Overview
- Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said 'enough is enough' on further start‑procedure revisions, arguing Ferrari built to the rules after the FIA already added a five‑second flashing blue pre‑start.
- Series chiefs confirmed no regulatory adjustments before the Japanese Grand Prix, with a data‑led review underway following the first two races of the new formula.
- Mercedes opened 2026 with consecutive 1‑2 finishes as Toto Wolff warned of 'political knives' over potential rule refinements and forthcoming technical checks.
- Ferrari’s smaller‑turbo power unit is credited with superior getaways, helping Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lead into Turn 1 in Australia and China from the second row.
- Driver opinion remains split, with Max Verstappen condemning the rules and drawing rebukes from figures like Guenther Steiner and Jonathan Wheatley after Red Bull’s troubled start and a China DNF.