Key Highlights:
- A software bug linked to the wet-weather power unit controller locked multiple 2026-generation F1 cars into idle mode during the formation laps at Sepang.
- The start was aborted, prompting a 50-minute red flag delay while the FIA created and deployed a mandatory software patch to all 11 teams.
- F1 drivers, including Lando Norris, Sergio Perez, Oliver Bearman, and Max Verstappen, voiced frustration over complex electronics overriding driver control.
Leading Formula 1 drivers have voiced deep frustration following widespread power unit software glitches that disrupted the start of the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. As the first wet-weather event contested under the 2026 technical regulations, the race at Sepang Circuit was halted before it could properly begin when multiple cars became trapped in an idle loop due to an electronic fault at low speeds.
Sepang Formation Lap Chaos Prompts 50-Minute Delay
The issue surfaced during the two scheduled formation laps on a wet track. A bug in the electronic system—triggered by the power unit controller’s wet weather mode when driving at very low speeds—left several machines stuck in idle mode across the circuit. The widespread failures forced race control to abort the start.
To resolve the disruption, the FIA rapidly wrote and distributed an emergency software patch to all 11 competing teams during the ensuing red-flag stoppage. The update removed the standard wet-weather power reduction across the impacted zones, allowing cars to function normally. However, the unexpected technical failure resulted in a 50-minute delay before the race could officially get underway, dampening what eventually turned into a dynamic, mixed-weather contest.
Drivers Speak Out Over Overbearing 2026 Electronics
The incident intensified existing driver concerns regarding the 2026 generation of cars, which feature heavily battery-reliant power units and sophisticated electronic systems. Several competitors expressed dismay at the lack of control from inside the cockpit.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris, piloting one of the few Mercedes-powered cars to encounter the issue, called the experience unacceptable. It’s just horrible. I don’t know, it just proves that we shouldn’t have any of that stuff, the electronic side,
Norris said.
Oscar Piastri pointed out the unprecedented nature of the delay while remaining cautious until the full technical debrief: I’ve never seen an F1 race delayed by a bug. That was a new one,
Piastri said mockingly. I got stuck for about a second. When the turbo doesn’t work on these things, you might as well push the car instead of using an engine. It was quite bizarre. It wasn’t a great look, but I think it would be unfair to point the finger before there’s an explanation.
Cadillac driver Sergio Perez, who experienced the glitch in a Ferrari-powered car, was forthright in his assessment: It felt like you were in a rental kart and you ran out of time,
the Mexican explained. You were putting your foot down and accelerating and nothing was coming. I’m sure we will learn from it as a sport. But what happened today is totally unacceptable for the sport.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman detailed how alarming it felt when the car refused to respond to input. I’ve never seen anything like that. I was shocked,
he said. I didn’t even know that the FIA could control our throttle pedal. That was quite scary, actually. My throttle pedal stopped working, but it looks like everybody stopped working as well. The engine was just idling.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso echoed those thoughts, observing that there was now too much technology
involved in the championship and stating that the spectators don’t really appreciate it
either.
Eventual race winner Max Verstappen, whose slow getaway contributed to triggering the electronic chain reaction, compared the formation lap scenes to the Lego go-kart race at Silverstone. That’s the problem that we have,
the Dutchman said. These engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented. I triggered it first and then I looked in my mirror and I was like: ‘Wait, are they waiting for me or what’s going on…?’ Then we did a lap and then I saw eight other cars crawling still. What can you say? I mean, that’s not what you want for the sport, right?
Why This Matters
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations introduced significantly more intricate hybrid power units, shifting greater operational weight onto energy recovery and digital power unit management. While Formula 1 serves as an engineering proving ground, having multiple cars immobilized on live television by a low-speed controller glitch raises serious questions about system reliability and driver autonomy. The emergency rollout of an FIA patch under red flag conditions averted an abandoned race, but the backlash from prominent drivers highlights a growing debate over whether excessive automation and electronic safety loops compromise the core racing product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the delay at the start of the race?
A software bug within the power unit controller’s wet-weather mode was triggered when cars drove at very low speeds during the formation laps. The glitch caused multiple cars across different engine manufacturers to get stuck in an idle loop, cutting throttle response and forcing race control to abort the start.
How did the FIA fix the problem during the red flag?
During the 50-minute red flag period, the FIA coded and distributed an emergency software patch to all 11 teams. This update lifted the standard wet-weather power reduction in the affected sectors so cars could accelerate normally.
Which drivers and teams were impacted by the glitch?
The issue affected multiple competitors across the grid, including Ferrari-powered cars such as Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Haas’s Oliver Bearman, as well as McLaren’s Lando Norris and race winner Max Verstappen.
