Kimi Antonelli details key Mercedes flaw despite F1 dominance

Kimi Antonelli has stated both he and Mercedes must work on improving their starts ahead of the sport's return in Miami.

Mercedes has enjoyed a dominant beginning to the current campaign, breezing to a front-row lockout in each of the opening three grands prix so far in Australia, China and Japan.

However, it has failed to retain the lead on each occasion, with a rival team moving ahead on the run to the opening corner.

Although it has managed to cycle itself back to the head of the order, it has given the Brackley-based squad a headache to manage in the early stages of every race.

When asked where he feels the W17 can improve, Antonelli told the media, including RacingNews365: “I think our car is very good. For sure, maybe with the start.”

Antonelli's getaway off the line in Japan was particularly poor as he fell from first to sixth.

However, he conceded that he was at fault for the dramatic slip down the order.

“But [Japan] was completely my fault. But together, me and George, we’ve been struggling a bit more than what we would have anticipated since the start of the season,” he said.

“The McLaren got a really good start, so they’re clearly doing something better, for sure also on driver input. 

“In this case, Oscar did much better than me because… I cannot say, but I ‘effed’ it up pretty badly. 

“I just need to keep working on that area.”