FIA to implement more software changes after Sepang formation-lap power issue
The FIA said it has finished reviewing the formation-lap power losses that affected several cars at Sepang and will introduce further software changes. The governing body said its investigation examined the cause of the issue, steps to reduce the risk of a repeat, and how wet-weather power-unit settings are managed.
After multiple cars lost power on the formation lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia at Sepang, the FIA completed what it described as a thorough review of the incident. The investigation covered the exact cause of the power loss, possible measures to prevent a recurrence, the future handling of wet-weather power-unit settings and energy-limit restraints, and lessons from team and power-unit manufacturer data.
The issue led to the release of a power-unit software configuration upgrade before the race start. RaceFans also reported that the FIA rejected claims that its software had not been adequately tested before the stoppages that affected several cars.
Motorsport.com framed the episode against Formula 1's increasingly software-dependent 2026 regulations, noting the complexity of systems managing the split between internal combustion and electrical power. It also reported criticism from Helmut Marko, who called the software failure "shameful."
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