FIA to continue F1 start trials as McLaren backs "sensible" changes
The FIA has confirmed it will continue its practice start trials at Bahrain F1 testing, with McLaren encouraged by what it felt were "sensible" starts on Wednesday.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Last week McLaren's team boss Andrea Stella voiced concerns over Formula 1 2026's laborious start procedure with the new cars.
Stella urged the FIA to consider longer start procedure timings to avoid drivers not being able to spool up their turbos, which now has to be done manually by holding revs for over 10 seconds.
Following discussions at Wednesday morning's F1 Commission meeting in Bahrain, the FIA trialled a longer start procedure by giving drivers an additional five seconds between lining up and starting the lights sequence, which led to a smooth practice start at the end of Wednesday's running.
F1's governing body has since confirmed it will continue the experiment after each half day of running on Thursday and Friday before making a decision on what it will do at the start of the season in Australia.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mark Temple, McLaren's technical director for performance, said the team was satisfied by what it felt was a "sensible" practice start on Wednesday.
"There were some concerns that were voiced previously, so this was a kind of a chance to put a number of cars together to go through what we expect the start procedure to actually be," Temple said.
"Certainly, from what I saw, it all looked pretty normal and pretty sensible. I think that kind of helps allay some of those fears, that when everyone's ready, everyone knows what they're doing, and the procedures are followed, I don't think it's a big issue.
"I think it's going to be perfectly reasonable. I'm sure there may be a little bit more fine-tuning, and there'll be feedback from this one, from the drivers, from the teams, and that will be revisited."
Photos from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 5
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?
Mercedes braced for tougher strategy calls as George Russell closes on Kimi Antonelli
What's next for Williams after Baku B-spec yields mixed fortunes
Alex Brundle questions McLaren F1 upgrade after Azerbaijan GP disappointment
McLaren Racing and Edward Jones join forces in multi-year F1 and IndyCar partnership
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Joey Logano down but not out of NASCAR Chase after Kansas flat tire
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
George Russell details F1 drivers' Langkawi boys' trip ahead of Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Porsche and Cadillac fighting on nearly equal terms in Petit Le Mans BoP
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?
Top 10 F1 results changed by backmarkers – the passes
The problem with Ferrari’s endless team principal speculation
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments