Ferrari’s start‑line secret: why their new engine is leaving rivals stunned
In the Formula 1 paddock, it's believed that the Italian team's power unit spools up earlier, giving them an advantage at the start. "They seem very strong," says Antonelli.
The Formula 1 preseason has delivered plenty of talking points, but none has sparked more debate than the sport’s new power units. After teams struggled with the updated engines, the FIA opened the door to a potential “power‑distribution adjustment” for this season. That discussion also touches on another hot topic: the new race‑start procedure, which is currently under review.
The updated power units have made launches far trickier—and some teams even consider them unsafe, warning that cars could stall if the turbo isn’t kept properly charged. But amid all the confusion, one thing has become clear: Ferrari has a noticeable advantage off the line.
Ferrari’s turbo advantage shows up in Bahrain
During the final three days of testing in Bahrain, teams were allowed to run additional start simulations after several squads—including McLaren—filed complaints. And that’s when Ferrari’s edge became impossible to ignore.
On Thursday afternoon, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes jumped from fourth to first under braking, but the real eye‑catcher was what happened behind him: both Haas cars—also running Ferrari engines—blew past Mercedes and Red Bull in the opening meters after the lights went out.
That wasn’t a fluke. Ferrari’s power unit appears to spool up its turbo faster, giving its cars a decisive boost during the FIA’s temporary five‑second “patch” added to the Sakhir start tests.
The fix worked—no cars stalled—but it also put Ferrari squarely in the spotlight.
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted as much:“Ferrari’s power unit looked really strong at the starts. It’s been a weak point for us. The procedure is complicated, and I need to get it right.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri echoed the sentiment:“We’re learning what makes a good or bad start. There are big traps if you get it wrong. Managing power and the procedure is one thing, but the way we start now is much harder than last year. Right now Ferrari is nailing it, and others are making big mistakes.”
He added that early races could look a lot like the Bahrain tests—but expects teams to converge quickly.
Teams expect to adapt—but some start behind
Despite the gap he sees between McLaren’s MCL40 and Ferrari’s SF‑26, Piastri believes time and repetition will help level the playing field. Nico Hülkenberg—beginning his new chapter with Audi—warned that no one will truly understand the new start system until the grid lines up for an actual Grand Prix.
And then there’s Aston Martin. Hampered by Honda engine reliability issues, the team couldn’t even participate in the Bahrain start simulations. That leaves them heading into the season opener with less data and fewer reps than their rivals.
Next stop: Melbourne, where the 2026 season officially begins in the first week of March.
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