Mercedes' Start Woes Persist Despite Dominant Pace: Wolff Demands Fix

Mercedes has comfortably the fastest car on the 2026 grid, with George Russell or Kimi Antonelli taking pole for all four opening grands prix – plus the China sprint. Yet a recurring inability to convert that into a clean getaway has repeatedly cost the team track position and points, leaving championship leader Antonelli fighting from behind in Miami and both opening rounds.

Why it matters:

In a title fight where margins are slim, leaving advantage on the starting grid is a luxury Mercedes cannot afford. With McLaren – a Mercedes customer – winning the last two constructors' titles, every missed opportunity for Wolff's squad allows rivals to close the gap.

The details:

• In both opening races, the polesitter was overtaken by a Ferrari before Turn 1. In Miami, Antonelli dropped from pole to third in the GP start, and from second to fourth in the sprint, later collecting track-limits penalties.
• Toto Wolff called the situation “not acceptable” and said the team is “not doing a good enough job” giving drivers the right clutch tool or grip estimates.
• Antonelli revealed new parts for Canada: a reshaped clutch paddle, software updates, and clutch-side hardware – all aimed at improving consistency.
• The 2026 removal of MGU-H has increased turbo lag, making clutch control more reliant on data from practice runs. Antonelli missed a soft-tyre practice run before the Miami sprint, which contributed to his poor launch there.

What's next:

Mercedes is bringing a significant upgrade package for the Canadian Grand Prix, including refinements to the start system. Antonelli acknowledged that McLaren uses the same power unit yet starts well, so the issue lies in Mercedes’ own integration. With the championship battle intensifying, curing the start problem is now a top priority for the team.