Toto Wolff Admits Mercedes' Race Starts Are 'Not Good Enough'

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has bluntly labeled his team's race starts as "just not good enough," highlighting a critical weakness that is consistently costing them positions at the beginning of grands prix. Despite Kimi Antonelli securing a third consecutive pole position in Miami, he was immediately overtaken by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off the line, a recurring issue the team must urgently resolve to maintain its championship challenge.

Why it matters:

In a tightly contested season where grid position and track position are paramount, losing places at the start is a significant strategic setback. While Mercedes has shown strong one-lap pace in qualifying, this recurring launch problem undermines that advantage, forcing their drivers into recovery mode and compromising race strategy from the very first corner.

The details:

• Wolff attributed the issue to a collective team failure, stating they are not providing the drivers with the right "tool" for the start procedure and are the only front-running team consistently getting it wrong.
• The problem is linked to the new 2026 power unit regulations, specifically the removal of the MGU-H, which has made it more challenging for drivers to spool up the turbo effectively at launch.
• Rivals like Ferrari are rumored to have an advantage with a smaller turbo, allowing for a more optimal launch configuration. After the recent break, other teams like McLaren have also improved their starts to match Ferrari's level.
• Driver Kimi Antonelli echoed the concern, calling the starts "not acceptable," especially in a close championship fight. He admitted to personal inconsistency with the clutch drop and a lack of confidence, though noted slight improvement in Miami compared to the Sprint race where he lost six places.

What's next:

Wolff has vowed the team will "dig even deeper" to understand and fix the problem. With Antonelli leading the Drivers' Championship but under increasing pressure, solving the start procedure is a critical priority. The team's ability to convert pole positions into race-leading positions at Turn 1 will be a key factor in determining whether they can sustain their title challenge or continue to give away crucial early-race advantages to their rivals.