There is nothing amiss with that. Many contemporary vehicles will not initiate unless the brake pedal is engaged.
I possess two contemporary compact tractors, both equipped with hydraulic transmissions, akin to automatic systems. They possess several safety features related to engine ignition, involving foot brake(s).
Occupancy of the driver's seat
Transmission range selector
Selection of PTO Drive
Power Take-Off (PTO) clutch
Neither party seems concerned about the parking brake, however 🙂
One of these requires the gearbox to be in neutral for ignition, regardless of the foot brake status. Regrettably, the range selection lacks synchronisation, necessitating minor adjustments of the tractor using the brake to go between High, Medium, Low, and Neutral gears. Failing to pick neutral prior to shutting off the engine may result in an inability to shift into neutral for subsequent restarts.
The other vehicle is equipped with a synchroniser on the selector, but it does not require being in neutral to initiate: :doh: However, the brake must be engaged.