Antonelli Targets Improved Race Starts Following Miami Victory

Despite securing another dominant win in Miami, Kimi Antonelli admitted that his performance off the line remained a significant area for improvement. The Mercedes driver noted that while the main race start was better than his difficult getaway in the Sprint, where he dropped six positions, losing two places at the beginning of the Grand Prix was still an unacceptable outcome. He highlighted that with the competitive field closing the gap, these early losses could easily dictate the final result of a race.

The young Italian explained that while the team’s procedures were technically sound, misjudging the available grip levels proved costly. He pointed to his own inconsistency with the clutch drop as a primary factor, acknowledging that he still felt a sense of uncertainty during the launch phase. After the opening four rounds of the season, Antonelli revealed that he had yet to find the confidence required to execute consistent starts, marking it as a critical priority for his development.

However, the championship leader managed to maintain his composure during the Grand Prix far better than he had during the Sprint. He noted that he stayed focused on the race ahead rather than letting the initial frustration affect his rhythm. This mental resilience paid off, as the victory propelled Antonelli to the 100-point mark in the Drivers’ standings, moving him 20 points clear of his teammate, George Russell.