Race Starts
George Russell concerned over Mercedes starts in 2026 F1 testing
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Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed worries about his team's poor race starts during pre-season testing in Bahrain, despite overall strong pace. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton impressed with rapid launches, while Charles Leclerc set the fastest time overall. The testing highlighted challenges with the new 2026 regulations ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen has faced persistent issues with slow race starts in the 2026 Formula 1 season, dropping positions at the beginning of races in Melbourne and Shanghai. The Red Bull driver, currently eighth in the standings, attributed the problems to a lack of battery power and grip. These setbacks contributed to non-points finishes and a retirement in China.
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Building on the Australian GP near-miss and start procedure debates, Shanghai paddock talk ahead of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix highlighted George Russell's power unit mastery, persistent safety fears, and new technical innovations like Ferrari's radical rear wing.
Formula 1's 2026 regulations will make race starts significantly more challenging for drivers due to changes in power units and new restrictions on energy use. The removal of the MGU-H component introduces greater turbo lag, while limits on the MGU-K prevent easy compensation during launches. This shift emphasizes driver skill over technological aids, potentially leading to more chaotic getaways.