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Jenson Button Shares How Kimi Antonelli Can Become Unstoppable in F1 Title Race
Highlights
- Button advises Antonelli to fix race start issues in 2026 season
- Antonelli lost positions at starts despite six front-row qualifications
- Antonelli won Miami GP, his third consecutive victory from pole
- Mercedes blamed poor Sprint start on incorrect launch settings
- Mercedes plans major upgrades before the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix
- Antonelli leads teammate Russell by 20 points in championship standings
Jenson Button urges Kimi Antonelli to fix his race starts to become “unstoppable” in the 2026 Formula 1 title fight.
The 2009 champion says the Mercedes rookie’s launch execution lags behind his qualifying pace, limiting early-track position and exposing him to midfield risk.
Antonelli has started from the front row six times, including Sprints, yet repeatedly surrendered places off the line and entered Turn 1 on the defensive.
In Miami he began on pole, slipped two spots into Turn 1, then benefited when Max Verstappen spun, recovering to second behind Charles Leclerc.
He ultimately won, securing a third successive victory and becoming the first driver to convert his first three poles into consecutive wins. He now leads George Russell by 20 points.
Antonelli is the first driver to convert his first three poles into consecutive wins.
Mercedes accepted responsibility for his poor Miami Sprint launch, citing incorrect settings partly rectified before the Grand Prix. Antonelli later took responsibility as well.
Button’s view is unchanged: the core deficit is repeatable launch technique. He praised Antonelli’s pace and recovery drives, noting Miami showcased genuine speed beyond earlier slices of fortune.
Button: “If he nails his starts, he’ll be unstoppable.”
Mercedes plans a sizeable upgrade package for Canada, chasing improved balance and tyre management that should ease start sensitivity and help protect track position.
Team principal Toto Wolff has backed Antonelli’s progress and framed the starts as a solvable process issue rather than a pace deficit.
Antonelli leads George Russell by 20 points after Miami.
Max Verstappen remains the most credible external threat. If Red Bull stitches a clean weekend together, Antonelli’s margin for recovery shrinks, making launches decisive for race control.
Button has previously contrasted Verstappen and Hamilton in key racecraft traits, offering useful context for today’s benchmark battles.
Starts will be especially punishing at Monaco, Barcelona, Austria, and Silverstone, where track position and long runs to Turn 1 amplify any launch weakness.
Antonelli has worked to reduce pressure and simplify execution, a theme he and Mercedes have addressed in recent weeks.
Visual Summary
LAUNCH CONTROL
Jenson Button warns: “Fix your starts, become unstoppable”
3⃣
Poles
Poles
→
3⃣
Wins
Wins
+20
pts lead
pts lead
Poor Start
Blazing Finish
Blazing Finish
Race starts are Antonelli’s kryptonite.
Button says: Fix those launches, and
nobody will catch you in 2026.
Button says: Fix those launches, and
nobody will catch you in 2026.
3 consecutive wins
but always fighting back from midfield.
but always fighting back from midfield.
Next: Canada and big upgrades. Can Antonelli finally launch into legend?
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
