FIA software glitch disrupted Bahrain GP start in Malaysia

The start of Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was heavily disrupted after wet weather delayed proceedings by 40 minutes at Sepang. During the formation lap behind the safety car, several cars suddenly lost power at low speed, with Max Verstappen first affected and Lewis Hamilton among those who then slowed dramatically or stopped.

Race control halted the start with a red flag after multiple cars were hit by the issue. The FIA later said a software bug had made throttle input ineffective and described the problem as the result of unprecedented or unexpected circumstances, with Nikolas Tombazis saying a "perfect storm" of conditions triggered it.

Drivers including Hamilton and Verstappen said Formula 1 must learn from what happened, and both likened the episode to a "Lego race". Fernando Alonso also questioned whether cars that slowed on the formation lap should have been handled differently, while the FIA launched a review into the disruption.