Mercedes may have solved Ferrari’s biggest advantage, and according to Kimi Antonelli, they have more upgrades in the pipeline – The team could be emerging as an even bigger threat to Ferrari and the rest of the Formula 1 field, having seemingly overcome one of their major weaknesses while preparing further upgrades for the rest of the season.
According to Antonelli, we have not yet seen the full benefit of Mercedes’ latest developments, a warning that comes just as Ferrari’s early-season launch advantage appears to be fading.
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend offered a glimpse of Mercedes’ growing strength. Antonelli secured his fourth consecutive victory and extended his championship lead, while Mercedes appeared capable of achieving a dominant one-two finish before Russell retired due to a power unit issue.
However, beyond the headline result, another important story was unfolding.
Ferrari’s early-season weapon is no longer as dominant
As first reported by The Race, Ferrari’s smaller turbo concept enabled Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to achieve consistently strong launches, helping the team gain valuable track position during the opening phase of races.
These “rocket starts” became a defining feature of Ferrari’s campaign. In Australia alone, Leclerc and Hamilton combined to gain seven positions before Turn 1.
Yet by Canada, the picture had changed dramatically.
For the first time this season, Ferrari failed to have a car in the top three by the time they reached the first corner. While Ferrari has not suddenly become worse at starts, rival teams have gradually closed the gap.
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Mercedes finds an answer
A significant part of that improvement appears to have come from Mercedes.
According to The Race, Mercedes has focused on improving its grip prediction software calibration and clutch operation consistency.
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, Antonelli revealed that Mercedes had modified the shape of the finger holes used during clutch release procedures.
“It’s just a different shape, to help me be more consistent with the drops,” he explained.
While this may sound like a minor change, Formula 1 starts are often decided by tiny margins. Greater consistency can be more valuable than outright aggression when drivers are trying to maximise traction while avoiding wheelspin.
The results were immediately evident in Canada, where Mercedes enjoyed some of its strongest starts of the season.
Antonelli: Mercedes has not yet reached its full potential
Even more concerning for Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull is Antonelli’s belief that Mercedes has yet to fully unlock the potential of its latest update package.
“The package works, but it shifts the balance a bit,” he explained after the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in the media pen.
“Moreover, this weekend is special because the tyres are so important. As a result, we are not seeing the full benefit yet. In Monaco and Barcelona, we will notice the advantages much more clearly.”
Team principal Toto Wolff was more cautious, pointing out that Mercedes has traditionally performed strongly in Canada and that more analysis is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
“We didn’t see the McLarens at all, and we had the speed and the margin. But how much of that was what we expected? It’s difficult to judge that, so we need to keep monitoring and analysing,” Wolff said.
Why Monaco could provide the real answer
Monaco may offer the clearest indication yet of whether Mercedes has genuinely erased Ferrari’s biggest advantage.
Track position remains crucial on the streets of Monte Carlo, where overtaking opportunities are limited and a strong start can determine the outcome of the entire race.
If Ferrari can no longer rely on gaining positions at the start and Mercedes continues to improve its launch performance and overall car package, the balance of power at the front could shift significantly.
For much of 2026, Ferrari’s superior starts compensated for deficits elsewhere. However, this advantage appears to be disappearing at exactly the moment that Mercedes believes its latest developments are beginning to deliver results.
If Antonelli is right and there is more performance to come, Ferrari’s rivals may have solved one problem just as another, potentially larger one, begins to emerge.
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Craig.J. Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
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