Liam Lawson Warns of ‘Dangerous’ F1 2026 Regulation Quirks Following Near-Miss at Melbourne Start

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson warns the FIA of "dangerous" 2026 start procedures and high-speed energy management risks following a near-miss in Melbourne.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 7:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Perils of Complex Launch Procedures

The introduction of the 2026 power units has fundamentally altered the mechanics of a Formula 1 race start, requiring a significantly longer pre-start procedure to prepare the turbochargers. To manage this, the FIA implemented a blue flashing light system to signal the beginning of the launch sequence. However, Liam Lawson describes the current state of starts as "very inconsistent" and "very tricky." During the Australian Grand Prix, Lawson’s car struggled to get off the line, nearly resulting in a high-speed rear-end collision. According to Lawson, the sport was only saved from a "really, really big crash" by the sharp evasive maneuvers of Franco Colapinto, who narrowly avoided the slow-moving Racing Bulls machine.

Inconsistent Battery Levels Off the Line

A unique quirk in the 2026 regulations led to a dangerous disparity in battery levels during the Melbourne start. Depending on whether a driver launched from a grid slot before or after the timing line, their energy recovery systems were in different states of readiness. This inconsistency contributed to the massive speed deltas seen during the first few seconds of the race. While the FIA has begun making small tweaks to the start procedure, Lawson insists that the current situation remains "quite dangerous." He noted that while the team understood the issue after the fact, there is very little a driver can do from within the cockpit to mitigate a mechanical failure during the launch phase.

The Risks of Straight-Line Mode in High-Speed Kinks

Beyond the starting grid, drivers are raising alarms about the safety of Straight-Line Mode (SLM), where front and rear wings open to reduce drag. While intended to aid overtaking, Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson have pointed out that using SLM in high-speed zones with kinks, such as those found in Melbourne or Jeddah, is "sketchy." The sudden loss of downforce while turning at high velocity creates a volatile handling balance. According to Sainz, the current implementation of SLM feels like a "plaster on top of a plaster," and both drivers fear that it is only a matter of time before a car loses control in a high-speed section due to these aerodynamic shifts.