(Motorsport-Total.com) – Formula 1 leader Mercedes is deploying its first major technical update of the year at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal (follow all sessions here in the Formula 1 live ticker!). This is intended to solve a major problem: the weak starts of Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Read more Monopoly Formula 1 Edition: Formula 1 fans get their own Monopoly
Antonelli in particular had poor starts in the first races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. This was a “big issue” after the Miami Grand Prix. Now Mercedes is responding with “changes for the starts,” said Antonelli.
He explained: “I am getting a new clutch lever with a different shape. This is supposed to help me be more consistent when releasing the clutch lever.”
The weak Mercedes record at the start
This is urgently needed: Of all 22 drivers, Antonelli currently has the second worst record with 20 lost positions at the start. Only Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg (-33) has had a worse start than Antonelli so far. Mercedes as a team is third from last with a total of 24 lost positions, only surpassed by Red Bull (-30) and Audi (-34).
To improve this record, Mercedes has changed not only the hardware but also the software in the W17, according to Antonelli. “On the one hand, we want to find more power and on the other hand make the system more robust,” said Antonelli.
Mercedes customer team McLaren served as a model. “This team uses the same powertrain as us, but McLaren starts very strongly. So obviously we are still missing something,” explained Antonelli. In fact, McLaren is one of the eight teams that have a positive record in the starting lap so far.
Mercedes, on the other hand, at least wants to stop losing positions. Will the Canada updates help here? “We will see from Friday,” said Antonelli.
Mercedes now also listens to Antonelli
The young Italian also states that he is more involved in technical development than ever before: “I have started to give my own input. In Miami, I had a pretty long conversation with some engineers working on vehicle development. I explained what I feel in the car and what could give me more confidence.”
Read more Audi is struggling with two major issues: reliability and engine performance
He has a “good feeling” that he can already make a valuable contribution in his second year in Formula 1 and now enjoys “more trust within the team,” Antonelli said. “Slowly a dynamic is developing in which my feedback can influence development.”
This is probably also a result of the current World Championship standings: After four race weekends so far, Antonelli surprisingly leads the Formula 1 overall standings, although many had seen his teammate Russell as the favorite before the season started. But while Russell unexpectedly encountered difficulties, Antonelli shone with three consecutive wins recently.
“The goal is to continue exactly like this,” said Antonelli. “Of course, I did not expect such a strong start to the season, but I am not complaining – I am just happy about it.”
Antonelli admits: The first win was a breakthrough
He is currently driving completely freely, emphasized Antonelli. “At the first win [in China], I felt like a knot finally came undone – like reaching a new level and unlocking something.”
This brought the next big goal into focus for the Italian: winning the Formula 1 World Championship. “That is of course the ultimate goal,” said Antonelli. “But it will be extremely difficult because the season is still very long. That is why I try to keep focusing from race to race and not think too much about other things.”
“I am of course aware of the position I am currently in. And I also know: At some point, there will be a weekend that does not go according to plan. That is why it is important to keep both feet on the ground. If a difficult phase comes – which I of course do not hope for – it will then be easier to manage.”
Read more Ocon defends relationship with Haas team principal Komatsu