Formula 1 is poised for renewed talks about changing the race start sequence after testing of the 2026 cars exposed complex procedures that are raising safety concerns, The Race has learned. Teams and drivers reported that getting consistent getaways requires juggling turbo spooling for roughly 10 seconds while managing battery charge limits, increasing the chance of bungled starts. Paddock analysis suggests mistakes could be occurring in about 1 in 20 starts, a rate that would make at least one problematic getaway likely at most grands prix. The debate may reach the F1 Commission next week as stakeholders consider rule tweaks despite Ferrari having blocked a similar proposal last summer.
Key takeaways
- Testing of 2026-spec cars has revealed more complex start procedures that can take around 10 seconds to spool a turbo, complicating launches.
- Paddock analysis cited to The Race indicates roughly 1 in 20 practice starts are being fumbled, raising safety concerns ahead of race weekends.
- The F1 Commission could discuss the issue at its meeting next Wednesday, with options including longer lead time before the five-light sequence or relaxed battery-use rules.
- Current sporting rules require the five red lights to be spaced by one second each in 2026; previously there was no mandated interval between lights.
- Under the present power-unit rules, the MGU-K cannot provide drive power until the car reaches 50 km/h and can only apply negative torque while stationary, limiting assistance for initial turbo lag.
- Ferrari reportedly opposed a similar rule change last summer, with team principal Fred Vasseur arguing teams that accepted design trade-offs should not be forced to change.
Background
The shift to 2026 power units and aerodynamic packages was intended to improve racing and sustainability, but early on-track trials have highlighted unforeseen operational complexity at race starts. Turbocharged 2026 engines require careful management to avoid lag on the getaway; keeping the turbo spooled while not over-charging the hybrid system creates a narrow procedural window for drivers. Historically, starts were simpler because power-unit characteristics and hybrid rules placed fewer simultaneous demands on drivers, but the 2026 technical package changed that balance.
F1’s sporting regulations were amended ahead of 2026 to add a one-second interval between each of the five red start lights, standardising the light sequence where previously timing could vary. Teams evaluated those changes during design work on their power units and drivetrains, and some made choices that reduce turbo lag while others accepted compromises. That divergence in engineering approaches is central to the fairness argument raised by teams like Ferrari when earlier proposals to alter start protocols were advanced.
Main event
During pre-season and early testing, several drivers and teams reported that achieving a repeatable, safe launch had become more difficult with the new cars. Audi-affiliated driver Gabriel Bortoleto described practice starts as ‘complicated’ and said the timing demands—tracking a roughly 10-second spool while managing revs, gears and clutch release—made launches ‘quite a mess’ compared with last year. Those comments were echoed around the paddock in Bahrain, where sources warned that the frequency of fumbled starts increases the odds of slow getaways and potential collisions.
Valtteri Bottas, who carries a five-place grid penalty and therefore expects to start near the back in Melbourne, expressed doubts about whether drivers off the front could get enough time to spin turbos before the light sequence. Bottas noted that it presently takes about 10 seconds to prepare and questioned whether the interval between forming up and lights-on is adequate for cars further down the order. Teams point to that timing pressure as a particular problem for drivers with limited time between forming up and the official start sequence.
Two practical fixes are being discussed among teams and in FIA circles. One option is to mandate a minimum delay between the final car taking its grid slot and the initiation of the five-light sequence, giving everyone a guaranteed window to prepare. Another option is to relax restrictions around the MGU-K or battery deployment at low speeds, which would allow hybrid systems to fill torque gaps and reduce dependency on turbo spool-up for the immediate getaway. Either change would require Sporting and Technical Rule amendments and consensus among teams via the F1 Commission and FIA processes.
Analysis & implications
Safety is the immediate driver of the debate. If a meaningful share of starts are bungled—paddock figures suggest around 5%—the chance that at least one car will be severely compromised at each race grows, raising collision risk in the high-density first corners. That risk is magnified when drivers at the back lack time to spool turbos and may emerge stationary or slow into the first corner sequence. Any accident caused by an inconsistent start procedure would focus scrutiny on whether the rules or the power-unit designs are at fault.
Competitive fairness is the other major consideration. Teams that engineered power units to minimise turbo lag gained an implicit advantage at starts; forcing a rule change now risks penalising those design choices. Ferrari’s reported objection last summer reflects that view: altering the start procedure to accommodate teams that made different compromises could be seen as retroactively changing the terms under which teams developed their cars. Conversely, leaving the rules unchanged accepts a known safety trade-off and could disadvantage teams and drivers who struggle with the new procedures.
Operationally, changing the lights-to-grid timing is the less intrusive option from a technical standpoint, but it adds logistical complexity to race control procedures and may affect broadcast and pit-lane operations. Revising MGU-K or battery rules touches the power-unit rulebook and could have broader performance and development consequences, potentially requiring harmonisation with engine manufacturers and the FIA Technical Department. Any amendment would therefore need careful drafting to avoid unintended side effects across race operations and season development plans.
Comparison & data
| Item | Pre-2026 | 2026-spec / Current |
|---|---|---|
| Interval between red lights | No mandated interval | 1 second between each of the five red lights |
| Turbo spool requirement | Largely manageable within prior start procedures | Requires ~10 seconds of careful management to reduce lag |
| MGU-K availability | Varied by era; fewer constraints on start assistance | Cannot provide drive torque until 50 km/h; only negative torque when stationary |
The table illustrates how rule changes and power-unit design combine to shape start behaviour: the mandated light spacing standardises sequence timing, while the hybrid rules restrict electrical assistance at the critical low-speed phase. Teams with designs that reduce turbo lag will find starts easier; those that did not optimise for that window are more exposed. The reported 1-in-20 fumble rate serves as a quantitative prompt for discussion but should be treated as paddock-derived, not an official FIA statistic.
Reactions & quotes
‘Oh man, it’s complicated,’ said Gabriel Bortoleto when asked about practice starts, adding that juggling the 10-second spool and clutch and gear actions made launches ‘quite a mess.’
Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi junior driver, quoted to The Race)
‘The only concern for me is … if I’m towards the back of the grid, is there enough time when the light starts to go on to actually get that turbo spinning? Now it takes like 10 seconds, so that’s one thing we’ve got to figure out,’
Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac driver, quoted to The Race)
Unconfirmed
- That Ferrari deliberately designed its engine to remove the turbo-lag issue and therefore benefited competitively—this is suggested by sources but not officially confirmed by the team.
- The cited ‘1 in 20’ fumble rate stems from paddock analysis and has not been published as an FIA statistic or verified by independent timing data.
- Specific text of any rule change under consideration (exact minimum pre-light delay or precise MGU-K relaxations) has not been circulated publicly; options remain subject to negotiation.
Bottom line
The combination of 2026 power-unit behaviour and current hybrid rules has created a measurable operational challenge at race starts that teams, drivers and the FIA cannot ignore. Safety concerns arising from a non-trivial rate of bungled starts make a compelling case for the F1 Commission to discuss targeted adjustments ahead of the first grands prix.
Any fix will need to balance immediate safety gains with competitive fairness and technical integrity: delaying the lights is operationally simpler but benefits drivers at the back; relaxing hybrid constraints could equalise starts but touches core power-unit rules. Expect a focused debate at the next F1 Commission meeting and, if consensus is reached, careful, narrowly drafted rule changes rather than sweeping rewrites.
Sources
- The Race (Motorsport media reporting; primary story)
- FIA Sporting & Technical Regulations (Official rules repository)