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The 2026 Australian GP’s start wasn’t just about turbo lag. An odd energy-recharge rule during the formation lap left some drivers with empty batteries before the lights went out.
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (centre L) and Mercedes’ British driver George Russell (front second R) drive at the front of the pack during the start of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP)
So the 2026 season of F1 has kicked off, and the first race start was already a bit of a mess.
Not because drivers suddenly forgot how to launch an F1 car. (although the new engines — which split power roughly 50-50 between the petrol engine and electric battery — will obviously take some getting used to)
But because of a very odd rule buried in the new regulations — as pointed out by Jon Noble of The Race.
Let me try to break it down for you, too.
The First Hiccup With Race Starts
Under the new regulations, each driver is allowed a maximum amount of energy recharge per lap. The exact limit changes from track to track.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well, just one little hiccup: the rule counts every time a car crosses the timing line — including the formation lap.
And this is where the problems started in Melbourne.
Suddenly, all the normal pre-race rituals started causing problems.
Drivers typically accelerate hard to warm up the tyres and slam the brakes to build heat. But those actions also trigger energy harvesting and deployment.
Go too hard on the formation lap, and you might hit the recharge limit before the race even starts. Go too easy, then your tyres may not be at the ideal temperature.
As a result, the whole start procedure becomes a bit of a lottery.
Why Some Drivers Were Worse Off
The rule also created an odd advantage for drivers further back on the grid.
George Russell, who sat at pole position at the start of the Australian GP, discovered this the hard way.
Anyone would love to start up front. But in his case at Melbourne, starting up front meant he started right near the timing line — which also meant his burnout during the formation lap used up battery energy immediately (since he crossed it first).
Drivers further back could do their burnouts first and only trigger the counter after crossing the line, effectively resetting things.
The result? Drivers arrived on the grid in wildly different situations. Some had drained batteries — much like Russell, others had cold tyres, and a few simply missed the turbo window entirely.
And, there we have it.
All of these are the reasons why the first race start of this new F1 era felt a little chaotic — and they are also all the reasons why the FIA might have to find an effective fix before the confusion leads to chaos.
March 12, 2026, 23:55 IST
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