Gasly Predicts Chaotic Australian GP Start Under New 2026 Rules

Alpine's Pierre Gasly has warned Formula 1 fans to be glued to their screens for the start of next month's Australian Grand Prix, predicting a level of unpredictability and potential chaos rarely seen in the sport's modern era due to the new 2026 technical regulations.

Why it matters:

The start of a Grand Prix is a critical, high-pressure moment that can define a driver's race. The 2026 rules, which remove the MGU-H and mandate a heavier reliance on electrical power, have fundamentally altered the launch procedure. A widespread failure to adapt could turn the opening seconds in Melbourne into a lottery, with positions gained or lost on a scale not seen in years, making reliability and a clean getaway the top priority.

The details:

• The removal of the MGU-H, a component that helped spool the turbo, places more responsibility on the internal combustion engine. Drivers must now hold higher revs for longer before the start, increasing the risk of bogged-down getaways, slow reactions, or anti-stall activations.
• McLaren's Oscar Piastri bluntly assessed the aerodynamic challenge, stating that "a pack of 22 cars with a couple hundred points less downforce sounds like a recipe for disaster to me" for the first corner.
• Gasly emphasized that after only two weeks of pre-season testing, perfecting the start procedure by the first race is unlikely. He advised fans to watch, as it "could be one that everybody remembers."
• The complexity extends beyond the launch. Gasly noted that simply finishing the race will be "challenge number one," highlighting the increased fragility of the new, extremely complex cars.

The big picture:

This shift represents a fundamental change in driver skill and team procedure. In the past, a bad start might cost a driver one or two positions. Under the new rules, as echoed by drivers like Esteban Ocon, a driver could lose "the whole lot" before reaching Turn 1. This disproportionately affects drivers starting further back on the grid, who have less time to complete their start sequence, potentially turning the race order upside down from the very beginning.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Albert Park for the season opener. Melbourne's start will be the first true, high-stakes test of the new launch procedures under race conditions. It may not only set the tone for the Australian Grand Prix but could also provide the first major narrative of the 2026 season, signaling whether the new era will be defined by technical mastery or unpredictable chaos from lights out.