Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team have taken full responsibility for a series of poor race starts in Miami, with team boss Toto Wolff making it clear that rookie Kimi Antonelli is not to blame.
Kimi Antonelli lost positions at the start of both the sprint race and the main grand prix, continuing a pattern that has troubled Mercedes this season.
Despite strong qualifying performances, including multiple pole positions, the team has struggled to convert that advantage off the line.
Toto Wolff did not hold back in his assessment.
“It’s not at all on him,” he said.
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“I think [Saturday] and [Sunday] were a team mistake. We all know it’s just not good enough.”
Mercedes Accepts Responsibility for Ongoing Issue
The issue, according to Toto Wolff, lies in the tools provided to drivers rather than driver execution.
“We’re not doing a good enough job in giving them a tool in their hands, whether it’s clutch and grip estimates,” he explained.
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“And we are the only ones who, let’s say, don’t get that right now for a few races.”
The repeated slow starts have become a clear weakness, especially considering Mercedes has otherwise shown competitive pace.
Despite the setbacks, Mercedes remains unbeaten in grands prix this season, highlighting the overall strength of the car. But Wolff warned that relying on race pace alone is not sustainable.
“We just have to dig even deeper and to try to understand how we can fix that,” he said.
“Because the gaps are not big enough to cruise into the sunset, and therefore you can’t be missing starts.”
For Kimi Antonelli, the backing from Wolff removes immediate pressure, but the spotlight now shifts firmly onto the team.
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Mercedes knows that poor starts can quickly undo strong qualifying performances, and with margins tightening across the grid, even small errors at the start can prove costly.
The focus now is clear. Fix the launches, or risk letting race wins slip away.
Also Read: Max Verstappen Responds to Carlos Sainz With Bold ‘Jungle’ Claim After Miami GP Clash
