Formula 1 will introduce a new five-second pre-start delay at the Australian Grand Prix to make race starts safer and give drivers more time to prepare their cars.
The rule was added after a successful test during pre-season testing in Bahrain, where teams noticed problems with the new engines at the start.
With the removal of the MGU-H in the new power-unit design, turbochargers take longer to reach full speed, which can cause slow or unstable starts.
Under the new procedure, once all cars are on the grid there will be a five-second pause after the green flag and a flashing blue signal before the starting lights begin normally.
This short delay should help drivers at the back of the grid prepare their engines properly and avoid problems like anti-stall during the race start.
Officials also confirmed that active aerodynamic systems cannot be used until after the first corner of the race.