Kimi Antonelli is braced for Mercedes\u2019 rivals to pose more of a threat as the 2026 F1 season resumes at the Miami International Autodrome, with a host of teams set to unleash upgrades and regulation changes also coming into play.<\/p>\n
Antonelli<\/a> arrives in Florida at the top of the Drivers\u2019 Championship standings<\/a> on 72 points, nine clear of team mate George Russell<\/a> \u2013 the latter winning the first round of the campaign in Australia, and the former triumphing in China and Japan.<\/p>\n Offering his thoughts before F1 cars hit the track again, Antonelli said: \u201cIt\u2019s very exciting to be back in a place where I got my first Sprint pole last year<\/a>. Of course, it\u2019s going to be different this year, different cars, so we\u2019ll see how that goes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a very interesting weekend for us. Let\u2019s see how we do. For sure, they\u2019re [our rivals] going to get closer, and we might have to fight quite a bit more this weekend, but we\u2019ll do our best and we\u2019re going to keep our heads down.<\/p>\n \u201cOn my side, I\u2019m going to try to maximise the performance in the car, I\u2019m going to do my best, and we\u2019ll see what the result will be.\u201d<\/p>\n While Antonelli currently leads the way in terms of points, one area he has been tasked with improving by team boss Toto Wolff moving forward is his race starts, having lost a handful of places on the opening lap over the first three Grands Prix.<\/p>\n Asked if he has been able to work on improvements during the break, and whether the situation will be any better in Miami, Antonelli pointed to a \u201cfundamental\u201d problem that could take more time to fully resolve.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing some practice starts, of course, in the break,\u201d he commented. \u201cI\u2019ve been working with the team to try and recognise the issue and we seem to have found it. Now we\u2019re trying to think about a solution as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what to work on for the solution. It\u2019s not going to be that straightforward, because it\u2019s a decent change on the clutch paddle, a little on the hand positioning as well. We\u2019re doing our best to find that solution as soon as possible in order to do decent starts.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely we recognise that my issue was much more fundamental. We\u2019ll see in Miami if we can do a step forward, and then we have another break after Miami, so more time to work on it and to find that solution.\u201d<\/p>\n Making his comments in Thursday\u2019s driver press conference, Antonelli also faced questions about his relationship with team mate Russell, and how Mercedes are managing another potential intra-team scrap for the title \u2013 having previously overseen battles between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the team have been very clear with us since the first race in Australia,\u201d said Antonelli. \u201cThey said we can race each other, but obviously with respect, not doing any stupid things between each other.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day\u2026 We race for each other, we want to win, we want to be the best, but at the same time we want the best for the team as well. Me and George are very well aware that we can race each other, but with respect, and without trying to do any stupid things.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team has given us the green light, because they want to give both of us the same opportunity. They said we can race each other, but just be clean.\u201d<\/p>\n