believes his poor begin to the Components 1 Japanese Grand Prix was ‘fully his fault’ because the polesitter caught an excessive amount of wheelspin off the road.
The driver consequently dropped to sixth on the opening lap at Suzuka, .
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It gave Antonelli his second consecutive victory that means he’s now main the F1 championship, regardless of race begins being a steady downside for him in 2026.
On the Melbourne opener he dropped from second to seventh, within the Shanghai dash he went from second to eighth, whereas the next day he misplaced the result in .
Talking after the Japan win, he mentioned: “It was good to be again on the highest step. A really particular win and a really particular monitor. However, on one aspect I’m very completely happy, on the opposite aspect I’m a bit dissatisfied with how the beginning went.
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“It’s an space the place I have to work lots, as a result of it’s positively not adequate and I’m simply making my life lots tougher. So, positively a number of work to do nonetheless.
“However I used to be very fortunate, after all, with the timing of the security automobile, however yeah, then tempo was very, very sturdy and actually pleased with that.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
It does come amid modifications to the race begin process although, as reacting to lights out has grow to be extra complicated underneath the brand new 2026 laws following the removing of the MGU-H.
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This implies drivers should rev their engines a lot greater for a minimum of 10 seconds to spool up the turbo, whereas additionally sustaining battery energy as a result of extra electrical engines.
When requested what prompted his wheelspin at Suzuka, Antonelli mentioned: “I feel I dropped the clutch a bit too deep, deeper than what I ought to have.
“The tyres have been additionally a bit colder, so clearly I went past the grip that was accessible and simply misplaced a number of locations.”
The 19-year-old due to this fact confirmed that it was “fully my fault”, however Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was eager to not place all of the blame at Antonelli’s door.
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“A botched begin. These children study within the driving faculty with automatics, so we have to train them the way you launch a clutch slowly, steadily and never too fast,” he jokingly advised Sky Sports activities.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
“However then he was quick. We’re not giving them the best of instruments, our begins have typically been a bit on the mediocre aspect and we have to enhance that.
“In that case, the drive had large affect of that automobile not going away. Appeared good with the wheelspin, however isn’t quick.”
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Race begin issues aren’t simply distinctive to Antonelli both, as team-mate has misplaced 5 positions – 13 fewer than Antonelli – on lap one in 2026.
Photographs from Japanese GP – SundayAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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An Oracle Pink Bull Racing fan.
An Oracle Pink Bull Racing fan.
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Automobile of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Automobile of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Brie Larson.
Brie Larson.
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Ferrari followers.
Ferrari followers.
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Oscar Piastri’s automobile, McLaren
Oscar Piastri’s automobile, McLaren
Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
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Charlie Day and Jack Black go to the Mercedes AMG F1 Staff storage.
Charlie Day and Jack Black go to the Mercedes AMG F1 Staff storage.
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Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Staff, George Russell, Mercedes
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Staff, George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Benny Safdie
Benny Safdie
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLaren
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Clive Rose / Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff automobile after his crash
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff automobile after his crash
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Staff
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Staff
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Rose / Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Rose / Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
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