Ferrari has a history of getting the benefit of the doubt from regulatory bodies throughout their time in F1, but with the latest change, they are clearly being hard done by.
F1 in 2026 has seen a shift to a whole new power unit formula, with cars powered by an even split of electric and conventional energy.
As a result, cars have been facing a series of unique adjustments, and much of the machinery is quite distinctive.
Ferrari, unlike others, has mastered its pace at the start of races with a smaller turbo, giving it a great start once the lights go green.
However, the rest of the grid has really been troubled by the energy deployment at the start of the races.
As a result, the FIA has made changes to give the teams additional time to charge their turbos during the pre-race procedures, which has helped the teams around Ferrari and punished the team.
Their start speeds come with a trade-off over the whole race, essentially, as Ferrari has done over the years, they sacrificed starting speed for race pace.
Ferrari speaks out over the rule change
With his team hampered by the change, team principal Fred Vasseur claims it was discussed a year before the new regulations came to be, and when Ferrari decided to go with their turbo.
“Imagine, without the blue light [the new pre-start light which gives drivers time to spool up their turbo before the start sequence], some cars would still be on the grid in China,” Vasseur said.
“You can put on the table the safety grounds, and it’s the right of the FIA, and I have just to accept. But at the end, I think it’s also a bit unfair to us.
“I went to the FIA one year ago, and we spoke about this. We spoke about this in SAC (Sporting Advisory Committee) and in the PUAC (Power Unit Advisory Committee).
“And I really appreciated the answer from the FIA [that] you have to design the car for the regulations, not the regulations for your car. I think this is a very good approach.
“So then to have half of the grid, 40% of the grid complaining, that it’s mega dangerous and so on. Politically [it] was well played but not very fair.”
Ferrari, with the change going against them and McLaren closing the gap, are in danger of losing their second-place standing and potentially tumbling down the order if they don’t bring needed upgrades.
With no help coming their way from the FIA, Ferrari won’t be able to change much this year about their turbo decision.