Mercedes has ignited a fresh political flashpoint in Formula 1, pushing for tweaks to the championship’s new starting procedure after the chaotic scenes that unfolded in Melbourne last weekend.
But the proposal has run into immediate resistance from a rival camp led by Ferrari, setting up an early-season power struggle over the rules.
The controversy erupted after the opening round of the season at the Australian Grand Prix, where several cars suffered slow launches and dangerously uneven acceleration off the grid.
The debate has since intensified ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, with teams split on whether Formula 1’s revised start procedure needs further refinement.
Turbo changes create new complications
The root of the issue lies in the latest generation of Formula 1 power units. With the removal of the MGU-H, engines now require more time to spool up their turbochargers before the lights go out. To mitigate the problem, the FIA already introduced a five-second warning period before the starting sequence begins, allowing drivers to prepare their power units on the grid.
However, the events in Melbourne revealed a new complication: battery depletion.
©Red Bull
During the formation lap, drivers push hard with aggressive acceleration and braking to warm tyres and brakes. Combined with strict energy recovery limits per lap, several cars arrived on the grid with batteries nearly empty – leaving them with little electrical boost available once speeds climbed above 50kph.
The result was a start filled with uneven acceleration and near-misses. In one particularly tense moment, Liam Lawson’s stationary car on the grid was narrowly avoided by Franco Colapinto’s Alpine thanks to the Argentine driver’s lightning fast reflexes.
For teams such as Mercedes, the incident highlighted a weakness in the system that they believe needs immediate attention.
Russell points finger at Ferrari resistance
Mercedes driver George Russell has been among the most outspoken voices calling for adjustments, arguing that the current framework leaves too much risk at the start.
"[The FIA] could do it, I think they want to do it, but they need a supermajority of the teams and they don't have that at the moment. So you can probably guess which team is against it," he said on the eve of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Russell also criticised those resisting further regulatory intervention, suggesting competitive interests were outweighing safety considerations.
"Half the grid got it wrong in Melbourne; we will adapt and now we know what we need to watch out for,” he added.
“The FIA wanted to make life easier for us and remove this recharging limit, but as is often the case, some people have selfish views and want to do what is best for them. It's part of F1. We'll deal with it and I think the starts will be much better here."
Ferrari stands firm
Ferrari’s opposition is not surprising. The Maranello squad reportedly raised concerns about start procedures last year, only for the issue to gain traction once rival teams began struggling under the new regulations.
From Ferrari’s perspective, the FIA has already provided a concession with the additional five-second preparation window.
Any further change could erase a performance advantage earned through careful development of its power unit and starting procedures.
Supporters of Ferrari’s position argue the solution should lie in improving internal processes rather than rewriting the rules again.
Drivers highlight safety concerns
Not everyone is convinced the current system can be left untouched. Even drivers not directly involved in the political standoff have warned that the Melbourne start demonstrated clear risks.
Max Verstappen acknowledged that multiple solutions are being discussed to prevent dangerously inconsistent launches.
"There are simple solutions, but they have to be approved by the FIA for everything related to the battery because, yes, starting with 0% battery is not much fun and also quite dangerous,” he said.
"So we are discussing with them to see what can be done, because we saw in Melbourne we almost had a huge accident at the start. Part of this is related to the batteries.
“Part of it, of course, can happen because of anti-stall. But there were big differences in speed, because I wasn't the only car with zero energy. It's something that can be easily solved."
Read also: Perez warns of ‘massive shunt’ after Melbourne near-missDespite the growing debate, the FIA cannot currently alter the regulations without a supermajority vote from the teams – and for now that consensus does not exist.
Unless the governing body decides to intervene on safety grounds, the sport appears headed for more tense discussions in the coming races, with Mercedes pushing for change and Ferrari determined to hold the line.
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