Kimi Antonelli may be dominating the F1 championship, but former driver Jolyon Palmer warns a critical flaw could derail his Monaco Grand Prix hopes. Despite extending his lead to 20 points with a win at the Miami Grand Prix, the Mercedes rookie continues to struggle with race starts—a weakness that could prove costly on the tight, unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo.

In Miami, Antonelli started from pole position at the Hard Rock Stadium but lost the lead into Turn 1 when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc swept past. Speaking on F1 TV, Palmer highlighted how circuits with short runs to the first corner—like Monaco and Canada—amplify the issue. "It's a short run to Turn 1 in Canada. It's a shorter run to Turn 1 in Monaco," Palmer explained. "But in Canada there's still some overtaking chances. If he can't sort it out by Monaco, he could be on pole, there's no chance he'll win if he can't start there. So, that's his big thing to work on."

The 19-year-old Italian is candid about the problem, calling his starts "not acceptable." After losing six places in the sprint race, he managed to lose only two in the main event—a slight improvement, but far from championship-caliber consistency. "I think especially in a weekend like this, that the gaps are a lot closer, it can really change the race," Antonelli admitted. He noted that while the procedure was good in the sprint, the grip level didn't match expectations.

Antonelli pinpointed his clutch release as the root cause: "I still don't have that confidence, being consistent with that. I still have a bit of uncertainty, so it's a big point that needs to be improved." However, he showed maturity by keeping his cool after Miami's frustration, focusing on the race ahead. For fans and fantasy team builders alike, Monaco will be the ultimate test of whether this rising star can turn a glaring weakness into a strength—or if it will cost him a shot at glory on the sport's most glamorous stage.