– The FIA, the world governing body for motorsport, has decided to adjust the regulations for the start phase of Formula 1, which will take effect from the Miami Grand Prix. Although this presumably reduces an advantage for Ferrari, the team, according to David Coulthard, cannot present convincing arguments against this change.
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In the podcast Up To Speed, Coulthard discussed the topic with host Naomi Schiff. He also addressed accusations from fans who suspect a targeted disadvantage against Scuderia.
“One of the questions I received from an obvious Ferrari fan was: What do you think about the FIA changing the rules to disadvantage Ferrari at the start? I said: Yes, I understand where your thoughts are going,” Coulthard explained.
However, the Scot emphasized that the danger potential with massive speed differences in the field is simply too great: “For safety reasons, they have adjusted the potential for a massive danger when starting from the grid. When you have large speed differences, dangerous situations can arise.”
In the first three races of the season, Ferrari clearly dominated the start phase. However, the new regulation aims to avoid dangerous situations caused by extremely slow vehicles when the lights go out. A new system for detecting low power starts (“low power start detection”) will be introduced. This identifies cars that show unusually low acceleration after releasing the clutch.
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As soon as the system registers too low power, the MGU-K is automatically activated. This guarantees a minimum level of acceleration to prevent the vehicle from becoming an obstacle for the following drivers.
The rule change effectively helps those teams whose power units are more difficult to start due to the interaction of the combustion engine and turbocharger. The additional power release is activated as soon as the torque falls below a certain level, so the car maintains a set minimum speed.
Coulthard admitted that Ferrari might question the fairness since the team made deliberate decisions in engine development. Nevertheless, the collective interest of Formula 1 is paramount: “No one can deny that it is the right thing. These cars are incredibly stable and safe. But if one car is stationary and another comes at 100 miles per hour, there is a lot of weight, a lot of mass, and a high potential for accidents.”
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Finally, the 2001 vice world champion made it clear that the change is now permanent and should ensure a closer field at the start: “You don’t win the race at the start. But you can lose it there. You win the race at the checkered flag, so an hour and 20 or 30 minutes after the start.”
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