Vasseur Criticises FIA Over Ferrari Start Rules… read more 👇 full details in the comments section
has voiced frustration over recent FIA rule adjustments, arguing that the governing body unfairly changed procedures after Ferrari successfully solved a problem that troubled several rival teams.
At the beginning of the 2026 Formula 1 season, appeared to be the closest challenger to the dominant outfit. With and consistently delivering strong performances, Ferrari secured podium finishes in each of the opening three grands prix and looked firmly established near the front of the grid.
A major factor behind Ferrari’s impressive early-season form was the team’s excellent race starts. Their power unit had been developed to deliver strong launch performance, allowing both drivers to get away quickly when the lights went out. While Ferrari mastered this aspect, several rival teams struggled with turbo spool-up issues before race starts, often causing poor launches and immediate loss of positions.
However, the FIA later introduced new pre-start procedures aimed at addressing those problems. One of the key changes was the addition of a blue warning light that gives drivers extra time to prepare and spool up their turbos before the official start sequence begins. This effectively lengthened the entire starting process and helped teams that had previously been struggling.
Alongside that modification, the FIA also implemented a new anti-stall system designed to prevent cars from becoming dangerously slow off the line. The measure provides drivers with a small burst of additional energy if their car risks bogging down at the start, reducing the chance of incidents involving faster cars approaching from behind.
The FIA justified both changes on safety grounds, but Vasseur believes Ferrari has been unfairly penalised after investing time and resources into solving the issue under the original regulations.
Speaking about the situation, the Ferrari boss explained that his team had already raised concerns about inconsistent starts with the FIA last year. According to Vasseur, Ferrari were told at the time that teams needed to adapt their cars to the regulations rather than expecting the regulations to be adjusted to suit individual teams.
Ferrari took that message seriously and focused heavily on improving their own system. The result was a power unit package capable of delivering some of the strongest starts on the grid. Vasseur now feels that the rule changes have effectively removed an advantage Ferrari earned through engineering development.
He suggested that political pressure from other teams played a role in convincing the FIA to intervene. Vasseur argued that several competitors exaggerated the dangers surrounding poor starts, creating momentum for changes that ultimately benefited teams that had failed to solve the issue themselves.
Despite his frustration, Vasseur acknowledged that the FIA has the authority to introduce measures if safety concerns are involved. He admitted that the governing body has the right to act in the interest of protecting drivers and ensuring safe race conditions. Nevertheless, he still considers the timing and nature of the adjustments disappointing from Ferrari’s perspective.
The Ferrari chief even joked that without the new blue-light system, some cars may have remained stationary on the grid during recent races because of ongoing launch difficulties. Even so, he maintained that Ferrari should not be punished for succeeding where others had struggled.
Since the changes were introduced, Ferrari’s competitive edge at race starts appears to have been reduced. Meanwhile, rivals such as and have made noticeable progress, particularly during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, where Ferrari no longer looked comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.
Vasseur’s comments highlight the ongoing tension in Formula 1 between innovation, competitive fairness, and safety regulations. While teams are expected to engineer solutions within the rulebook, disputes often arise when successful developments lead to regulatory intervention that reshapes the competitive order.