“The matter is closed”: Fred Vasseur shuts down Mercedes’ push for starting grid changes. Ferrari confirms it will not alter its starting procedure despite calls from other teams.

Ferrari defends its starting advantage

After gaining a competitive edge at race starts thanks to a clever interpretation of the rules, Ferrari has made it clear it does not intend to give ground on the starting procedure. The Maranello power units were specifically designed to address an issue that had been apparent for months.

“I won’t stand for it.” One of the most famous quotes of the 1990s, penned by then-President of the Italian Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, could easily be revived today to summarize Ferrari’s position: the starts will not be touched.

Or more precisely, the current procedure will not be changed. Several teams, including those powered by Mercedes, have been pushing for weeks to modify the starting procedure further. Even in China, we saw drivers—including George Russell—requesting changes for safety reasons.

Engineering the SF-26 for lightning starts

Ferrari, however, meticulously planned for potential start-line difficulties from the very beginning. The SF-26 and its power unit were engineered to avoid trouble off the line. The results speak for themselves: Ferrari-powered cars—including Haas—boast a lightning-quick getaway thanks to a design philosophy built precisely for this advantage.

During Bahrain testing, the decision was made to extend the starting procedure by an additional five seconds to allow the power units to reach the correct turbo revs and improve initial acceleration. While this measure was introduced for safety reasons, in Australia it nearly resulted in a major incident between Liam Lawson, who started slowly, and Franco Colapinto.

Ferrari confirms its position

After the China Grand Prix, where Ferrari secured its second long-race podium of the season (and a double Top 3 in Saturday’s Sprint), Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur reiterated Ferrari’s stance on starts. Maranello had worked knowing it needed to address a problem already clear for some time. Others did not, and for this reason, Ferrari has no intention of giving up an advantage earned simply by working better than rivals while staying within the regulations.

“I think we have already substantially changed the starting rules with the five-second rule,” said Ferrari’s team principal.

“A year ago, I went to the FIA and raised the issue of the starting procedure, saying: ‘Guys, [the start] will be difficult.’ The answer was clear: it is necessary to design the car in compliance with the regulations and not to change the regulations to suit the car.”

“We designed the car in line with the regulations; the five-second change and the story of the lights did not help us at all, but I think at some point it is enough. For me, the matter is closed.”

Maintaining the competitive edge

Given the current situation, Ferrari does not intend to give up the competitive advantage it built through a careful reading of the rules. To modify the regulation, a supermajority would be required, or a forced change as a safety measure. As of now, it is clear that the first option is not being considered, and the second does not appear to be in the Federation’s plans. What is certain is that Ferrari will not yield its point.