on some occasions, Antonelli fell back into the pack within the first few meters, a scenario that also affected his teammate, George Russell.
For the Miami GP, the FIA adjusted the starting procedure, allowing the MGU-K to provide extra power in cases of a poor start. Still, Antonelli does not believe the change will solve his situation: “I think my problem is more fundamental, so this change won’t help me much,” he said.
According to the Italian, Mercedes has been working intensively to identify the cause. He highlighted that start practice sessions were held during the forced break in April, and that the origin of the failure has already been detected: “We are working with the team to understand the problem and it seems we have found it. Now we need to think of a solution as soon as possible,” he added.
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Antonelli also indicated that the correction will not be simple, as it involves technical adjustments and even how he operates the car: “It’s not something straightforward, because it requires changes to the clutch lever and also the hand position,” he concluded.
The Italian driver expects progress already in Miami, before a new break in the calendar that will allow the team to deepen the work for the definitive solution to the problem.
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