Oscar Piastri warns of ‘pitfalls’ with 2026 F1 race starts ‘trickier in every respect’ at testing

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Oscar Piastri feels there is “a lot of luck” involved in getting a good start as pre-season testing in Bahrain proved the 2026 F1 regulations have made race starts a lot trickier.

Piastri has often been vocal about the topic of race starts in Bahrain, as a flurry of teams and drivers have encountered new challenges thanks to the 2026 F1 regulations. The removal of the MGU-H from the engine formulae in particular has created fresh problems at race starts.

Following the first official pre-season test in Bahrain last week, Piastri claimed race starts in 2026 are a “recipe for disaster” given the variation between different drivers’ launches. The topic also saw the FIA and F1 agree to trial a longer starting procedure over the second test.

The race start procedure trialled over the second test meant the starting lights were delayed to give drivers the time to spool up their turbo. While Ferrari’s 2026 F1 engine has a smaller turbo so they do not have to hold high revs for as long, some drivers need up to 10 seconds.

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Oscar Piastri admits it takes ‘a lot of luck’ to get a good start due to F1’s 2026 regulations

Piastri feels the new procedures trialled and another week of testing in Bahrain have helped to reduce the amount of variation between different drivers’ starts. But there is still “a lot of luck” required to regularly produce a clean launch and not have turbo lag and/or wheelspin.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Ensuring that your turbocharger is primed before a race start by holding high revs, thanks to F1 removing the MGU-H from the engine regulations in 2026, is also just one of the “pitfalls” that Piastri sees. It will take time before all 22 drivers on the 2026 grid can always start well.

Piastri said during the official press conference in Bahrain on Friday: “Mine yesterday wasn’t so bad. I was last, but I also overtook four cars. There’s still a lot of luck involved, and we’re learning what makes a good start and what makes a bad one.

“There are a few pitfalls you can run into that cause problems. But just managing the energy and the whole procedure, that’s one thing.

“The way we start in general is also very different from last year. It’s trickier in every respect. And some drivers are managing it well right now, and some aren’t so great.”

Jolyon Palmer saw Lando Norris enter ‘warp speed’ with his practice start in Bahrain

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While Piastri can see the problems caused by the 2026 F1 regulations, McLaren appeared to make a lot of progress with their race starts on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. Jolyon Palmer was very impressed by Piastri’s practice start, but even more by Lando Norris’.

Piastri’s practice start convinced Palmer that McLaren figured it out on Friday, having shown great speed off the line during the morning session. But Norris’ practice start at the close of the final session stole the show, as Palmer suggested the 2025 champion hit “warp speed”.

Palmer stated on the F1 world feed (20/02, 15:04): “Warp speed, see you mate! That’s a brilliant start from Lando. McLaren are there. I’ve seen it all day. Oscar got a great start. In the pit lane, it looks good.

“I’d like to see that alongside the Ferrari, to be honest, because that looks really impressive. [McLaren’s start] is much better than the Red Bull. I would say better than the Mercedes.”