F1 boosts start practice for China, keeps formation lap rules

Formula 1 drivers will get extra opportunities to practice race starts at the Chinese Grand Prix, but calls to ease battery recharge limits on the formation lap have been rejected by the FIA. The changes come as a direct response to chaotic and inconsistent getaways in Australia that heightened safety fears among the grid.

Why it matters:

The chaotic start to the Australian Grand Prix, including a near-miss between Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson, exposed a critical vulnerability. Drivers and teams argue that the complex procedures required to launch the 2026-spec cars, combined with tricky battery management, make poor starts too common and dangerous. As Sergio Perez warned, without intervention, it was "just a matter of time before a massive shunt happens."

The details:

• In revised event notes, Race Director Rui Marques stated drivers may now complete two extra laps after each session solely to stop on the grid and perform practice starts.
• This aims to give drivers more familiarity and preparation for the critical race start procedure.
• However, a proposal to lift the battery recharge limit allowed on the formation lap was ultimately rejected.
  • Some teams, including Mercedes, had pushed for this change after George Russell highlighted it as a problem in Australia, where it contributed to battery management issues.
• The FIA and other teams, notably Ferrari, resisted the change. The concern was that increasing the limit could encourage more aggressive acceleration and braking on the formation lap, potentially creating new, unintended safety risks.
• There was also a belief that the FIA should not rush to alter regulations simply because some teams' car designs make achieving good getaways more challenging.

What's next:

The immediate focus will be on whether the additional practice starts in China lead to cleaner, safer race commencements. The decision to maintain the formation lap rules sets a precedent, indicating that the FIA will prioritize managing on-track behavior over altering technical limits to compensate for specific team design philosophies. This issue is likely to remain a point of discussion, especially if start-line problems persist.