FIA facing pressure to change F1 rule before 2026 season has even begun

Piastri gets penalty at Silverstone — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

FIA facing pressure to change F1 rule before 2026 season has even begun

Andrea Stella cited safety concerns

Chris Deeley

Monday 16 February 2026 20:00

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has already urged tweaks to Formula 1’s 2026 regulations before the campaign has even begun.

A new season rarely arrives without debates over the rulebook, but the extensive regulation overhaul for this year has sparked even greater scrutiny than usual as pre-season testing continues.

At least, this time we're not talking about engine compression ratios.

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While Stella's complaints are still related to the new power units, they're more sweeping safety and racing concerns. One of the things he brought up this week, which he hopes will be litigated before the lights go out in Melbourne, involves grid start procedures.

"I think it's imperative [changes are made] because it's possible and it's simple," he said this week. "So we should not complicate what is simple and we should not postpone what is possible immediately. Therefore, I think it's something that we should definitely achieve before Australia."

Stella concerned for drivers' safety

That, obviously, is dangerous, and Stella wants the start procedure lengthened in order to make sure everyone can get off the line in time.

"We need to make sure that the race start procedure allows all cars to have the power unit ready to go because the grid is not the place in which you want to have cars slow in taking off the grid," he said.

"This is of bigger interest than any competitive interest. I think all teams and the FIA should play the game of responsibility when it comes to what is needed in terms of race start procedure. I'm thinking about the timings, for instance, the timing of the lights, the timing before the lights.

"They need to be in the right place to make sure that, first of all, it's a safe phase of the way we go racing."

There is a slight metaphorical spanner in the works though. The Race report that Ferrari raised the issue of turbo lag when the power units were being designed, and so made adjustments to their engine design to minimise the problem and ensure good getaways.

The Scuderia reportedly then blocked a later attempt to revise the start light sequence, much like Stella is suggesting, because other teams chose not to make design compromises to deal with the problem themselves.

For Stella's part, he added: "We are not talking about how fast you are in qualifying. We are not talking about what is your race pace. We are talking about safety on the grid.

"Like I said before, there are some topics which are simply bigger than the competitive interest. And for me, having safety on the grid, which can be achieved with simple adjustment, is just a no-brainer. It's just a bigger interest."

Ferrari McLaren Andrea Stella