FIA issues a warning to 'cheats' at the start of the race as a new system is introduced in Miami.

      The FIA will keep a close watch on teams to prevent potential misuse of a new start safety system being introduced in Miami, as part of broader adjustments to the problematic 2026 regulations. In addition to modifications in energy management, the governing body is implementing a system designed to stop dangerously slow starts. This decision is a response to several incidents this season, including a close call involving Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson in Australia.

      FIA technical chief Nikolas Tombazis expressed concern about turbo lag and the possibility of increasingly slow starts. He referenced the Lawson start in Australia as an illustration of the risks involved, emphasizing the need to avoid such situations.

      The new ‘low power start detection system’ employs sensors to track acceleration from the start line. If a car's performance drops below a specified threshold, the system automatically boosts power from the MGU-K, while warning lights are activated for cars behind. However, the FIA has already cautioned teams against trying to exploit this feature.

      Tombazis stated, "This is purely a safety feature. What the system does is turn a disastrous start into a bad one, not a bad start into a good one." He confirmed that telemetry data will be carefully examined in every instance. "We have made it clear that this is mainly not meant to be a mechanism that could tempt people to intentionally misuse it."

      Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc minimized any concerns about the impact on his team's strong starts thus far. He noted, "The change to the starts won’t affect our advantage at the beginning or the great starts we’ve had so far. It is designed to assist those who struggle to start, helping to avoid dangerous stalls among the cars."

      Meanwhile, FIA official Jan Monchaux voiced his worries regarding the reliability of the new software that will manage the broader energy regulation changes in Miami. He said, "I will still feel uneasy until race day because the software we had to create hasn’t been tested as thoroughly as we would have preferred. Something unexpected could occur that we are trying to avoid."