Photo Credit: Getty Images
Mercedes driver George Russell has accused Ferrari of acting "selfish" and "silly" by blocking a proposed rule change aimed at improving safety during Formula 1 race starts.
The issue emerged during last week's season opening race in Australia, where several drivers experienced significant differences in start performance. One moment in particular raised safety concerns when Alpine driver Franco Colapinto narrowly avoided crashing into the back of Liam Lawson's slow moving Racing Bulls car at high speed. The close call highlighted how uneven launch performance across the grid could lead to dangerous situations.
Russell said the governing body, the FIA, had been considering a modification to the regulation responsible for the problem. However, he claimed some teams that benefit from the current system are resisting the change. While he did not directly name Ferrari, his comments pointed toward the Italian team, which appeared to have one of the strongest starts during the race in Melbourne.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc surged from fourth place on the grid to take the lead at the start of the race, reinforcing the belief that Ferrari currently holds an advantage when launching off the line this season.
According to Russell, the situation stems from a complicated rule that limits how much energy a car can harvest during the formation lap. The restriction affects drivers differently depending on their grid position before the race begins.
Drivers at the front of the grid are already considered by the system to be on the lap when they perform their practice launch from the dummy grid. As a result, that launch counts toward the limit on energy harvesting, leaving them with less opportunity to recharge the battery before the race actually starts.
Meanwhile, drivers further back in the field can perform their launches before crossing the timing line. This allows them to recover more electrical energy before the start signal, giving them an advantage.
Ferrari's engine design may also contribute to its strong launches, as it appears easier to generate acceleration from a standstill compared with other power units on the grid.
Russell said the FIA's proposal was meant to simplify the situation and eliminate the harvesting limit entirely to make starts safer and more consistent.
"The FIA wanted to make things easier and remove the limit," Russell said. "But some teams that benefit from the current system do not want it changed. That is a bit silly. People sometimes take a selfish view and focus only on what works best for them."
The FIA does have the authority to introduce the change on safety grounds. For now, the governing body is waiting in hopes that teams can reach a consensus. Ferrari has been approached for comment on the matter.
