Antonelli identifies Mercedes weakness despite 2026 dominance, Wolff eyes Miami turning point

Despite Mercedes' perfect start to the 2026 season with four wins from four races, championship leader Kimi Antonelli has pointed to a critical area where the team is falling short: race starts. Team principal Toto Wolff, meanwhile, acknowledges that the upcoming Miami Grand Prix could signal a shift in the competitive order as rivals optimize their new cars.

Why it matters:

Even in a position of strength, the championship-leading team is publicly identifying its vulnerabilities, highlighting the relentless pursuit of perfection in Formula 1. Antonelli's candid admission about poor starts—a fundamental aspect of racecraft—suggests there is significant performance left on the table for Mercedes, which could become crucial as McLaren and others close the development gap.

The details:

• Driver-Led Critique: After winning the Japanese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli openly stated that he and teammate George Russell have "been struggling a bit more than what we would have anticipated" with race starts since the season began.
• McLaren Benchmark: Antonelli pointed to McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who out-dragged him at Suzuka, as evidence that rival teams are "clearly doing something better" in this phase of the race, combining car performance and driver skill.
• Wolff's Strategic Warning: Team Principal Toto Wolff agrees with Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur's suspicion that Miami could be a turning point, noting that "teams and drivers are starting to learn how to optimize the systems to their benefit."

What's next:

All eyes will be on the start line in Miami to see if Mercedes can address its launch issues. If they cannot, it may provide an opening for McLaren or a resurgent Ferrari to challenge their early-season supremacy. Wolff's comments suggest the team is braced for the competition to intensify as the grid fully unlocks the potential of the 2026 regulations.