The start of the Australian GP caught attention right in the first meters of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and Charles Leclerc did not let the moment go unnoticed. The Ferrari driver stated that the person responsible for triggering the lights was “malicious” by turning them off quickly, surprising the drivers at the start in Melbourne.
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Leclerc started from fourth position on the starting grid at the Albert Park circuit, but managed an impressive getaway when the lights went out. With an immediate reaction, the Monegasque took the lead at the first corner, starting the race ahead of his rivals.
In the early moments of the race, the Ferrari driver engaged in a direct duel with George Russell, who would later win the race. The battle between the two marked the start of the race, in a scenario where energy management and the new dynamics of the power units played an important role in overtakes and defenses.
According to Leclerc, this new technical reality of Formula 1 has made battles on the track more unpredictable. The driver explained that cars can show significant speed differences depending on the timing of electrical energy use.
“It was a very complicated race,” the Ferrari driver stated after the race. “At the beginning, I think none of us knew exactly what to expect from the battles and energy management.”
The Monegasque highlighted that the situation becomes even more difficult when drivers need to attack or defend position. “You really don’t know when the engine or the battery will cut power on the straight. So, when you’re defending position, huge speed differences can appear,” he explained.
Despite the good start, the strategy ended up hurting Ferrari’s chances of victory. Leclerc did not make his stop during two Virtual Safety Car interventions, which ultimately allowed the two Mercedes cars to take a strategic advantage in the race.
As a result, the driver ended up behind George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in the final race classification. Even so, Leclerc managed to secure third place and ensure Ferrari’s first podium of the 2026 season.
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“Unfortunately, that didn’t help for the rest of the race, but the initial part was fun,” the driver commented. “Third place was the best we could do today.”
Even before the start, it was already expected that Leclerc could have a good getaway. During pre-season testing, the Ferrari had demonstrated strong starts, which increased expectations for their performance at that moment of the race.
For 2026, the Formula 1 starting procedure also underwent changes. With the removal of the MGU-H from the power units, cars need more time to build up energy in the turbo before the start.
Even with this new procedure in place, what surprised Leclerc was how quickly the lights were turned off. According to him, the person responsible for the start ended up catching the drivers off guard.
“Yes, and I think the person who turns off the lights was a bit malicious,” the driver joked when commenting on the moment. “For the first start of the season with these cars, turning off the lights so quickly caught everyone by surprise.”
Even so, Leclerc acknowledged that the situation ended up favoring Ferrari at that specific moment. “We are always on the limit with the power units, so I think that ended up playing a bit in our favor. But it’s part of the game,” he concluded.
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