McLaren is pushing hard for changes to the start procedure. During the recent test week teams carried out multiple practice starts, but with the MGU-H gone for 2026 it’s a lot more complicated than before. Drivers were forced to spin their engines up for more than ten seconds without overcharging the battery. That produced distressing scenes in Bahrain. On safety grounds McLaren is urging intervention.
Oscar Piastri was one of the drivers who on Friday attempted to simulate a start in Bahrain. Of the seven cars on the grid, however, only three actually managed to get moving on time. Getting the turbo spinning — because the MGU-H is absent — is only possible at high revs, which can put significant strain on the battery and on the timing of the start. The Australian sided with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and insisted the FIA must take measures.
Concerns over safety
“Starts need to be addressed,” said Oscar Piastri. “As we’ve all seen, it’s become a fairly complex process to achieve a safe start, let alone a competitive one. I’m certain we’ll be discussing this between now and Melbourne.” He explained that teams need test time to tackle these issues — not least for safety. “The extra test time was absolutely necessary because of all the new systems. From a pure performance perspective it might not be essential, but there are so many things, purely from a safety standpoint, that we need to work out and sort on track.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure anyone exactly knows what we need to improve the starts,” Piastri admitted. “Last year the difference between a good and a bad start could be a bit of wheelspin or a slow reaction. This year it could become more like a Formula 2 race, where you risk the car dropping into anti-stall mode. That doesn’t just cost you five metres — it can cost you six or seven places.”
Team principal Andrea Stella underlined the seriousness of the issue, especially from a safety perspective. “This is a more important problem than any competitive interest,” he said. “I’m convinced all teams and the FIA must take responsibility.”
