Mercedes’ dominant start to the 2026 Formula 1 season has come with a growing concern, as race starts emerge as a critical flaw.
Team principal Toto Wolff has labelled the issue “not acceptable” for a squad targeting both world championships, stressing that urgent improvements are required.
Notably, he defended his drivers after the Miami Grand Prix, insisting they were not to blame for the sluggish getaways that have repeatedly compromised early track position.
Kimi Antonelli’s struggles off the line underline the problem. Across the opening three race weekends, he lost a combined 18 places on the first laps, followed by six more at the start of the Miami sprint and a further two in the main race.
Until now, Mercedes’ outright pace advantage has masked these deficiencies, allowing them to recover and secure victories.
However, that margin is shrinking. Rivals McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull all introduced substantial upgrades in Miami, closing the competitive gap compared to the opening rounds before the April break.
Mercedes still lead the way with four wins from four races, but acknowledge the landscape is shifting. A major upgrade package is scheduled for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, expected to enhance performance for both Antonelli and George Russell as the team looks to stay ahead while resolving its most pressing weakness.
“It’s not at all on him,” Wolff told Motorsport.com when asked about Antonelli’s problems at race starts.
“I think today and yesterday was a team mistake. And it’s just, we all know, it’s just not good enough.
“We’re not doing a good enough job in giving them a tool in their hands, whether it’s the clutch or the grip estimates.
“We need to fix it – we’ve been watching this for far too long.
“And we are the only ones who, let’s say, don’t get that right now for a few races.
“We just have to dig even deeper and to try to understand how we can fix that, because I agree with you that the gaps are not big enough to cruise into the sunset. And therefore you can’t be missing starts.”
