P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has highlighted an area of the new F1 power unit regulations that has tripped Mercedes up early in the rules cycle.
George Russell believes that F1 race starts will be the biggest challenge to tackle in the upcoming 2026 season, based on his poor practice starts in Bahrain.
The removal of the MGU-H and restrictions on using the MGU-K for turbo spooling have caused difficulties for drivers at the start line.
Teams have voiced safety concerns and lobbied the FIA for changes in the starting process, resulting in a new system being trialed during the final days of testing.
Ferrari-powered cars have maintained an advantage at race starts due to their smaller turbo design, despite initial concerns raised by the team.
Mercedes driver Russell highlighted the crucial importance of getting off the line well to secure race victories, emphasizing the need to improve starts before the season begins.
