Oscar Piastri says 2026 F1 race starts are ‘trickier in every respect’ after Bahrain testing

Oscar Piastri has pointed out that there’s a fair amount of luck involved in getting off the line cleanly these days, something that became even clearer during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Piastri hasn’t been shy about speaking up on this issue before, especially in Bahrain where drivers and teams were dealing with new hurdles introduced by the 2026 rule changes. The removal of the MGU-H from the engine setup has been a major factor.

After last week’s test session wrapped up, Piastri said that differences in how drivers are launching their cars could be “a recipe for disaster.” In response, F1 and the FIA decided to try out a longer starting sequence during the second round of testing.

This extended procedure was designed to give drivers more time to get their turbos up to speed before the lights went out. Ferrari’s smaller turbo means their drivers don’t need as much time at high revs as others – some need as long as 10 seconds.

Oscar Piastri says F1’s 2026 regulations have made good starts a matter of luck

Piastri thinks the new procedures and another week of testing in Bahrain have helped cut down on the differences between drivers’ starts. Still, he believes there’s “a lot of luck” involved in getting a clean launch without turbo lag or wheelspin.

One issue Piastri highlighted is the removal of the MGU-H from F1 engines for 2026, which means drivers now need to hold high revs to keep the turbocharger ready at the start. He sees this as just one of several challenges that will take time for everyone on the grid to adapt to.

Speaking during Friday’s press conference in Bahrain, Piastri explained: “Mine yesterday wasn’t so bad. I was last, but I also overtook four cars. There’s still a lot of luck involved, and we’re learning what makes a good start and what makes a bad one.

“There are a few pitfalls you can run into that cause problems. But just managing the energy and the whole procedure, that’s one thing.”

“The way we start in general is also very different from last year,” he added. “It’s trickier in every respect. And some drivers are managing it well right now, and some aren’t so great.”

Jolyon Palmer saw Lando Norris enter ‘warp speed’ with his practice start in Bahrain

Piastri is aware of the issues caused by the 2026 F1 regulations, but McLaren still managed to show progress with their race starts during pre-season testing. While Jolyon Palmer was impressed with Piastri’s practice start, he was even more taken aback by Lando Norris.

Piastri’s effort gave Palmer the impression that McLaren had found something on Friday, showing good speed in the morning session. But it was Norris who really caught attention at the end of the final session, with Palmer even suggesting the 2025 champion hit “warp speed”.

Palmer stated on the F1 world feed: “Warp speed, see you mate! That’s a brilliant start from Lando. McLaren are there. I’ve seen it all day. Oscar got a great start. In the pit lane, it looks good.

“I’d like to see that alongside the Ferrari, to be honest, because that looks really impressive. [McLaren’s start] is much better than the Red Bull. I would say better than Mercedes.”