Antonelli starting problem: “It seems like we have found it”

– Mercedes has won all races so far in the 2026 Formula 1 season. However, if the Silver Arrows were vulnerable in any situation, it was the starts. Especially World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli regularly lost several positions in the first meters this year.

Read more Red Bull and Monster: The MotoGP Sponsorship is Being Reshuffled

At the season opener in Australia, the Italian started from P2 but fell back to P7. In the sprint in China, after another disastrous start from P2, he collided with Isack Hadjar, and also in the main race and the following GP in Japan, he was unable to defend the pole position each time.

Before the fourth Grand Prix of the year in Miami, Antonelli explains that the recent rule changes in Formula 1 will not change this. “My problem is more fundamental in nature, so I don’t think this small change will help me significantly,” said the Italian.

Mercedes used the forced break in April to work on this issue, among other things. “Of course, we did some start practice during the break. We worked together with the team to identify the problem,” Antonelli reveals.

“And it seems like we found it,” he says cautiously optimistic and emphasizes: “Now we are of course trying to find a solution as quickly as possible, and we also know what we need to work on for that.”

However, this “is not quite so easy, as it requires a change to the clutch lever and also a small adjustment to the hand position,” explains the championship leader. Meaning: The problem is (probably) found, but not yet solved.

This is especially annoying because Miami is a sprint weekend, meaning there are two races – and thus two starts. In the next break between Miami and Canada, they will continue to work on the problem to find a solution “as quickly as possible,” Antonelli explains.

Why Antonelli does not want to think about the World Championship yet

Apart from the start problems, the 19-year-old cannot complain about his start to the 2026 season. He recently won two races in a row and is leading the Formula 1 World Championship for the first time in his still young career.

Read more MaiKäfer Meeting 2026: VW showcases two Beetle convertible legends

“Of course, we are currently in a really good position, and of course it is our goal to maintain this position until the end of the year. But it will definitely be a tough fight, because first of all, as I have already said, I have a very strong teammate,” Antonelli emphasizes.

And even aside from the duel with George Russell, Ferrari is “close” to Mercedes, McLaren has recently also had better pace, and Red Bull will “definitely come closer,” he stresses and explains: “So I think I will just try to focus on race by race.”

Photo series: Formula 1 drivers who won their first two races back to back

He does not want to think about the World Championship at this early stage of the season, he emphasizes. “Certainly the pressure will be high if the opportunity arises,” Antonelli knows, but explains: “I have a really great team behind me, and also a really great group of people.”

Especially Peter Bonnington, who as race engineer has already accompanied Lewis Hamilton to six World Championships at Mercedes, is important in this situation. “He is always there to keep me grounded above all,” Antonelli reveals.

In addition, Bonnington has “a lot of experience” with such situations, the Italian recalls, for whom this would be the first World Championship fight in his career. “So I am quite aware that it will not be easy and that the pressure will be high,” he emphasizes.

“But I also know that we can achieve great things together if I just focus on my tasks without worrying too much about the rest,” says Antonelli.

Read more Spanish WRC project: a model for other associations worldwide?