Ferrari’s Advantage off the Line in 2026
F1’s 2026 power units continue to cause controversy. The conversation has temporarily shifted from fuel compression ratios to an equally exciting topic for fans: turbo spool-up times. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella and Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur have found themselves on opposite ends of the issue. Stella claims there is a potential safety risk, while Vasseur argues his team would be punished for innovation.
Prior to the start of the 2025 season, Vasseur raised concerns to other team principals about a loss of performance for cars starting higher up on the grid due to turbo lag. The formation lap spools up the turbo, but to avoid decay, cars will need to hold high revs in their grid spot. However, holding high revs charges the battery. Since cars are required to start the formation lap with a charged battery already, there is a risk of overcharging the battery. Conscious of the issue, Ferrari developed a power unit with minimal turbo spool-up time. This means they can avoid overcharging the battery, because they do not need to hold high revs for as long as other power units. This past summer, F1’s Sporting Advisory Committee proposed a change to race start procedures, which was opposed by Ferrari. The Maranello side had designed around the issue, and would lose a performance advantage with a rule change.
Teams at the front of the grid not running a Ferrari power unit are especially worried because of the amount of time they will sit stationary waiting for the rest of the grid to get into position. So it makes sense for defending champions McClaren to be especially outspoken. The papaya side is advocating for a 10-second mandatory stationary time for all cars. The FIA has trialled different start procedures during preseason testing, but has not yet made a decision.
Former Mercedes duo Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton have both dismissed concerns over safety. Bottas will be driving a Ferrari-powered Cadillac that is not expected to compete for pole positions. The Finn is not worried about safety, but he does have concerns about having enough time to get the turbo spinning if he is starting at the back of the grid. Hamilton was equally unconcerned about safety risks and added that cars can still get away without turbo power. The Brit’s only concern is the potential for anti-stall. A Mercedes-powered perspective was given by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The Australian believes fans could see drivers lose six or seven spots off the line. Piastri’s home Grand Prix in a few weeks' time will reveal if he is being hyperbolic.
