P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes may be dominant but there’s still one thing troubling F1 boss Toto Wolff and Kimi Antonelli in 2026
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is concerned about the team’s race starts in the 2026 season, especially regarding drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell’s performance in the title fight. Despite winning the first four grands prix, Mercedes has faced issues with race starts, with Antonelli losing positions due to car issues rather than driver error. Wolff expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, deeming it “unacceptable” for a championship-contending team.
The struggles with race starts were evident in races like Australia, China, Japan, and Miami, with varying reasons attributed to each incident. In Miami, a too ambitious clutch release target led to wheelspin for Antonelli, affecting his performance. Antonelli admitted to personal errors in Japan, showing willingness to improve and learn from mistakes. The team is working to rectify these issues to maintain their lead in the championship battle.
