A near-collision at the start of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix has sparked calls for Formula 1 rule changes to improve safety, but opposition from Ferrari has stalled progress. Mercedes driver George Russell accused rivals of selfishness for blocking adjustments to battery harvest limits during formation laps. Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, the FIA introduced extra practice starts but rejected broader reforms.
The 2026 Formula 1 season began with controversy at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where inconsistent starts highlighted vulnerabilities in the new regulations. Liam Lawson, starting eighth for Racing Bulls, experienced a slow getaway due to battery depletion and possible anti-stall activation, nearly causing a high-speed collision with Franco Colapinto's Alpine behind him. Lawson recounted bracing for impact, watching Colapinto's car approach in his mirrors, only for the Argentine to swerve right at the last moment through a narrow gap. "It was very impressive from his side to avoid it," Lawson said. "He had very good reactions and I was very lucky."
The incident stemmed from challenges with the updated power units, lacking the MGU-H and relying more on electrical energy. Teams must spool up larger turbos, leading to a five-second pre-start preparation period introduced by the FIA after pre-season concerns. However, battery management proved problematic: a harvest limit of eight megajoules per lap, combined with aggressive formation lap driving to warm tires and brakes, left many cars with low charge at the grid. The timing line's position disadvantaged front-runners, as their practice launches counted toward the limit sooner than those at the back.
Mercedes, among teams pushing for revisions, sought to remove the formation lap harvest restriction. George Russell explained, "The drivers who started in the first half of the grid... were already within that lap. So when you did your formation lap start, you're spending your battery and you're charging... which goes towards your harvest limit." He implied Ferrari's opposition, calling it "a little bit silly" and noting, "Some people have selfish views and want to do what's best for themselves." Ferrari, with smaller turbos aiding quick starts—evident as Charles Leclerc jumped from fourth to first—resists further changes, arguing teams should adapt internally rather than alter rules.
Drivers voiced safety fears. Max Verstappen noted, "Starting with 0% battery is not much fun and also quite dangerous... We almost had a huge accident at the start." Sergio Perez warned, "It's just a matter of time before a massive shunt happens." Without a supermajority vote, the FIA cannot amend regulations easily, though it could invoke safety powers.
For the Chinese Grand Prix, the FIA allowed two extra laps after sessions for practice starts but maintained the harvest limit, aiming to mitigate risks without overhauling procedures. Haas principal Ayao Komatsu urged patience, suggesting evaluation after about five races to avoid knee-jerk reactions.
