Software Failure Causes Chaos at Sepang

The FIA has launched a full investigation into a software malfunction that disrupted the start of Sunday's Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

The incident occurred during the formation laps at Sepang International Circuit on October 4, when several drivers suddenly experienced severe power loss while following the Safety Car in wet conditions.

Among those affected were Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, with Hamilton forced to stop his Ferrari on track and restart the car.

Race control abandoned the initial starting procedure, triggering another delay as officials worked to identify and resolve the issue.

Heavy rain. Cars losing power. An aborted start.

Formula 1's return to Sepang delivered an unexpected technical crisis.

FIA Explains What Went Wrong

According to the FIA, the malfunction resulted from an unusual combination of extremely low engine speeds, reduced grip and wet-weather energy management settings.

The 2026 Formula 1 power units rely heavily on electrical energy, making software-controlled power deployment a critical part of their operation.

During the slow formation laps, a software issue prevented affected cars from delivering power normally.

The FIA's technical department responded by distributing an emergency software update that removed energy restrictions in the affected sectors, allowing teams to make the necessary changes before racing resumed.

The incident exposed a weakness that had not appeared during previous testing.

Verstappen and Hamilton Question F1 Technology

The disruption prompted criticism from several drivers.

Verstappen compared the experience to a race involving Lego cars, while Hamilton expressed disbelief at having to restart his Formula 1 car on the circuit.

The problems also raised fresh questions about the complexity of Formula 1's 2026 hybrid power-unit regulations.

The FIA acknowledged that limited wet-weather testing had contributed to the issue going undetected.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella took a more measured position, acknowledging that occasional software problems can occur under new regulations while stressing the importance of preventing another incident.

FIA Promises Full Review After Malaysia GP 

Despite the disrupted start, the race eventually went ahead, with Verstappen claiming victory ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Hamilton.

However, the software malfunction has become one of the biggest talking points following Formula 1's return to Malaysia.

The FIA has committed to reviewing the incident alongside teams and power-unit manufacturers to understand why the failure escaped testing and how similar problems can be prevented.

For Winbox Racing, the incident highlights the technical challenges facing Formula 1 as its new-generation cars become increasingly dependent on electrical systems and software management.

The investigation could provide important lessons for future wet-weather races.

Verstappen won the race. But the FIA now faces a different challenge.

Ensuring Formula 1's software never brings the grid to a standstill again.

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