FIA updates software after power loss delays Grand Prix start

Several cars lost power during the wet formation lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, forcing officials to delay the start while the FIA issued a software update. Max Verstappen went on to win at Sepang, earning his 72nd Formula One victory and matching Michael Schumacher’s total of wins with Ferrari. The FIA said an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy settings and Sepang’s sector layout caused unintended power loss in several cars. The problem affected drivers including Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton said he had to stop and restart his car on track, which he described as a first in his career. During the rain delay, the FIA technical department removed an energy-limit constraint in the affected sectors through an updated software release distributed to competitors. The adjustment allowed teams to make changes to the power unit before the race began. The FIA said the issue had not been detected during testing or on the laps to the grid. The governing body has promised a full review with teams and power-unit manufacturers.