P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The F1 commission has addressed various safety concerns unearthed during pre-season testing for 2026 regulations overhaul.
The Formula 1 commission meeting, held on Wednesday, addressed various safety concerns unearthed during pre-season testing for the 2026 regulations overhaul.
One of the major safety concerns highlighted by McLaren boss Andreas Stella was related to the race start procedures under the new technical rule-set that has transformed the F1 power units into a 50-50 hybrid between electrical and combustion propulsion.
Issues such as running higher revs for longer to spool the turbo have led to less than ideal starts and an increased risk of spinning off the line, as pointed out by drivers like George Russell.
Furthermore, concerns were raised about the characteristics of the engines and the battery depletion rate, which could catch pursuing cars off guard at high speeds.
The commission also discussed the trial of a new start system involving a blue light flashing before the traditional red lights to help drivers optimize their start configuration.
A separate concern was raised regarding the new active aerodynamics system, specifically the ‘straight mode’, which McLaren feels needs to be further addressed by the FIA to ensure safety and competitive integrity in F1 races.
