During pre-season testing in Bahrain for the 2026 Formula 1 season, drivers faced difficulties with new race start procedures, while Mercedes encountered political scrutiny over its engine's compression ratio. George Russell described his practice starts as worse than ever, highlighting the complexity introduced by regulatory changes. An online vote among manufacturers addresses concerns about engine compliance.
The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain has spotlighted two major issues: revised race start procedures and debates over engine regulations.
Changes to the start procedure, necessitated by the removal of the MGU-H from power units, require drivers to rev their engines for at least 10 seconds to spool up the turbo. This has made launches more complex, dividing opinions. McLaren boss Andrea Stella called for safety tweaks, while Lewis Hamilton stated they are not dangerous.
Mercedes driver George Russell, speaking on Friday, said: “The two starts I've made this week were worse than my worst ever start in Formula 1 and Lewis down in P11 got into P1.” He added that getting off the line well is crucial to winning races, but the team is stumbling on the procedure. His teammate Kimi Antonelli noted Ferrari's power unit appeared strong on starts, though Mercedes made progress with changes, improving the feel at the end of the grid.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri described starts as random, potentially costing up to seven grid positions. He said: “I was last, but I think I passed about four cars as well. So I think it's just very random at the moment.” Piastri expects variability in early races but convergence over time.
Separately, Mercedes faces questions over its engine's compression ratio, which complies with the 16:1 limit in static tests but exceeds it on track. The team involved the FIA throughout development, with single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis confirming no cheating. Rivals Audi, Honda, and Ferrari sought clarification, leading to an online vote on testing engines at 130 degrees Celsius from August 1, alongside cold tests.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defended the approach, stating: “We have had all the assurances that what we did was according to the rules.” He dismissed fuel rumors as nonsense. Tombazis explained the FIA aims to align rules with their intended objectives, noting teams' greater resources for finding loopholes compared to the governing body's limited staff.
These developments underscore the challenges of the new regulations as teams prepare for the season opener in Melbourne.
