P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli was not at fault for his poor start in the Miami sprint, Mercedes insists.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has defended Kimi Antonelli for the poor start in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, attributing it to a glitch on the team’s side rather than the driver’s error. Antonelli, despite starting second on the grid, dropped to fourth due to the launch issue. This was part of a trend as Antonelli has lost 20 positions at starts in the opening races of the 2026 season. Mercedes acknowledged a battery issue that prevented a practice start from the grid before the Sprint, leading to estimation errors in grip levels and clutch management. Antonelli highlighted that the start problems are fundamental and not easily resolved, emphasizing the challenges faced amid fierce competition with new upgrades. Despite finishing ahead of his teammate George Russell on track, Antonelli was penalized for track limit infringements, reducing his lead in the championship to just seven points.
