Attention is high around race starts for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, particularly given the elimination of the MGU-H, which brings turbo lag into focus. Ferrari has historically managed its starts very well, often outpacing rivals, but the FIA has now decided to modify the starting procedures. Does this mean Ferrari’s advantage off the line could vanish?
Turbo choice gave Ferrari an edge at the start
During testing in Bahrain, Fred Vasseur was clear: teams struggling at the start could even opt to begin from the pit lane if necessary. Ferrari deliberately chose a smaller turbo compared to its competitors, a decision driven by multiple factors, but one that also provided an advantage during race starts. “Without the MGU-H, it was obvious that turbo lag would become a factor to manage, affecting drivability and starts. This was clear from day one. That’s why we made certain decisions, and the FIA was fairly clear initially about not wanting to alter starting procedures, so I was surprised when this topic resurfaced in Bahrain. It’s easy to ask a driver to raise a safety concern,” Fred Vasseur explained.
Now, the FIA has intervened again, establishing a new starting procedure specifically for the Australian GP.
Five extra seconds to address safety issues
During the formation lap, drivers have no way to prepare the engine to fully avoid turbo lag. The only solution is to rev the engine high to be ready to deploy power as soon as the clutch is released. This can create a gap of up to five seconds between drivers who get off the line well and those who struggle. Ferrari-powered cars have historically shown a significant advantage at the start compared to rivals.
Race director Rui Marquez confirmed that a revised starting procedure will be in effect this weekend in Australia. The approach, already tested previously, is designed to solve safety issues at the start. Drivers need to ensure the turbo is ready to fire instantly without delay in power delivery—a critical factor for those starting at the back of the grid who have very little time to prepare before the lights go out.
How the new system works
The system introduces a blue panel and a five-second countdown for teams after the last car has taken its position on the grid. The lights sequence will then follow, preventing potential safety hazards. According to Marquez’s notes: “For the safe and orderly conduct of the race, once all F1 cars on the grid have returned to their positions at the end of the formation lap or previous laps, the start grid light panels will flash blue for 5 seconds and the start gantry display will show ‘Pre-Start,’ after which the light sequence defined in Article B5.7.2 of the FIA F1 regulations will commence.”
Clearly, this change helps Ferrari’s rivals and limits the Scuderia’s ability to fully exploit its start-line advantage. Additionally, related to race starts, teams will now only be able to use Straight Mode—which lowers the front and rear wings—after Turn 1 on the opening lap.
As the FIA implements these procedural changes for the 2026 Australian GP, the tactical landscape of the race start has shifted overnight, potentially neutralizing Ferrari’s mechanical ingenuity. The “Pre-Start” countdown shows that in the political world of Formula 1, a technical edge can be as fleeting as a flashing blue light.
