Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the world of F1 2026 starts! You might think you know what to expect, but prepare to be surprised.
The new engines and their starts have become a hot topic among Formula 1 enthusiasts. While the complexity and alleged safety risks are noteworthy, it's the peculiarity of the 2026 start procedure that truly stands out.
With so many changes this year, it's no wonder drivers and spectators are experiencing some unexpected moments. For instance, aggressively bashing down the gearbox to first gear, hearing the revs climb, and witnessing the cars lurch due to engine braking - it's a unique sensation. But the most unusual experience? Witnessing practice starts during F1 testing.
Without the MGU-H, the new engines lack an electrical assist to pre-spin the turbo. This means drivers must sustain high revs to increase exhaust energy, spin the turbine faster, and eliminate lag before acceleration. Videos from practice starts at the Barcelona shakedown showed drivers spending significantly longer on the throttle, revving the engine before launching.
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Imagine a car pulling into position, the driver engaging the clutch and selecting first gear. The revs rise, and the car just sits there, revving endlessly. Some engines sound more piercing, like the Audi, which was particularly ear-splitting. Others, like the Ferrari-powered Haas driven by Ollie Bearman, revved for over 11 seconds before pulling away.
Gabriel Bortoleto's Audi had a unique sound, with oscillations and a high-frequency rasp. Lewis Hamilton's practice start in the Ferrari was impacted by waiting for another car, but even so, revving for 15-16 seconds was impressive. Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac also waited a few seconds due to another car, but his 11-second rev time gives a better indication of the reduced turbine-spinning requirement.
The works Ferrari process is more refined, with a smoother engine sound and consistent rpm. In contrast, Lance Stroll's Honda-powered Aston Martin sounded like it had a cold, with lots of crackling and popping on top of a low, guttural exhaust.
The McLaren, on the other hand, had an eight-second hold on the throttle and sounded extremely clean. It had the best bite-point find and rpm consistency of any car/engine combination.
The shortest launch process was Liam Lawson's Red Bull-powered Racing Bulls, with a six-second hold, but it was messy, with fluctuating revs and a slightly flat launch. Bearman also had a fluffed pull-away after just six seconds on the throttle.
"It's a lot more complicated and a bit more inconsistent," Bearman says. "Now we have to spend a lot longer doing the wait phase prior to the actual start, and it's really on a knife-edge to get it right. It's a matter of milliseconds; if you're too late or too early by half a second, it doesn't work."
"It's tough for everyone. You see everyone sitting on the grid for 20 seconds with their rpm all over the place, and it shows we're not the only ones struggling."
These starts are loud, aggressive, and disconcerting because they're so unfamiliar. Even the drivers feel a bit uneasy, almost apologetic for the counterintuitive nature of it all. It's an irregular process, but it will become more normal over time.
For broadcast viewers, the picture choice and audio source for the world feed might not capture these early revving moments at the front of the grid. Unless something changes, it's a 2026 idiosyncrasy that drivers and fans alike will need to get used to.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to embrace the weirdness of F1 2026 starts, or do you prefer the more traditional start procedures? Let's discuss in the comments!
