F1 Announces Investigation Into Software Glitch That Disrupted Bahrain GP at Sepang

Formula One’s governing body has committed to a comprehensive investigation into a software defect that triggered significant disruptions during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The glitch caused multiple cars to lose power on the formation lap, forcing race officials to abort the start following heavy rain and lengthy delays at the Sepang circuit.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s seven-time world champion, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s four-time titleholder and eventual race winner, were among the drivers impacted. Hamilton described the sensation as driving a Lego-like, battery-powered vehicle, while Verstappen likened the experience to a go-kart event held at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.

The incident marks another challenge in the debut season of the new car and engine regulations. Drivers have expressed frustration since the opening race regarding the increased electrical demands of the power units and the complexities of energy management.

In a statement, the FIA explained that an “unprecedented combination” of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy settings, and the specific layout of the Sepang track led to an unintended power loss. During the delay caused by the downpour, technical officials distributed an updated software release to all teams, removing the energy limit constraint in affected sectors to allow for necessary adjustments before the race could proceed.

The FIA noted that neither they nor the teams had identified the issue during preseason testing or the laps to the grid. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, acknowledged that the lack of wet-weather testing contributed to the oversight.

“Some cars went very slowly, almost came to a standstill. There was a bit of a concertina effect between cars, and some cars almost stopped completely,” Tombazis told reporters. He added that earlier testing might have allowed engineers to detect the bug: “I think if we had had a bit more testing, we probably would have managed to catch it in time, and not have such a situation.”