Ferrari invite F1 rivals to ‘start from the pit lane’ if they feel race starts are unsafe

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Ferrari are inviting Formula 1 rivals to ‘start from the pit lane’ if they have safety concerns over race starts in 2026, according to The Race’s Jon Noble.

Ferrari’s 2026 car has been called a ‘rocket launcher’ off the line, largely thanks to their smaller turbo design. Charles Leclerc took the lead of the Australian Grand Prix from fourth on the grid, while Lewis Hamilton also gained three positions.

This continued the trend seen in winter testing, but Ferrari’s rivals want the start procedure to be changed. George Russell called the Scuderia ‘selfish’ and ‘silly’ for resisting a tweak to the formation lap.

Ferrari adamant that F1 start rules should not be changed

Several F1 drivers started the Australian GP without any electrical energy available to them, having used it up on the warm-up lap when trying to heat up the tyres. One possible solution would be to increase the formation-lap recharge limit.

But as Noble explained on The Race’s YouTube channel, Ferrari feel the proposal would unfairly penalise them and spare the teams who have fallen foul of the regulations.

They are privately pointing out that drivers have the option to start from the pit lane if they don’t feel comfortable on the grid. Franco Colapinto very nearly collected a slow-starting Liam Lawson in Melbourne.

“From Ferrari’s perspective, they’ve designed a car for these regulations,” Noble said. “Why should the regulations constantly then get changed to those haven’t made those compromises?

“Ferrari have factored all this in. The smaller turbo will cost them at certain venues. There will be some downsides to having a smaller turbo, and the regulations won’t be changed to help them in that circumstance.

“From their stance, why should they approve any change? From what I understand, Ferrari’s perspective is that the regulations have been set, we do not see a need to change it and if drivers are unhappy and feel it’s unsafe, you can start from the pit lane.”

F1 has already made two changes to race starts in 2026

It’s not as if the sport hasn’t taken any action on race starts. Drivers have been given more time to prepare at the end of the formation lap before the five-light sequence begins.

In China, the FIA race director has allowed them to carry out extra start practice in the aftermath of sessions. The hope is clearly that teams will learn by repetition.

• READ MORE: F1’s latest ‘solution’ for race starts proves Max Verstappen was right to slate the new regulations

There is a potential for the sport’s governing body to override Ferrari’s opposition if they believe driver safety is at risk, but clearly that is not their current mindset.