Mercedes Secretly Working to Enhance Their Race Starts

According to George Russell, the Mercedes team is putting in significant effort 'behind the scenes' to enhance their performance at the start of races, ahead of the Formula 1 season resuming in Miami in May. Despite achieving four front row lockouts in the first three Grands Prix and Sprint this season, neither Russell nor his teammate has managed to take the lead after the first lap. Although starts are Mercedes' biggest weakness, the team has demonstrated sufficient pace to fight back and secure wins in the opening three races. Ferrari has shown the strongest starts so far in 2026, attributed to their compact turbo, which spins up more quickly and makes it easier to find the ideal moment to launch off the line. While drivers have limited opportunities to practice starts, Russell emphasized that the team is focusing on analyzing data to address their one major flaw. In an interview with Sky Germany during Pirelli tire testing in Germany, Russell stated, 'There's a huge amount going on behind the scenes.' He explained that the team is utilizing simulator days to analyze the first three races and prepare for the upcoming events, including the Miami and Montreal sprint races. Although they are not permitted to practice starts during tire testing, Russell expressed that they are working diligently to analyze data and identify areas for improvement, acknowledging that the inability to practice extensively is an inherent challenge in the sport.