The FIA has issued stern warnings to Formula 1 teams ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, threatening penalties for any attempts to exploit the sport’s new low-power start detection system. The technology, developed in response to dangerous start incidents caused by power unit issues under 2025’s new hybrid regulations, will be tested for the first time in Miami before likely implementation at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The new detection system addresses safety concerns that emerged following the introduction of 2025’s 50-50 split between combustion and electrical energy in power units. Several drivers have experienced compromised starts due to insufficient power delivery, most notably Liam Lawson’s near-collision with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine in Australia, where only the Argentine’s quick reactions prevented a serious accident.
According to FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis, the system monitors car acceleration after clutch release and automatically triggers MGU-K deployment when acceleration falls below predetermined thresholds. Affected vehicles will also display flashing warning lights to alert following drivers. “This would convert a disastrous start to a bad one. It would not convert a bad one to a good one,” Tombazis explained to media including RacingNews365.
Tombazis confirmed the system would have intervened in “two or three occasions” this season, specifically citing Lawson’s Australia incident while noting it would not have activated for Max Verstappen’s poor start in China. Initially, the FIA proposed mandatory drive-through penalties for cars triggering the system, but teams universally opposed this measure, arguing drivers were already disadvantaged enough when the system activated.
The FIA’s warnings reflect concerns about potential gaming of the system, despite built-in safeguards designed to prevent advantageous exploitation. “If we see that, for whatever reason, we’ve missed something, and people started using it for an advantage, then we would, of course, intervene,” Tombazis stated, emphasizing the governing body’s commitment to maintaining competitive integrity while addressing legitimate safety issues.