Alex Albon reprimanded as flaw in practice start rules emerges

Alex Albon was reprimanded by the stewards following a breach of the practice start procedure during opening practice at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.

While the Williams driver was found to have breached the regulations, officials noted that the practice start procedure may need to be revisited.

Alex Albon faces stewards for practice start procedure breach

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Albon caught the attention of officials for an alleged breach of Article B4.2.2c of the regulations, which relates to practice starts from the grid.

The specific regulation cited states;

Under no circumstances perform a practice start if another Car remains stationary in front of them on the same side of the grid.

Having met with officials, it was deemed a reprimand was appropriate for the incident after it was found he had conducted a practice start while there was a car stationary ahead of him.

Officials provided a detailed reasoning for their decision, in which they conceded that Albon “candidly admitted that he misjudged what the car ahead of him would do.”

Kimi Antonelli was ahead of the Williams driver on the grid, and remained stationary for an extended period, which Albon admitted caught him out. Having realised his mistake, Albon immediately braked heavily.

“However, in mitigation, he explained that the new cars for 2026 require a preparation sequence before a start that takes approximately 20 seconds,” officials noted.

“By way of contrast, in 2025, that was merely 2 seconds or thereabouts.

“While it was usual to wait for the car in front to perform the start before the car behind began its preparatory sequence in the past, this could lead to serious delays in the practice
starts this year.

“If each car was required to take that length of time (ie 20 seconds or more), and the frontrunners might well need longer, then the practice start procedure would need to be looked at again.

“Article B4.2.2c of the FIA F1 Regulations is clear that “under no circumstances” should a car perform a practice start when there is another car stationary in front of it.

“The mandatory nature of this prohibition highlights the serious safety concerns with such an action and the potential for danger to the cars and drivers.

“In this case, although the performance of the start was clearly in breach, the driver took steps to mitigate the situation as soon as he became aware of the issue.

“We also took into account the fact, as the teams were informed at the start of the season, that the cars are completely new and different from the cars from 2025.

“Beyond performance, they also need to be prepared and driven differently.

“Taking all that into account, in particular the mitigatory circumstances set out above, we impose a reprimand (driving) on Car 23.”

More on F1 2026 regulations

FIA updates driving standards guidelines for the 2026 season
Tombazis hints at FIA review of energy management rules after Chinese GP

A late change to the race director’s notes revealed changes to the practice start procedure at the end of the session.

It introduced a second preparation lap following the chequered flag prior to practice starts from the grid. PlanetF1.com understands this was made as, without it, a queue would form in pit lane such that Cadillac’s garage would be blocked.

The newly-added Article 13.2.1 of Rui Marques’ notes outlined;

For the safe and orderly conduct of the event, pursuant to article B4.2.2, any driver on track when the end of season [sic] signal is shown, may complete two further laps, for the sole purpose of stopping on the grid to perform practice starts on each of these laps.

That comes amid concerns that two factors are combining to potentially create a dangerous situation at race starts.

The first relates to the design of many power units, which require time to spool their turbos and have their batteries in the correct state of charge.

Another, more nuanced element, is that drivers starts behind the timing line potentially have an opening lap advantage, as the allowed usage resets at the timing line.

Albon ended the opening hour of practice with the 16th fastest time, 2.7 seconds away from the pace laid down by George Russell.

His teammate, Carlos Sainz, sat out the opening half hour with a data issue but recovered to the 17th fastest time.

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