All eyes in Belgium on new race start rules

A big talking point at Spa this weekend will be the FIA's new rules regarding race starts. The mid-season change has divided paddock opinion, with some applauding the shift away from engineers and technology, and back to the drivers.

Others, however, worry that teams will struggle to adapt their 2015 systems to the new rules. "The cars were not designed for this sudden change," Lotus' Pastor Maldonado is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick. "It can even be dangerous."

His teammate Romain Grosjean told the French magazine Auto Hebdo: "Perhaps there will be more uncertainty, but the teams will work hard on it. "I do not think the situation will change drastically. It will never be like in GP2, where the driver has full control over the starts," he added.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen agrees that while the drivers' workload will go up, the FIA clampdown is unlikely to prove revolutionary. "We will have to remember to do all the right things," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV at a karting event in Helsinki.

"A few things will influence whether it works or does not work, but I don't think it's going to revolutionise things in one way or another. As long as we remember to do the right things, it should be pretty ok," Raikkonen added. (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    "It will never be like in GP2, where the driver has full control over the starts," And therein lies the problem with the current state of F1. Instead of drivers it's a competition of which team has the best software.

    • + 0
    • Aug 20 2015 - 20:59

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (39)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar