Another perspective is that the fast start is a built in advantage all season. Even with a 5 extra seconds, there's still a chance at another team that it's not enough every now and then.
Or they're caught out under SC, or in the pits.
I cannot believe this really, lets give them the championship already to get over with it.Seanspeed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 16:52It seems to me the other teams perfectly well knew about these problems and could 'foresee' this issue too, and took advantage of that to complain right before the season started, making the FIA panic over safety fearmongering from the teams, letting them get away with ignoring the problem on the technical side and neutering the advantage of anybody who actually worked to improve their situation with starts.Badger wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 10:28We can’t let the competitive interests of one team go before the health and safety of the drivers. We don’t want big crashes at the start stemming from huge speed deltas. That’s something I hope even the most partial posters on here would agree with. It’s also fair that everyone gets a chance to spool their turbo regardless of where they start on the grid.
Ferrari could foresee the problems but they could not foresee that the FIA would be forced to make changes on safety grounds before the season, other manufacturers clearly bet on that. I’m sorry to say it but Fred tried to get cute and got outsmarted by the Totonator.
EDIT: Also, if FIA do decide to change to reduce electrical power, that will further help Mercedes use their engine advantage, since they'll have proportionally more ICE power than electrical power than currently. Would be a 3rd important win for Mercedes before we've even run a lap.
Safety car starts will be crazy if a Ferrari powered almost stops on track before restarting. Admittedly there iwll be battery available, but the turbo lag should still be felt.
Let's put Mercedes in charge of writing rule then. At least it will spare other teams long useless discussions.bluechris wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 17:38I cannot believe this really, lets give them the championship already to get over with it.Seanspeed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 16:52It seems to me the other teams perfectly well knew about these problems and could 'foresee' this issue too, and took advantage of that to complain right before the season started, making the FIA panic over safety fearmongering from the teams, letting them get away with ignoring the problem on the technical side and neutering the advantage of anybody who actually worked to improve their situation with starts.Badger wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 10:28We can’t let the competitive interests of one team go before the health and safety of the drivers. We don’t want big crashes at the start stemming from huge speed deltas. That’s something I hope even the most partial posters on here would agree with. It’s also fair that everyone gets a chance to spool their turbo regardless of where they start on the grid.
Ferrari could foresee the problems but they could not foresee that the FIA would be forced to make changes on safety grounds before the season, other manufacturers clearly bet on that. I’m sorry to say it but Fred tried to get cute and got outsmarted by the Totonator.
EDIT: Also, if FIA do decide to change to reduce electrical power, that will further help Mercedes use their engine advantage, since they'll have proportionally more ICE power than electrical power than currently. Would be a 3rd important win for Mercedes before we've even run a lap.
I have a question: why is it Ferrari that should immediately relinquish its advantage in the name of safety, and not the other engine manufacturers who should modify their power units for the same reasons? Mercedes would be the only engine manufacturer to benefit from the loophole in the compression ratio, yet the FIA hasn't asked them to relinquish this advantage immediately. I'm simply trying to understand.nitrotech wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 12:10Credit to Ferrari for having identified the problem early in the cycle, earlier than other manufacturers. It was stupid of FIA to have not paid attention to Ferrari's concerns. Now that the safety concern has manifested, it would be foolish not to address it. Ignoring it now, because Ferrari wouldn't want it or Ferrari fans wouldn't want, after having ignored earlier, is not the way to run the sport.LM10 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 11:57You would be naive for thinking that the FIA did not know that from the beginning or at the very latest when Ferrari warned them. The FIA has endless tools and simulations and it's hard to believe they didn't predict that. Even a random street racer would tell you the consequences of turbo lag.Badger wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 11:42
Your comment seems to imply that safety is not important. I can’t go with you knowing how many drivers used to be killed in this sport. Personally I prefer adopting reasonable safety standards and not letting the competitive interests of one team overrule legitimate safety concerns.
So my question is, why was it not a safety concern when Ferrari told them it might be, but it's a safety concern now?
Save your sanity, don't try and use reason when talking about F1 politics.Schumix wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 18:53I have a question: why is it Ferrari that should immediately relinquish its advantage in the name of safety, and not the other engine manufacturers who should modify their power units for the same reasons? Mercedes would be the only engine manufacturer to benefit from the loophole in the compression ratio, yet the FIA hasn't asked them to relinquish this advantage immediately. I'm simply trying to understand.
