Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed surprise that some in Formula 1 have recently criticised the new 2026 race starting procedure, saying the issue was known long before.
As part of the 2026 technical rules, the MGU-H — which previously helped eliminate turbo lag — has been removed, meaning cars now take longer to build boost off the line. Teams knew this would affect starts “from day one” of the regulation changes, Vasseur said, and it was well understood that turbo lag would need to be managed.
Ferrari even chose design compromises to help with starts under the new rules, believing the FIA would not change the start procedure. Vasseur therefore found it odd that criticism resurfaced during pre-season testing, after the sport’s governing body added a five-second pause on the grid to help cars spool up before the lights go out.
He added that although drivers can raise safety concerns, teams had known about the start performance challenges for a long time while designing their 2026 engines and cars.