Formula One to probe software bug behind Bahrain GP chaos in Sepang

What the report says

Formula One’s governing body says it will conduct a full review after a software bug disrupted the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the glitch affected several cars on the formation lap after heavy rain and a long delay, creating confusion before the race got underway.

Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were among the drivers impacted. Hamilton was forced to stop on track and restart his car, while Verstappen later described the situation as a “Lego race.” The FIA said the problem involved a combination of low engine speed, wet conditions, energy-management settings and the circuit layout, which led to an unintended loss of power in some cars.

During the rain delay, the FIA distributed an updated software release to remove an energy-limit constraint in the affected parts of the circuit. The body said the issue had not been detected in testing or on the laps to the grid. A review will now be carried out with teams and power-unit manufacturers.

The episode adds to concerns among drivers about Formula One’s new technical era, which relies more heavily on electrical systems and energy management. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said limited wet-weather testing may have made it harder to catch the bug before race day.