FIA explains stranded Formula 1 cars after software fault
A combination of low speed and wet conditions caused a fault that left several cars without power.
The FIA has explained why several Formula 1 cars stopped during the formation lap at the Sepang circuit. According to the motor sport federation, a software fault meant that the cars did not regain power when they were travelling very slowly in the rain.
The start of the Grand Prix of Bahrain in Malaysia was first delayed by forty minutes because of heavy rain. During the subsequent formation lap, several drivers experienced problems with their throttle response. Among them, according to Motorsport.com, were Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, after which the starting procedure was halted.
Nikolas Tombazis, director of the FIA’s single-seater divisions, said the fault was caused by a combination of circumstances. The cars were travelling very slowly, creating a chain reaction between them. The software then prevented power from being restored after some cars had come almost completely to a standstill.
According to Tombazis, there had been little opportunity this season to test the software in genuinely wet conditions. As a result, the FIA had not been able to run through every possible combination of low speed, rain and the powertrain’s response. That is a technical explanation for the incident, but not a judgement on who was organisationally responsible.
The federation sent a software update to the teams after the problem. According to Tombazis’s explanation, it took about twenty minutes to prepare and install the update on the cars. As a result, the race was ultimately delayed by 53 minutes after the red flag had been waved.
The FIA reported afterwards that Verstappen won the race ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. The official result also states that the start was interrupted by the rain and technical problems. No indication was given that the cars stopping was the result of an error by one specific driver.
The incident is particularly relevant because, since 2026, Formula 1 has been running with a much larger electric contribution to the powertrain. The software is therefore more important to the way power is distributed. The FIA says that the evaluation is continuing; it is not yet known what structural changes will follow.
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The technical cause and the delay are based on the explanation provided by FIA director Nikolas Tombazis. The official FIA page confirms the race conditions and result.
- confirmed Several cars stopped during the formation lap at Sepang. — Described by Motorsport.com. source
- confirmed A software fault prevented power from being restored. — Based on Nikolas Tombazis’s statement. source
- confirmed The software update caused a delay of approximately 53 minutes. — Motorsport.com mentions the delay and the update. source
- confirmed Max Verstappen won ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. — Confirmed by the official FIA race publication. source
- uncertain A full evaluation of the software is still to follow. — The available source reports an explanation and response, but no published final report. source
Editor's note
The FIA’s explanation of the technical cause is available via Motorsport.com; the race outcome and weather conditions have also been described by the FIA itself. A full evaluation of the software and responsibility is still to follow.Sources
- FIA reveals why F1 cars stopped in rain at Bahrain GP in Malaysia — Motorsport.com
- F1 – Verstappen wins dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia — Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „formule 1”
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