Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur believes the FIA’s new pre-light start procedure is “unfair,” eroding a competitive edge his team deliberately engineered. Ferrari, anticipating challenging 2026 regulations and initial FIA guidance, opted for a smaller turbo in their current engine. This design sacrifices top-end power but provides vastly superior race starts – a trade-off Ferrari committed to after the FIA told teams to design around the rules, not the other way around.
However, after pre-season testing, rival teams struggled with dangerous starts and lobbied the FIA. Citing safety, the FIA introduced an extended blue light period and extra practice launches, effectively giving all teams more time to spool up their turbos. While Ferrari still boasts strong getaways, Vasseur argues rivals politically manipulated the situation to their benefit. This move effectively changed the rules mid-stride, punishing Ferrari's foresight. Teams need to design for the future, not complain when another team does.
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