During the first pre-season test in Bahrain, Formula 1 teams and drivers raised alarms about the safety of the new 2026 cars, particularly regarding race starts and energy management. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella urged immediate changes to prevent potential accidents on the grid. The issues stem from the removal of the MGU-H, requiring longer turbo spool-up times that complicate launches.
The Bahrain pre-season test highlighted significant challenges with Formula 1's 2026 regulations, especially the new power units featuring a 50/50 split between electric and combustion power. Drivers like Max Verstappen criticized the cars as feeling "like Formula E on steroids," citing excessive energy management that compromises driving style, including lifting and coasting to recharge batteries. This has led to slower cornering speeds and concerns over overtaking, as following cars may face sudden deceleration from the leader harvesting energy.
A key worry is the race start procedure. Without the MGU-H, drivers need over 10 seconds to spool up turbochargers, increasing the risk of botched launches. McLaren's Andrea Stella emphasized safety, stating, "We are not talking about how fast you are in qualifying. We are not talking about your race pace. We are talking about safety on the grid." He referenced past incidents like Mark Webber's airborne crash in Valencia and warned of similar risks if cars fail to accelerate uniformly at the start.
An incident during a post-session practice start underscored these fears when Alpine's Franco Colapinto lost control while warming tires, sliding onto the grass near stationary cars. Oscar Piastri of McLaren noted, "A pack of 22 cars, with a couple hundred points less downforce, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me." Ferrari is reportedly opposing changes, possibly due to an edge in launches, as evidenced by Lewis Hamilton's 22-second rev during testing, which technical expert Sam Collins suggested might have been intentional.
Stella called for simple fixes, such as relaxing start timings or adjusting energy deployment limits, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. The F1 Commission is set to discuss these matters, with the FIA potentially intervening on safety grounds. Despite the criticisms, some like George Russell urged patience, noting the regulations will evolve over three years.
