After days of debate, a full practice start was simulated at the end of the Bahrain test session
The first ‘start’ of 2026
The new 2026 Formula 1 cars can still launch off the line — or at least that is how it looked in Bahrain. After days of rumours and controversy surrounding the start procedures of these new-generation machines, particularly concerns about turbo charging times and overall responsiveness off the grid, this was far from a given. To provide clarity, the FIA and Formula 1 used the final 10 minutes of day one of pre-season testing in Bahrain to stage a full and proper race start simulation.
The cars first lined up in the pit lane one behind the other, before completing a formation lap and taking their places on the starting grid. At that point, an aborted start procedure was simulated. The cars then carried out an additional formation lap and finally returned to their grid slots to rehearse the start of a Grand Prix.
The timing of the five red lights going out was slightly extended compared to usual, with the addition of a five-second blue pre-start signal before the standard light sequence. This tweak was introduced as part of the evaluation of the new procedures linked to the 2026 power unit regulations.
The launch itself went reasonably smoothly: no car was left stranded on the grid, and both McLaren and Williams appeared to get off the line well, as did Red Bull. Audi, on the other hand, seemed to struggle the most in the initial getaway phase. Overall, however, it was quite clear from the footage that this was a ‘practice’ start, with drivers understandably not pushing the limits or attempting to anticipate the lights as they would in a real Grand Prix scenario.
It is also worth noting that only 10 cars were present on the grid — Aston Martin was absent — compared to the 22 cars that will line up together for the season opener in Australia. There will therefore be further discussions and likely additional refinements before the lights go out for real at the Melbourne Grand Prix on March 8, as Formula 1 continues to fine-tune the start procedures for the new 2026 era.
This first successful grid simulation in Bahrain has therefore provided a much-needed baseline for the 2026 season, proving that while the new power units are technically complex, the fundamental spectacle of a Formula 1 start remains intact—even if some teams still have work to do to find their peak launch performance.
Lights out in Bahrain! ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
A practice start to close out the day 👊#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/gzGwW05Al3
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 18, 2026
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