Ferrari’s team boss, Fred Vasseur, expressed a certain level of surprise when the Formula 1 launch sequence came under examination during pre-season trials for 2026, asserting that the requirement to handle turbo delay “had been understood since the very beginning”.
With the comprehensive technical rule alterations for 2026, vehicles will no longer incorporate the MGU-H, which is the motor generator unit connected to the turbocharger. Previously, this component served to accelerate the turbo at lower engine speeds, thereby practically eradicating turbo lag – the duration required for the turbine to achieve maximum rotational velocity.
Consequently, in its absence, more time is needed for the turbo to begin spinning, meaning the internal combustion engine lacks the complete torque necessary for a vehicle to launch swiftly from its starting position.
Ferrari is thought to have developed a more compact turbocharger to decrease the turbine’s inertia, thereby minimizing the total delay and guaranteeing an efficient launch at the outset. This action was taken based on the assumption that the FIA would not modify the starting protocol, even though apprehensions had been voiced during the rules’ development phase.
Nevertheless, citing safety considerations, the FIA has introduced an additional five-second interval between the moment the last car reaches its grid spot and the illumination of the starting lights. This adjustment follows successful mock start evaluations conducted during testing in Bahrain and is intended to guarantee that all vehicles can effectively accelerate their turbos.
In an exclusive conversation with Autosport, Vasseur conveyed his astonishment regarding the alteration in the process.
“Given the absence of the MGU-H, it was evident that turbo delay would emerge as an aspect requiring management, affecting everything from handling to the commencement of races,” he articulated. “This fact has been acknowledged since its inception. When assessing options for establishing the criteria for a power unit, it extends beyond mere raw power; other elements are equally significant, and among these is the initial launch.”
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
“For this reason, we arrived at specific conclusions, and the FIA had maintained a clear stance from the outset against altering the launch sequence, which is why I was taken aback when this subject reappeared in Bahrain.”
Vasseur further mentioned that “concessions” had been integrated into Ferrari’s development approach to suit the prior circumstances, even though vehicles using Ferrari power units typically demonstrated more robust initial acceleration at the race’s commencement, notwithstanding the implementation of the five-second delay.
Leaders from other teams had pointed to safety concerns as a rationale for the modification, citing the potential for collisions at the starting line if a driver did not respond to a vehicle ahead that was slow to accelerate; however, there is also a performance dimension linked to this.
“It’s simple to instruct a driver to voice a safety issue or something similar, but in truth, this information has been available for an extended period,” Vasseur elaborated. “During the conception of an engine’s structure, trade-offs are perpetually involved: on one side, you strive for peak power, and on the other, for ease of control. You are compelled to make choices.”
Ayao Komatsu, the team principal for Haas, a squad that utilizes Ferrari’s engine systems, believed that the trial involving the five-second pause had successfully alleviated the foreseen safety worries.
“Observing these simulated launches, the deployment of the blue light for a five-second interval has proven quite effective,” Komatsu commented. “Upon reviewing those launches, the individuals who took part succeeded in accelerating adequately from the grid. Therefore, I do not anticipate [it presenting a problem].”
“Initially, without that additional five-second period, I would concede that a safety hazard might exist, but now, with the pre-launch readiness stage in place, I perceive no safety risk whatsoever.”
