McLaren’s Andrea Stella believes that the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations are meant to make racing safer and closer than it currently is. But after seeing the first real-life preview of the regulations through testing at Bahrain, he thinks there are some aspects of the new rules that may unintentionally cause safety issues for drivers.
He wants to have modifications before the first race of the season, which takes place in Australia.
Speaking after pre-season testing, Stella said the FIA should urgently review three key areas: race start procedures, cars running too close together on straights, and the growing use of “lift and coast” to save energy. In his view, all three could put drivers in danger if left untouched.
Concerns over the F1 race start
One of the biggest worries is the race start process.
Under the 2026 power unit rules, cars rely heavily on electrical energy. Stella fears that if systems are not fully ready when the lights go out, some cars could launch slowly off the grid. And a slow-moving car in the middle of a packed starting grid is the last thing anyone wants to see.
“The grid is not the place to have cars hesitating,” he said, making it clear that safety at the start should come before competitive advantages.
There has already been discussion within the F1 Commission about allowing more preparation time before the start. But previous proposals did not pass, partly due to disagreements between teams about technical consequences.
High closing speeds without DRS
The other aspect of this is that when the new cars are running close together, their behaviour will be very different from what it is now with DRS removed under the 2026 rules. With DRS having been eliminated for overtaking on straights due to the rule changes, there can often be large numbers of cars all running together at relatively low speeds, with very little difference in speed between them.
This might look spectacular to fans, but Stella cautions that these situations can quickly become dangerous to the drivers involved.
The scenario he describes is the following: The lead car suddenly slows down because it is harvesting battery power, and, as such, may not leave enough time for the trailing car to react quickly enough to avoid colliding with the rear of the lead car when it suddenly comes to a stop or slows down. This could lead to incidents of significant rear-ending crashes that cause cars to go airborne as a result of this scenario occurring.
Stella referenced several previous incidents involving drivers, including Mark Webber in Valencia & Riccardo Patrese in Portugal, where these large discrepancies in speed caused significant accidents. Formula 1 has historically worked hard to improve the safety of racing over the years.
Therefore, Stella’s message is clear; there is no need for the creation of an old danger because of a rule that is being used to create a loophole.
The lift and coast problem
The third concern is the growing trend of lift and coast, where drivers ease off the throttle earlier than usual before corners to save energy.
Energy management is a major part of the 2026 regulations. But when one car aggressively saves energy, and another does not expect it, the difference in speed can be huge. That creates dangerous closing speeds, especially on long straights.
McLaren’s Stella believes a small tweak to how battery power is deployed during races could reduce the need for extreme lift and coast tactics. In his view, the solution is not complicated band that is why he feels it should not be delayed.
Safety Over Rivalry
There is also a political layer to the debate.
Last year, a proposal to adjust start procedures failed because not all teams agreed. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur reportedly opposed the late change, arguing that his team had already committed to a specific power unit design based on earlier decisions.
McLaren’s Stella understands that technical changes can affect competitive balance. But he insists that safety must come first.
“We’re not talking about qualifying pace or race performance,” he said. “We’re talking about safety on the grid. That’s bigger than competitive interest.”
With the first race approaching in Melbourne, McLaren’s Stella believes there is no time to waste. He expects the topic to be raised at the upcoming F1 Commission meeting and says action should be taken immediately.
From his perspective, the fixes are simple, achievable, and necessary.
Also Read: F1 2026: Why Ferrari Is Waiting To Pick Lewis Hamilton’s Race Engineer
