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F1 teams use complex process to start cars since 2014

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 30, 2026, 10:30 AM

Last updated Jul 30, 2026

F1 teams use complex process to start cars since 2014

Summary

Starting an F1 car involves multiple steps, detailed by Audi F1 engineer João Machado. Instead of a key or ignition button, the procedure requires pre-heating oil and coolant to around 80 degrees Celsius using external units. Once conditions are met, an external starter engages the crankshaft to fire the engine. For 2026, new power unit regulations have eliminated the MGU-H, which adds challenges related to turbo lag and race starts. Teams, including Ferrari, are adapting their strategies accordingly as they prepare for the upcoming season.

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Key Details

•Teams warm up engines with external rigs before starting.
•The process ensures precise temperature and pressure conditions.
•The removal of the MGU-H in 2026 affects turbocharger performance.
•Drivers must spin turbochargers pre-race for optimal starts.
•Ferrari developed a smaller turbo to mitigate turbo lag.

Latest Updates

10:30 AMYahoo Sports — The 5-Step Process Teams Use to Start an F1 Car

What they're saying

"
There’s no key. There’s no ignition button inside the cockpit. If you stalled an F1 car on track before 2014, your race was over – you simply waited for a marshal and a retirement slip. The process of getting one…
— Yahoo Sports

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