Why F1 drivers can launch qualifying laps at full throttle again

Formula 1 drivers will be able to launch their qualifying laps at full throttle again as part of the regulation changes implemented from this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.One of the side-effects of F1’s energy-starved 2026 engines was drivers manually holding around 50% throttle exiting the final corner before starting a qualifying lap, then accelerating before they got to the start line.  This was because going at full throttle would mean the MGU-K had to be activated and part of the battery’s 4MJ capacity would be drained before the line, hurting the optimisation of the energy deployment on the lap itself.The extent to which this was an issue depended on the circuit layout as a longer run from the final corner to the start line meant more manage …