Melbourne F1 start “near-miss” shows safety still a concern – McLaren

Melbourne, Australia – The recent Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has intensified calls for a comprehensive review of the sport’s start procedures and in-race energy management, with McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella stating that the series must "do more" to mitigate growing safety concerns. Stella’s comments follow a high-speed "near-miss" at the start of Sunday’s race and ongoing anxieties surrounding the phenomenon of "super clipping" during flat-out sections of circuits.

The incident that underscored these concerns occurred on the grid when Alpine driver Franco Colapinto narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic collision. Colapinto was forced to swerve sharply to bypass a slow-starting Liam Lawson, highlighting the significant speed differentials that can arise during the initial moments of a Grand Prix. This near-miss has brought the complex start procedure, particularly in the context of the forthcoming F1 2026 power unit regulations, back into sharp focus after months of internal discussion among teams and the FIA.

Under the current revamped power unit regulations, drivers are required to spool up their turbochargers more effectively at the start to achieve a strong getaway. To facilitate this, the FIA had already extended the pre-start procedure by holding cars on the grid for an additional five seconds. However, the chaotic scenes in Melbourne suggest that these adjustments may not be sufficient to address the inherent risks.

Andrea Stella articulated McLaren’s persisting apprehension regarding these startline dynamics. "I think the concern remains. Today the start was a bit of a near-miss," Stella stated in a post-race interview. "There was a huge speed differential on the grid. We can hope for the best, or we can just do something further to make sure that we reduce this speed differential."

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Stella emphasized that while the technical specifics of potential solutions are complex, the imperative to act is clear. "This is a very technical matter. I don’t think we should go too far into ‘We should do this or we should do that’. My appeal is to say we should do more. Keep attention on the start because at some stage that will become a problem." His remarks underscore a proactive stance on safety, advocating for intervention before a serious incident occurs.

The incident involving Colapinto, an Alpine Academy driver who competed in Formula 2, and Lawson, a Red Bull junior and former F1 stand-in for AlphaTauri (now RB), serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in motorsport. While the exact context of their participation in the F1 Australian Grand Prix on Sunday requires clarification (as both are primarily involved in feeder series or reserve roles), the event clearly served as a flashpoint for F1 personnel to raise broader safety discussions pertinent to the pinnacle of motorsport. Both drivers are highly regarded young talents, and their ability to react instinctively averted what could have been a multi-car pile-up, potentially involving drivers launching from behind them at full racing speed.

Beyond the initial start, Stella had previously voiced concerns during Bahrain pre-season testing about "super clipping"—a phenomenon where cars experience significant closing speeds on straights as they begin to run out of battery power and harvest energy while still at full throttle. This creates unpredictable acceleration and deceleration patterns, posing a considerable risk, particularly in close quarters racing.

The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, with its long flat-out section between Turns 8 and 9, provided ample illustration of this issue. Numerous hair-raising battles unfolded in this sector, characterized by cars rapidly gaining or losing speed relative to one another due to varying energy deployment strategies. McLaren’s lead driver, Lando Norris, echoed Stella’s sentiments, highlighting the dangers posed by these large and unpredictable closing speeds. Norris, known for his incisive feedback, suggested that such conditions are an "accident waiting to happen."

Stella elaborated on the nature of these in-race speed differentials. "In my view, this was mainly a point of concern in the first lap," he explained. "Lando, in particular, made the point that it’s quite tricky when you have cars very close to you that may have still deployment ongoing or not. To create this speed differential, this becomes quite unpredictable. And even from this point of view, we should not be happy because nothing happened. We should always be on the front foot when it has to do with safety."

The 2026 F1 regulations, which introduce a significantly increased electrical component to the power units, are expected to further amplify these energy management challenges. The FIA’s mandate for greater electrical power and simplified aerodynamics aims to make cars lighter, more agile, and more sustainable, but the transitional period and the operational characteristics of these new units are already presenting unforeseen safety considerations. The current issues, therefore, are seen as precursors to potential challenges under the full 2026 regulatory framework.

Interestingly, the requirement to constantly harvest electric energy around Albert Park did contribute to early excitement in the race, delivering a flurry of battery-related overtakes. A notable example was the lead battle between eventual winner George Russell of Mercedes and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, where strategic energy deployment played a crucial role in the ebb and flow of their contest.

However, Stella views these exhilarating moments as an early "artefact" of teams and drivers still grappling with optimal deployment strategies. He anticipates that as the season progresses and data accumulates, teams will converge on more efficient and predictable approaches to energy management, potentially diminishing the frequency of such overtakes.

"It was definitely exciting at the start of the race when we had the overtaking, in particular between Mercedes and Ferrari," Stella acknowledged. "For me, this still looks like a little bit of an artefact. It’s a [type of] overtaking which has to do with how we are using the battery. Actually, when the pace settles and everyone is on the same pattern from a deployment schedule point of view, then I think the overtaking becomes difficult, so this is something that we need to keep reviewing."

McLaren, a team with a rich history in Formula 1 and a consistent presence at the forefront of technical innovation, has always been a vocal proponent of safety advancements. Under Stella’s leadership, the team’s current performance trajectory sees them as strong contenders in the midfield, often battling with teams like Mercedes and Ferrari for significant points. Their perspective, therefore, carries considerable weight within the paddock.

Stella concluded by reiterating his overall concerns: "So, the three points of attention, I think they still stand. And the first race confirmed that that’s the case." His message is a clear appeal to the sport’s governing body, the FIA, and the Formula 1 management to proactively address these evolving safety challenges before they escalate beyond "near-misses" into more severe incidents. The balancing act between pushing technological boundaries, enhancing on-track spectacle, and ensuring driver safety remains a cornerstone of Formula 1’s ethos, and the Australian Grand Prix has highlighted areas where that balance may require recalibration. The FIA is expected to engage in further dialogue with teams to review these procedures and potential solutions in the coming weeks.

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Jonas Leo

Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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