15 February 2026PlanetF1Race reportDriver Ratings
Gasly warns Australian GP start could be unforgettable
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly says the 2026‑era start at the Australian Grand Prix could be a “one everybody remembers,” as turbo lag and the loss of the MGU‑H may make launches harder and raise safety concerns.
Core summary Alpine driver Pierre Gasly told Planet F1 that the season‑opening race in Melbourne could become a moment fans “won’t forget,” thanks to the radically different start procedure of the 2026 cars. With near‑triple electric power, no MGU‑H and a longer rev‑up period, drivers may battle turbo lag and uneven acceleration, especially those at the back of the grid.
The new technical package reshapes launches, and teams are still scrambling to find the optimal approach.
Why it matters:
- Safety – Longer rev‑up and turbo lag could spark first‑lap incidents.
- Fairness – Rear‑row cars may struggle to get the power unit into the optimal range.
- Spectacle – A chaotic start would shape the narrative of the new era.
The details:
- Power surge – 2026 units deliver almost three times the current electrical output.
- No MGU‑H – Drivers must build turbo boost manually, removing the smooth‑power transition.
- Longer spin‑up – Standing starts now need a lengthier rev‑range before launch.
- Turbo lag – Greater delay between pedal input and power makes throttle control critical.
- Limited data – Only two weeks of testing in Bahrain means launch maps are still raw.
What's next:
- Three more days of pre‑season testing in Bahrain (Feb 18‑20) will let teams fine‑tune launch maps.
- The Australian GP (Mar 6‑8) will be the first real‑world test of the new start routine.
- Gasly expects a steep learning curve but believes a solution will emerge before the race.