It's still like that. The race I did just now I started 15th (more non qualifiers behind me) and ended up in 7th after the straight (those 40 seconds). Then made it to 5th start of lap 2, to 4th after the first chicane while not quite successful in avoiding 2 fighting cars in front of me, which netted me a 1 sec collateral damage penalty, while the car behind me shoved his way through. Then I got barge passed by 2 Brazilians to 6th, punted in the chicane to 7th. Lap 3 I serve the 1 sec penalty and fall to 9th after which I slowly work my way back up to finish 4th.
The first 2 laps are chaos, then the race starts. I didn't bother with 'teaching moment' punts this time, too many names to remember

I only gained 1 SR that race despite 'only' getting the one 1 sec penalty for failure to avoid two cars crashing each other. With BMB and Spa maybe SR ratings start to diversify again, although it's still giving them to the wrong cars while leaving punts unpunished. I already met a 'gamer' in my one BMB attempt. Car hits me from the side while I'm staying in my lane driving straight on the straight. He slows down, thus penalty system thinks I hurt him, I get 4 sec penalty, and calls me a noob after the race. I guess that's the new bump and wall tap.