Ferrari has made it clear that it will no longer accept additional changes to Grand Prix starting procedures, with the primary goal of preserving the advantage it has demonstrated so far.
On top of the already excellent chassis base of the SF-26, Ferrari benefits from a notable advantage at race starts, which was evident during pre-season testing and confirmed in the opening race in Australia. In Melbourne, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton managed to gain several positions at the start, with the Monegasque driver reaching Turn 1 in first place. This strong launch performance has been discussed in recent weeks and is largely attributed to a Power Unit design aimed at reducing turbo lag—a challenge that has caused significant difficulties for rival engine manufacturers.
Nevertheless, to address safety concerns and accommodate requests from other teams, the Maranello-based Scuderia agreed to implement the five-second ‘Pre Start’ delay, already introduced at the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park. This compromise allowed other cars to avoid stalling at the lights while still enabling the SF-26 to retain a measurable advantage over its competitors.
Ferrari says no more changes to starting procedures
According to The Race, Ferrari has now decided to take a firm stance with the FIA and the rest of the grid. After the concession made in Australia, the team has no intention of approving further adjustments to starting procedures. This decision, as reiterated multiple times by Ferrari, aims to preserve the advantage that has been visible so far—a benefit stemming from design choices made many months ago.
From the Italian side’s perspective, it should be the other teams that adapt their engines to the current procedures, not the other way around. Regarding potential safety concerns, Ferrari has stated that any team worried about risks can always start from the pit lane. This approach reflects Ferrari’s broader strategy of consolidating the technical and strategic updates introduced in the early stages of the 2026 season.
After years of relative obscurity, Maranello is determined to reassert itself as a leading force in Formula 1, regaining not only competitive prominence but also the political influence within the sport that seemed to have diminished in recent seasons.
After years of struggling in the shadows, there is a clear desire in Maranello to return to a protagonist role—not just on the track, but in terms of political influence within the sport. By refusing to bail out rivals who failed to anticipate the complexities of the 2026 turbo configurations, Ferrari is reclaiming the political weight that seemed to have diminished in recent seasons.
As the Chinese Grand Prix approaches, the message from the Italian camp is loud and clear: performance is earned through engineering, not through regulatory adjustments. If the SF-26 continues to dominate the line in Shanghai, the pressure will be squarely on Mercedes and Red Bull to find their own solutions within the existing rulebook. The era of Ferrari making concessions appears to be over.
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