Antonelli takes blame for poor start but seizes lucky Japanese GP win

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix despite a disastrous start from pole position, which he attributed entirely to his own error. A well-timed safety car intervention allowed him to recover and claim his second consecutive victory, moving him into the championship lead, even as race starts remain a significant weakness in his 2026 campaign.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's victory highlights both his raw speed and a recurring vulnerability that could threaten his title ambitions. While fortune played a role in Japan, consistently poor starts put immense pressure on race strategy and car performance to recover lost ground. Furthermore, his struggles are symptomatic of broader challenges teams and drivers face with the new, more complex 2026 power unit regulations.

The details:

• Starting from pole at Suzuka, Antonelli suffered excessive wheelspin off the line, dropping him to sixth place by the end of the opening lap.
• His recovery was enabled by a safety car deployment on lap 23, which perfectly benefited his strategy, after which he demonstrated strong pace to win.
• The Italian driver was unequivocal in his self-assessment, stating the start was "completely my fault" due to dropping the clutch too aggressively on cold tires.
• This is not an isolated incident. In 2026, he has lost multiple positions at the start in Melbourne (2nd to 7th), in the Shanghai Sprint (2nd to 8th), and in the Shanghai feature race (lost the lead).
• New Start Complexity: The 2026 technical regulations, which removed the MGU-H, have made race starts more difficult. Drivers must now rev engines higher for longer to spool the turbo while managing battery power in the more electrical-heavy units.
• A Team-Wide Issue: Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff defended his driver, humorously noting "these kids learn in the driving school with automatics," but conceded the team's starts have been "mediocre" and that the car is not providing the easiest tools for a good launch.
• Teammate George Russell has also lost positions on lap one this season, though his total (5 positions lost) is far less than Antonelli's (18 positions lost across four races).

What's next:

Antonelli leads the championship but carries a clear target for improvement. His immediate focus will be working with the Mercedes team to master the clutch procedure and understand the 2026 power unit's start characteristics. For Mercedes, solving the launch performance is a technical priority to support both drivers' races. Antonelli's speed is proven, but eliminating this recurring error is the next step in solidifying his status as a consistent championship contender.