Ferrari has not solved the issue of turbo spooling, their engine needs a long time as well. They may have a small advantage relative to another manufacturer (hence their reluctance to change it) but it doesn't change the overall safety concern from the perspective of the FIA. Everyone needs time to spool their turbos and adding 5 seconds reduces the overall stall risk significantly. It's inherent to this PU generation.Seanspeed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 16:52It seems to me the other teams perfectly well knew about these problems and could 'foresee' this issue too, and took advantage of that to complain right before the season started, making the FIA panic over safety fearmongering from the teams, letting them get away with ignoring the problem on the technical side and neutering the advantage of anybody who actually worked to improve their situation with starts.Badger wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 10:28We can’t let the competitive interests of one team go before the health and safety of the drivers. We don’t want big crashes at the start stemming from huge speed deltas. That’s something I hope even the most partial posters on here would agree with. It’s also fair that everyone gets a chance to spool their turbo regardless of where they start on the grid.
Ferrari could foresee the problems but they could not foresee that the FIA would be forced to make changes on safety grounds before the season, other manufacturers clearly bet on that. I’m sorry to say it but Fred tried to get cute and got outsmarted by the Totonator.
EDIT: Also, if FIA do decide to change to reduce electrical power, that will further help Mercedes use their engine advantage, since they'll have proportionally more ICE power than electrical power than currently. Would be a 3rd important win for Mercedes before we've even run a lap.
Or in 2013 when pirelli changed tire construction because teams, except Ferrari, couldn’t keep them from shredding.jumpingfish wrote:It's a shame the team doesn't have people like Horner and Marko: they would have caused quite a stir in the media over the Mercedes illegal engine. And I'm not at all surprised by the "safety" changes, which somehow always benefit other teams more than Ferrari. I recall 2018, when they made changes to tire tread thickness "for safety's sake," and, lo and behold, Mercedes has improved its tire management since then.
Who is you think from 201x ?Frank73 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 18:49Let's put Mercedes in charge of writing rule then. At least it will spare other teams long useless discussions.bluechris wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 17:38I cannot believe this really, lets give them the championship already to get over with it.Seanspeed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 16:52
It seems to me the other teams perfectly well knew about these problems and could 'foresee' this issue too, and took advantage of that to complain right before the season started, making the FIA panic over safety fearmongering from the teams, letting them get away with ignoring the problem on the technical side and neutering the advantage of anybody who actually worked to improve their situation with starts.
EDIT: Also, if FIA do decide to change to reduce electrical power, that will further help Mercedes use their engine advantage, since they'll have proportionally more ICE power than electrical power than currently. Would be a 3rd important win for Mercedes before we've even run a lap.
The MB engine you think was build and designed the last 2 months since the addition of the "Ambient" and they don't have a normal path?f1316 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 20:07The Ferrari still has a benefit off the start despite these changes - it was clear from the practice starts they did in testing. Not sure what the big drama is.
The compression ratio is a pain because it is illegal but I also think the FIA stuffed up by telling them it was ok and now there was no time for Mercedes to make a legal engine before start of the season. I think this is an ok-ish compromise - of the FIA’s making - so long as the test they eventually do implement is sufficient to close down the trick.
I think we should all take a breath and calm down a bit though - the car seems decent at worst and I’m sure we’ll win some races at the very least.
What about FRIC, quali mode, DAS, and 20-21 floor changes. I'm just asking. I'm a Ferrari fan I'm not defending anyone. No conspiracy. Money drives everything. F1 is for profit entertainment do not forget.dialtone wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026, 20:43Or in 2013 when pirelli changed tire construction because teams, except Ferrari, couldn’t keep them from shredding.jumpingfish wrote:It's a shame the team doesn't have people like Horner and Marko: they would have caused quite a stir in the media over the Mercedes illegal engine. And I'm not at all surprised by the "safety" changes, which somehow always benefit other teams more than Ferrari. I recall 2018, when they made changes to tire tread thickness "for safety's sake," and, lo and behold, Mercedes has improved its tire management since then.