Amid suggestions Ferrari holds an edge off the line in F1 2026, technical expert Sam Collins has suggested Lewis Hamilton\u2019s lengthy Bahrain practice start might not have been accidental.<\/p>\n
Formula 1\u2019s new engine formula, with the sport adopting a 50\/50 split between electrical and combustion power, is turning out to be one of the hot topics in the off-season, first the compression ratio and now race starts.<\/p>\n
Sam Collins on Lewis Hamilton rev: \u2018I believe that he might have done\u2019<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n A key change to the engines has been the removal of the MGU-H, which means it takes far longer for the drivers to get their cars into the ideal configuration for a race start.<\/p>\n The MGU-H helped cover up the turbo lag across the lower rev range, and without it, the cars are taking longer to prepare for launch than they did in the MGU-H era.<\/p>\n Except for the Ferrari, it has been said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Ferrari seem to be able to run higher gears than other manufacturers, which probably suggests they\u2019ve got a smaller turbo than other manufacturers. So maybe they\u2019re in a slightly easier position for their race starts,\u201d Mercedes\u2019 George Russell told PlanetF1.com and other media in Bahrain.<\/p>\n More on F1 2026 race start concerns<\/p>\n Safety concerns trigger calls for urgent change to F1 2026 race starts<\/a><\/p>\n George Russell suggests Ferrari may hold edge in F1 2026 race starts<\/a><\/p>\n With launches in mind, F1TV\u2019s Collins headed down to the pit lane at the Sakhir circuit to watch the drivers practice starts during last week\u2019s Bahrain test.<\/p>\n \u201cNow some teams have tried to get the start sequence changed for the 2026 racing season,\u201d Collins said while standing in the Bahrain pit lane near the section where the drivers practice their launches.<\/p>\n \u201cApparently, it has been blocked by this team,\u201d he continued, pointing at Hamilton<\/a> as the Ferrari driver pulled up next to him. \u201cFerrari, who don\u2019t have to rev the car for as long.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s have a look.\u201d<\/p>\n But as Collins stood there, Hamilton revved the SF-26 for 22 seconds.<\/p>\n Collins pulled a face and, with a shake of his head, turned back to the camera.<\/p>\n The clip on X has 3.8 million views as of Monday morning.<\/p>\n One X poster said of the clip, \u201cthe amount of people who think Lewis did this on purpose is very sad\u201d.<\/p>\n Collins responded.<\/p>\n \u201cActually I believe that he might have done,\u201d he said. \u201cHe would have seen us there filming other cars launches, and pulled up right next to us. Others launched a bit further back.\u201d<\/p>\n Put to him that \u201cI think with \u2018on purpose\u2019, people mean that he revved for so long on purpose to fool people or something\u201d, Collins replied: \u201cHe certainly stopped much closer to us than everyone else, don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n Collins\u2019 fellow commentator Alex Brundle was quick to defend Collins in the \u2018on purpose\u2019 accusation, which was dubbed as an \u2018The Office\u2019 moment.<\/p>\n \u201cOh mate, Sam is one of the nicest blokes ever,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd so often correct\/slash also correct here, they are obviously just doing something else.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t take the Mick outta Sam, that\u2019s like standing on a puppy\u2019s tail.\u201d<\/p>\n F1\u2019s start procedure is set to go before the F1 Commission.<\/p>\n Ferrari is understood to have last year already opposed a proposal put forward to change the start light sequence, to either include a minimum time or delay the minimum time for the final car to form up on the grid.<\/p>\n But after the FIA carried out a number of simulations and evaluations of systems processes and technical checks during the Bahrain test, the matter is set to be discussed at the upcoming F1 Commission meeting.<\/p>\n Several drivers have voiced their concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difference between a good and bad start last year was you got a bit of wheelspin or you had a bad reaction time,\u201d Oscar Piastri told PlanetF1.com and other media in Bahrain.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year it could be effectively like an F2 race where you almost go into anti-stall. You\u2019re not just losing five metres or so. You can be losing six or seven spots if it doesn\u2019t go well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s whether we use straight mode at the start or not as well, because I think a pack of 22 cars, with a couple hundred points less downforce, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, said F1 fans should stay tuned to the start in Australia as it could be one for the history books.<\/p>\n \u201cI advise you to be sitting with your TV on in Australia, because it could be one that everybody remembers,\u201d said the Alpine driver.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll find out [what happens]. I\u2019m not too sure myself! It is definitely going to be more tricky than it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n