Piastri sees 'very random' F1 2026 starts but expects driver convergence
Oscar Piastri describes the new 2026 F1 race starts as "very random" due to a more complex procedure, but expects drivers to quickly improve. While Ferrari-powered cars have shown early strength in practice launches, Piastri believes consistency will come after the first few races as everyone learns the trickier process.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri says the new, more complex race start procedure for the 2026 Formula 1 cars is producing "very random" results in testing, but he expects drivers will converge to a similar level of performance after the first few races of the season. The Australian, who had previously raised safety concerns, acknowledged the process is "trickier from every single angle," leading to dramatic differences between perfect and poor launches during practice.
Why it matters:
Race starts are one of the most critical and visible moments in a Grand Prix, offering a key opportunity to gain or lose multiple positions. The new procedure, introduced for safety due to the longer turbo spool-up time required by the 2026 power units, adds a significant new variable. How quickly drivers and teams master it could define early-season fortunes and potentially reshuffle the competitive order at the beginning of races.
The details:
- The new start procedure was trialed during Bahrain pre-season testing in response to initial safety concerns from drivers like Piastri and his team principal, Andrea Stella.
- A system of blue flashing lights now alerts drivers that the start sequence is about to begin, giving them time to prepare their car's systems.
- Early indications suggest Ferrari-powered cars may have an inherent advantage. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Esteban Ocon (Haas, Ferrari PU) both executed notably strong practice starts.
- The complexity stems from managing more power and a new procedure where the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic) engages at a specific point, making the launch phase more difficult to perfect consistently.
- George Russell of Mercedes had previously hinted at Ferrari's potential start advantage, noting they could use higher gears in Turn 1 compared to his Mercedes, which required first gear.
What's next:
Piastri predicts the current volatility in start performance will be a feature of the opening rounds. "Certainly in the first few races, we could see some starts that look a bit like what we have this week," he said. However, he is confident that as drivers complete the steep learning curve and identify the "big pitfalls," their performance will begin to standardize. The team that optimizes its procedure and driver coaching the fastest could secure a valuable early-season advantage.