George Russell has expressed worry about Mercedes falling behind Ferrari in race starts ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season opener. This concern comes after pre-season testing revealed that Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton has an edge off the grid, posing a significant challenge for Mercedes as the new season approaches.
The 2026 regulation changes introduced entirely new power units and chassis designs, creating a fresh obstacle for drivers to manage their launches effectively. The FIA experimented with a revised start procedure during the final pre-season tests in Bahrain to help drivers better prepare their cars before the lights go out, yet inconsistencies in start performance remain more pronounced than in recent years.
Russell Highlights Challenges at the Beginning of Races
Despite Mercedes showing promising speed across pre-season testing, Russell admitted that securing a strong start is critical to winning races.
“I think we’ve got a lot of potential beneath us,”
Russell said, recognized as a top contender for the drivers’ championship after strong testing results.
However, he acknowledged his own difficulty at race starts as well, stating,
“But to win a race, you’ve also got to get off the line quite well. And I think the two starts I’ve made this week were worse than my worst ever start in Formula 1.”
Ferrari’s power unit appears to be best suited to the new start demands, with Hamilton demonstrating impressive acceleration in practice sessions at Sakhir. Russell pointed out Hamilton’s remarkable ability to climb from 11th to 1st in the lineup during practice starts, underscoring the importance of a good launch at this stage.
“I think that’s going to trip you up, it’s going to be that tallest hurdle. And that’s what we’re trying to get our heads around right now, and we’re stumbling on some at the moment,”
Russell added, indicating Mercedes’ ongoing efforts to master the new start dynamics.
Variability in Starts Could Mark Early Races, Says Piastri
Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren with the same Mercedes power unit as Russell, appeared somewhat less alarmed but acknowledged unpredictability around starts. The Australian emphasized that many teams are still learning the optimal ways to manage starts under the 2026 regulations.
Piastri reflected on his own experience, saying,
“I thought mine yesterday wasn’t too bad. I was last, but I think I passed about four cars as well. I think it’s just very random at the moment, and I think we’re all kind of learning what makes a good start, what makes a bad start.”
He also mentioned the complexity of managing power and starting procedure under these new rules, which has led to mixed results among drivers.
“It’s trickier from every single angle. And I think what we’re seeing at the moment is people just getting things right and other people getting them very wrong.”
Looking ahead, Piastri predicted that early races might feature similarly unpredictable starts, though he expects the field to stabilize as teams adapt.
“So, I think certainly at the first few races, we could see some starts that look a bit like what we have this week. But I think we’ll start to converge hopefully pretty quickly if you’re on the bad side of that.”
Russell Remains Cautious About Red Bull’s Potential Advantage
Although Mercedes impressed throughout pre-season testing, Russell remains alert to Red Bull’s threat, especially as the Australian Grand Prix approaches. Red Bull surprised many observers by showing strong energy deployment despite producing their own engine for the first time.
Russell noted,
“Their deployment definitely still looks the best on the grid, which is kudos to them, and I think was a bit of a surprise to everybody.”
Despite Mercedes making significant improvements in engine management during Bahrain testing, Russell is concerned that Red Bull could be more effective during the limited three hours of practice at the Melbourne track before qualifying begins.
He added,
“I think the Mercedes-powered teams have made a lot of improvements since day one of Bahrain last week, so that gap has closed drastically. But we’re obviously day six of Bahrain testing now, whereas in Melbourne you’ve got three hours of practice and that’s the main point of the concern.”
Red Bull’s Testing and Other Developments Ahead of Season Start
Red Bull’s team principal Laurent Mekies downplayed the pace shown in testing, stating that they still trail traditional front-runners Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari. Nevertheless, four-time world champion Max Verstappen impressed fans and pundits alike with his performances throughout testing sessions.
With the new technical regulations substantially altering car dynamics and power unit behaviors, teams are still navigating unknown territory. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren each face unique challenges adapting to the evolving conditions, particularly concerning race starts and energy deployment.
The 2026 Formula 1 season officially begins with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8, where teams will finally experience real race conditions and resolve outstanding questions about competitiveness and starting performance. Observers expect the early races to be unpredictable as drivers and teams adjust to the major changes introduced this year.
