Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed surprise at the scrutiny over Formula 1's starting procedure during pre-season testing in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 season. The changes address turbo lag issues resulting from the removal of the MGU-H component in new regulations. An extra five-second delay has been introduced for safety reasons.
Formula 1's technical regulations for 2026 eliminate the MGU-H, the motor generator unit attached to the turbocharger, which previously helped spool up the turbo at lower revs and eliminated turbo lag. Without it, cars take longer to achieve full torque from the internal combustion engine at the start, potentially delaying getaways from the grid.
Ferrari designed its 2026 powertrain assuming the starting procedure would remain unchanged, producing a smaller turbocharger to reduce turbine inertia and minimize lag. Vasseur told Autosport that managing turbo lag "was known from day one," influencing design decisions for power, drivability, and starts. "The FIA has been quite clear from the beginning about not wanting to change the starting procedure, so I was surprised when this topic resurfaced in Bahrain," he said.
For safety, the FIA added five seconds between the final car reaching its grid position and the ignition of start lights, following successful practice starts in Bahrain. This aims to allow all cars to spool up their turbos. Vasseur noted that compromises were made in Ferrari's design process, and despite the hold, Ferrari-powered cars showed strong getaways in tests.
Other teams raised safety concerns about potential start-line crashes from slow-starting cars, though Vasseur suggested such issues were long anticipated. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, whose team uses Ferrari powertrains, said the five-second blue light sequence worked well in practice starts, eliminating safety risks. Drivers gave the overall 2026 regulation changes a lukewarm reception during Bahrain testing.
The adjustments balance performance and safety amid the regulation overhaul focused on sustainability and overtaking.
