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Ferrari Draws Line on 2026 F1 Start Rules as FIA Delays Changes Until After Japan

The sport will collect more evidence at Suzuka for an early review, with in‑season mechanisms expected to carry any rebalancing workload.

Overview

  • Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur said “enough is enough” on further start‑procedure tweaks, noting the five‑second flashing‑blue pre‑start was already a major change.
  • Start disparities remain a flashpoint, with Ferrari’s smaller‑turbo power unit aiding launches and MercedesGeorge Russell accusing holdouts of being “selfish.”
  • Formula 1 and the FIA confirmed no regulatory adjustments before the Japanese Grand Prix, with a data‑led assessment to follow and senior figures urging patience.
  • Drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have denounced the new racing style, while others including Toto Wolff, Guenther Steiner, Jonathan Wheatley and Jacques Villeneuve defend the spectacle.
  • Rulebook tools are queued up for potential balancing, including the ADUO in‑season engine development windows and revised compression‑ratio testing from June 1, as a schedule gap after Japan offers time for analysis.