F1 jump start: teams to discuss rule changes amid unpunished infringements

One of the points under discussion during next week’s F1 Commission meeting is whether the current structure of the rules related to jump starts is suitable. Currently, a jump start is defined solely based on whether the transponders provided by the FIA detect any movement before the start signal is given.

However, there have been several occasions where cars have moved before the red lights went out but weren’t penalized because the sensors didn’t detect it. The most recent example, involving Lando Norris at this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has sparked debate about the need to update the regulations. In Jeddah, while Lando Norris was visibly seen moving forward and then stopping before the lights went out, FIA stewards ruled that he had complied with the rules because the sensor wasn’t triggered.

A statement released at that time read: “The stewards reviewed positioning system data and video and determined that the video appears to show car 4 (Lando Norris) moving before the start signal was given.”

“However, the approved transponder provided by the FIA mounted on the car did not indicate an early start. “Article 48.1 a) of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations clearly states that the judgment of whether there has been a jump start or not must be made based on the transponder, which did not show a jump start. Given the circumstances, we did not take further action.”

Subsequent discussions between team principals and the FIA in recent weeks, including during this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, have raised the idea that there may be grounds for changing the rules in the future.

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So, in addition to maintaining transponders to detect illegal movements, emergency starts could be considered early if the F1 Race Direction has video evidence clearly showing the car’s movement even if it was not detected by the sensors. Although it is not clear how much support there is for a change, it is known that if the F1 Commission reaches a supermajority – which requires the support of eight teams in addition to the FIA and FOM – the rule change could come into effect as soon as the Miami Grand Prix.

According to some sources, however, not all teams are in favor, and some express concerns that jump starts could become a subjective issue based on individual opinions. Instead, they suggest focusing efforts on improving the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensors to ensure they can detect all movements.

The issue of drivers seeming to anticipate the start but the sensors not activating has arisen several times in recent years.

Valtteri Bottas had already been “spared” at the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix, while a year earlier, Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel escaped punishment in Japan.