Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has revealed that the team had warned the FIA about the concerns regarding Formula 1‘s latest start procedures a year ago.
The latest era of the sport is going to kick off with many unknowns and surprises owing to the drastic rule changes brought about by the FIA.
The technical overhaul has targeted not only the chassis but also the power units. With the turbo-hybrid era now over, the latest engine formula will see a 50-50 split between electrical and combustion propulsion and the elimination of the MGU-H.
The MGU-H essentially used the hot exhaust gases and converted it into energy. But with it now gone, one of the biggest areas that will see a change is the start procedures.
The pre-season tests at Barcelona, and in Bahrain over the past two weeks, has seen drivers struggle to get off the line and maintain traction. Without the MGU-H, drivers are forced to maintain higher revs to get an ideal start configuration.
This means a longer start procedure that has been a hit or a miss across the grid – even sprouting safety concerns from the likes of McLaren.
Vasseur, however, revealed that the iconic Italian marque had already brought this too the FIA’s attention last year, but was squarely ignored.
“We raised [this issue] one year ago with the FIA, about the starting procedure, that it was tricky,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Everybody knew that without the MGU-H it would be a tricky phase of the weekend. The FIA decided to not change the procedure.
“We all took decisions on the architecture of the engine based on those regulations.”
‘If you’re not convinced, start in the pit lane’
The governing body seems to have taken note of the concerns now, though. Last week, a new process was trialled as blue lights were flashed for five seconds when the last car slotted on the grid after which the traditional five red lights went on.
This gave drivers some time to get into the right start configuration. The Frenchman gave a positive review of the trial.
“I think the new procedure with the flashing lights, it’s fitting with everybody,” he said. “Everybody’s happy with this, we all think that it’s safe, and let’s go like this.
“If someone is not convinced, we can always start on the pit lane if it’s not safe.”
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