Mercedes' Antonelli Focuses on Start Improvements Despite Championship Lead

Kimi Antonelli, the rising star from Mercedes, isn't resting on his laurels despite clinching another Grand Prix victory in Miami. With a 20-point lead over teammate George Russell, Antonelli is eyeing the championship but admits there's a significant area needing attention: his race starts.

The 19-year-old has consistently started from pole position in recent races, yet his getaways have been less than stellar, causing him to lose ground early on. In Miami, he managed to fend off Lando Norris to secure his third consecutive win, but his start was still a point of concern. "Today wasn't as bad," Antonelli conceded, "I lost two places, but in the Sprint, I lost six. It's something we need to improve, especially on weekends where margins are tight."

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, shed some light on the situation, explaining that a "glitch on our side" hampered Antonelli's start from P2 in the Sprint. However, this isn't an isolated issue; Antonelli's starts have been shaky in other races, too. In Japan, he fell to sixth after beginning from pole, and in Australia, he dropped to seventh despite starting on the front row.

In Miami, Antonelli's start was again under scrutiny. He struggled against Max Verstappen and only a lock-up and subsequent wide run prevented a larger loss of positions, ultimately leaving him in second after a Verstappen spin. "I still lack consistency with the clutch drop," Antonelli confessed. "It's a big point that needs to be improved, but today I handled it better than yesterday."

While Antonelli's recent performances have kept him at the top of the leaderboard, the young driver is keenly aware that refining his starts could be pivotal for maintaining his lead. "I'm focusing on being more consistent," he said, "Yesterday was frustrating, but today I kept cool and focused on the race."

With the championship race heating up, Antonelli's commitment to improving his starts demonstrates his drive to stay ahead, even as he continues to secure victories.