P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren boss Andrea Stella is seeking “responsible” talks with both the FIA and the other 10 F1 teams after a number of safety concerns he has.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella expressed concerns about safety issues in F1 and emphasized the importance of all teams and the FIA taking responsibility in addressing them. The focus during the Bahrain testing was on race starts and the adjustment to new standing start procedures. The removal of the MGU-H from power units in 2026 requires drivers to spool up the turbo for 10 seconds to ensure a smooth launch without overcharging the battery. Some drivers, like Oscar Piastri and Alex Albon, did not perform mock race start simulations, raising the risk of grid incidents in early races. Stella highlighted worries about energy harvesting demands on batteries leading to sudden slowdowns on straights and potential dangerous situations during overtaking maneuvers. He specifically pointed out the necessity for improvements in race start procedures, overtaking scenarios, and launch processes to enhance safety in Formula 1.
