The new 2026 Formula 1 cars have barely hit the track, and the regulatory controversy is already escalating. From Bahrain, McLaren is raising concerns about major flaws in the new technical framework, arguing that certain procedures could create risky situations right from the start of races. Andrea Stella is calling on the FIA to act quickly, before the season opener in Australia.
McLaren: Departures deemed potentially dangerous
According to McLarenThe new powertrain architecture significantly complicates the starting phase. Without the MGU-H, the engines must now generate turbo pressure on their own, resulting in a long and imprecise acceleration before the lights go out.
As a result, some cars could get a good start while others would remain stuck on the grid, mechanically increasing the risk of collisions from the very first meters.
Andrea Stella from home McLaren, He believes the problem is not sporting but safety-related. In his view, the current procedure, particularly the timing of the lights, is no longer suited to the technical constraints of the new power units and should be adjusted urgently.
Another sensitive point: energy management. With the new rules, drivers must ease off the accelerator more to recharge the battery, a practice that could cause unexpected decelerations in the pack.
In a context of close racing, a car that suddenly slows down to recover energy could surprise the one behind and cause a high-speed collision. McLaren clearly fears chain-reaction accident scenarios if this behavior becomes frequent in racing.
The replacement of DRS with a new energy mode failed to impress during testing. Unlike the old system, all cars now have a similar drag reduction on the straights, which limits the advantage of the car behind.
McLaren
emphasizes that the surplus of energy intended to facilitate attacks remains difficult to exploit and offers too small a speed gain to allow for genuine wheel-to-wheel overtaking.
In other words: potentially more static races, with drivers stuck behind their rivals.
Star insists: “ These adjustments would be simple to implement and should be addressed before the first Grand Prix. The stated objective is not to gain a competitive advantage, but to prevent the new 2026 regulations from creating dangerous situations or artificially blocked races. »
The Commission F1 A decision will now have to be made quickly. Because if these concerns are confirmed, the technical revolution of 2026 could begin under high tension… well before the first green light of the season.
