Ferrari launch edge under scrutiny as Oscar Piastri fires back

Oscar Piastri has dismissed suggestions that Ferrari holds a launch advantage over the field, insisting McLaren’s starts have been stronger this season. The McLaren driver will start the Sprint from the second row alongside teammate Lando Norris, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc just behind. Piastri isn't worried about looking in his mirrors—his focus is on the Mercedes duo ahead.

Why it matters:

Ferrari’s SF-26 has shown remarkable launch performance this year, leading laps in every race except the Miami Sprint. But two FIA interventions have eroded that edge, triggering a political debate. The outcome could shape the championship battle if Ferrari loses its key weapon off the line.

The details:

• Piastri told Sky Sports: “Our starts have been better than the Ferraris’ all year, so we’re confident in ours. It’s only a matter of time before Mercedes get theirs competitive as well.”
• The removal of the MGU-H from the 2026 power units complicated launches. Ferrari built a smaller turbo to spool up faster, allowing earlier start preparation.
• The FIA first introduced a blue-light warning to signal the start sequence, then added a ‘low power start detection’ system in Miami that triggers automatic MGU-K deployment if a car is slow to accelerate after clutch release.
• Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur wasn’t impressed: “Politically, it was well played but not very fair.” He argued the FIA could have asked slower cars to start from the pit lane instead of changing the rule.

Between the lines:

Vasseur’s comments highlight a growing tension between Ferrari and the FIA over technical policing. The rule changes were framed as safety measures, but they directly counteract Ferrari’s engine design philosophy. The Scuderia developed its power unit around a specific criteria, only to see the rules shift late in the game.

What's next:

The Canadian Sprint later today will be a litmus test: can Ferrari still gain positions off the line despite the new detection system? If not, the team may need to rethink its start strategy for the rest of the season. The championship implications are clear—every lost position at the start could be costly.