Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Liam Lawson stated that his team, Racing Bulls, is not experiencing the reported “10-second” turbo spool delay that has raised safety concerns during Bahrain pre-season testing under the new power unit regulations.
Concerns intensified during the opening week of official testing overseen by the FIA, following the removal of the MGU-H from the current generation power units. Without the MGU-H to maintain turbo speed, drivers must manually spool the turbo before launch to avoid lag off the line. However, over-revving risks excessive battery charging, creating a narrow operating window at race starts.
Several drivers, including Gabriel Bortoleto, described the revised launch procedure as a “mess” and “crazy,” while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella called for “responsible” discussions between teams and the FIA ahead of the season opener. The primary concern centres on a potential front-row stall triggering a high-speed collision from unsighted drivers further back on the grid.
Lawson, however, indicated that Racing Bulls’ package — powered by Red Bull Powertrains — does not require the prolonged turbo spooling phase cited by some rivals. The New Zealander suggested this could represent a competitive advantage under the new launch procedures.
“For us, it is not 10 seconds,” Lawson said.
“It is definitely a more complicated start procedure, but we still have time before Australia to get on top of it. It will be more difficult, but our main focus is trying to go faster.”
Lawson also noted similarities in driving characteristics between Racing Bulls and Red Bull Racing, given the shared power unit architecture. However, he acknowledged that his team is still addressing its own balance and performance limitations, admitting they are not yet able to carry the same level of speed as the senior squad. With talks ongoing regarding launch safety, the revised start procedure is emerging as a key technical variable ahead of the 2026 season opener.
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