F1 disrupted by power-unit software failures at Sepang as Bahrain Grand Prix opener delayed on Sunday
Formula One suffered widespread power-unit software failures at the opening to the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia at Sepang on Sunday, causing a lengthy delay and farcical scenes on track.
A review is under way, and the episode exposed regulations the article describes as misconceived with no quick fix; Max Verstappen won the race in Sepang, held in Malaysia to replace the cancelled Bahrain GP, recording his first victory of the season, though the on-track confusion overshadowed the result.
Heavy rain delayed the planned start and the field ran behind the safety car for two formation laps as the wet track produced low-grip conditions. As the cars circulated at low speed the power delivery software for engines that split energy between electrical and combustion systems encountered parameters it was not designed to handle, the article reports.
Chaos unfolded when several drivers experienced loss of drive: Verstappen announced he could no longer accelerate, Lewis Hamilton slowed and stopped before performing a forced reboot, and “a number of drivers reported the same problem” while one Haas and one Cadillac came to a halt. The start was suspended and the field ran out of order as cars crawled around the circuit.
The failure was blamed on a combination of low engine speeds, low-grip conditions and the circuit layout coming up against the wet-weather management of the power delivery software, described by the FIA as an unanticipated bug. There was a 53-minute delay while the FIA wrote and applied a software update that, the report says, worked.
Drivers reacted publicly and with irony: “These engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented,” said Verstappen. “When there is some kind of error or glitch, that’s the problem. I triggered it first, then I look in my mirror and I just see everyone … I was like wait, are they waiting for me?” “It was like the Lego race,” said Hamilton. “Yeah, we had the same speed,” said Verstappen.
The piece records broader criticism about the current engine regulations and how much control has been removed from drivers, noting F1 has insisted the new format is more popular despite “the overwhelming disapproval from the drivers over engine regulations.” When addressing such complaints after the Hungarian GP, F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, cited a conversation with the Star Wars creator, George Lucas: ““He gave us an incredible chance to see how we can really simplify things because the new fans are not understanding … what is behind the scenes. They are fascinated on the fact there is a lot of action.” Carlos Sainz asked: “My only question is who, five years ago, decided this was the direction to go?”.
On track after the restart, Verstappen produced a dominant drive while Hamilton climbed from 17th to third and George Russell suffered a dramatic late retirement that the report says all but put paid to his title hopes. The article also notes drivers were left largely reduced to pushing buttons on steering wheels when the software did not respond.
The FIA has said it will conduct a review with the teams and the power unit manufacturers.