P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri has identified a key area of concern with the new F1 cars ahead of the 2026 season.
Oscar Piastri emphasized the need for addressing F1’s race start issues discovered during pre-season testing in Bahrain. Several drivers struggled with the new power units’ race start procedure throughout the testing week. The removal of the MGU-H component resulted in the turbo requiring additional time to spin up, making it challenging for drivers running at high engine revs to optimize positioning, taking up to 10 seconds. Competitors starting from the back of the grid face a more significant challenge in preparing for the start compared to those at the front. During the final pre-season testing day in Bahrain, a race start procedure after the chequered flag revealed a mix-up in instructions, with drivers like Piastri staying stationary. Piastri clarified that the start confusion was not directly related to the power units but rather a miscommunication in instructions among drivers.
