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Sepang software bug: how wet-weather rules caused F1 power unit failures. A programming error involving Formula 1's complex 2026 power units delayed the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Some paddock insiders described it as a perfect storm, with a chain of factors that came close to shutting down several power units. The problem originated in the parameters governing the use of electrical power in wet conditions, which the FIA was forced to adjust to ensure the combustion engine could continue operating correctly. How the Sepang power unit bug developed. The trigger was the storm that hit Sepang around the time of the start, setting off a chain of events that exposed a bug in the power unit control software. Following the prescribed procedure, and for the first time since the current technical regulations were introduced, Race Control declared a low-grip conditions scenario, which activates different rules governing power unit use. In particular, the maximum output of the electric motor drops from 300 to 250 kW, with a further reduction in the more technical sections of the circuit. One of those areas is around Turn 9, the hairpin at the end of the second sector and one of the slowest sections of the Malaysian circuit. Max Verstappen, leading the field on the formation lap after taking pole position on Saturday, slowed to below 50 km/h. This caused the combustion engine revs to fall and also slowed the turbo, resulting in a loss of boost pressure. At that point, the restrictions on electrical power in wet conditions meant the electric motor could no longer provide enough assistance to raise the combustion engine's revs and bring the turbo back up to pressure. The power unit therefore entered a negative spiral in which it continued to lose power until a bug in the control software was triggered. The software bug that left F1 cars without power. The electronic control unit is believed to have entered a mode known as Continuous Offset, which prevents use of the electric motor for one minute. This condition is triggered when the electrical component is switched off suddenly rather than progressively, a scenario permitted by the regulations only for safety reasons. By disabling the MGU-K for 60 seconds, the system discourages anyone from abruptly switching it off for performance purposes, as had happened with the solution developed by Mercedes- and Red Bull-powered cars in qualifying earlier in the year. PlanetF1 offered a different reconstruction, according to which the power units entered a protective failsafe mode. Whichever mode was actually activated, the practical consequence was the same: throttle input became effectively useless. Telemetry shows Max Verstappen repeatedly pressing the accelerator, visible through the repeated throttle-input spikes, without the car ever accelerating beyond 40 km/h. At a certain point, the Red Bull power unit managed to reset itself and returned to normal operation. By then, however, the long period during which Max Verstappen had been travelling at low speed had forced the drivers behind him to slow as well, including both Ferrari drivers, triggering the same negative spiral. The telemetry indicates that Charles Leclerc somehow managed to recover from the situation, while Lewis Hamilton had to stop his Ferrari and restart the power unit to allow the entire system to reset. The unusual sequence became one of the defining moments of the Sepang software chaos before the race could eventually begin. How the FIA intervened before the Bahrain GP start. The slowing cars at the front progressively forced the rest of the field to do the same, causing the problem to appear on cars powered by Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and Audi engines, with no apparent correlation to the characteristics of the individual power unit designs. At that point, the FIA recognised the software bug, which had been developed by the governing body itself in collaboration with the teams. The start therefore had to be delayed by another 20 minutes while the FIA's technical department corrected the control software code. According to the statement subsequently issued by the governing body, the new version removed the limits on usable energy in the affected sectors. The emergency Sepang software update was then distributed so the teams could apply the changes before the start. However, a more plausible interpretation reported by several members of the media was that the limits on electrical power had been relaxed, allowing greater use of the electric component to keep the combustion engine operating at sufficiently high revs. Nikolas Tombazis explains the unprecedented Sepang scenario. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis addressed what happened directly: "We were not able to test the software as extensively as we would have liked, because we have done very little running in the wet this year and there was a combination of circumstances that triggered this bug. Essentially, during the formation lap, some cars were travelling very slowly, almost coming to a stop. This caused a chain reaction between the cars and some of them almost stopped completely. The bug prevented the power unit from delivering the power needed to get moving again." Nikolas Tombazis added: "Once the problem occurred, our staff quickly understood what was happening, under significant time pressure to update the software so that the teams could install it on their cars. All of this took 20 minutes. It may have felt like five hours for the spectators, which is understandable and we are sorry about that. However, considering the problem, I think it was a quick response." Oct 5, 2026 Sofia Bianchi

Formula One drivers lash out at farcical Bahrain Grand Prix after 'software' issue caused chaos in Malaysia - as Lewis Hamilton compares bizarre scenes to 'LEGO race' Published: 10:43 EDT, 4 October 2026 | Updated: 13:12 EDT, 4 October 2026 Lewis Hamilton likened Sunday's farcical 'Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia' to a 'Lego race' - a PR stunt he hated at Silverstone in July. Meanwhile, the governing FIA launched an urgent investigation into the shambles of an event delayed for more than an hour. This comes after several cars broke down in Kuala Lumpur with software problems on one of Formula One's strangest of days. Max Verstappen won convincingly but the event will be remembered for the fact that cars could not race in the wet. The software in the half-electric/half-combustion engine power units was exposed to rain for the first significant time and could not cope in such conditions. There was a delay in proceedings lasting 1hr 33min as the technology was rebooted and the race finally went on. Kimi Antonelli finished second and Hamilton, who drove well after falling back to 18th, finished third, on an afternoon that represented a slap in the face to those who conceived this year's preposterous regulations. The grand prix, relocated from the Middle East, was pushed back 40 minutes as the rain fell and was delayed for nearly a further hour as gremlins struck on the initial formation lap. Both Verstappen and Hamilton, who denounced the pre-race tour in Lego-built buggies in July ahead of the British race, to a near or total standstill. 'I am pressing the throttle, and nothing is happening,' complained Hamilton, who stopped at the side of the track. The grand prix was then postponed while the software was rebooted - the most visible sign of the complexity of this year's hybrid engines with their baffling battery components, understood by practically nobody. Hamilton said: 'It was like the Lego race.' He added: 'I hope there is a lesson learned.' The FIA issued a statement within an hour, saying: 'On the formation lap an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings and the Sepang circuit's sector configuration led to an unintended loss of power for a number of cars. 'The FIA Technical Department removed the energy limit constraint in the affected sectors through an updated software release distributed to all competitors during the race delay caused by heavy rain, enabling teams to make the necessary changes to the power unit before the start of the race.'This issue had not been detected by the FIA or the teams during testing or the laps to the grid. The FIA, together with the teams and power unit manufacturers, will undertake a full review of the issue.' George Russell, who retired with engine failure while lying third, fell 84 points behind championship-leader Antonelli. There are 183 points to be fought over the concluding seven rounds. Russell said: 'The whole day felt like a bit of a faff, with the delay, the red flag, and endless laps behind the safety car. 'It didn't feel very F1 today. I would be disappointed if I was in the stands and watching that unfold.' Verstappen, claiming his first win of the season, has been a consistent critic of this year's regulations. He said: 'What can you say? That's not what you want for the sport.' 52 comments. No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yet

Ocon confirms he will leave Haas at end of 2026 season. Esteban Ocon and Haas will go their separate ways when the current F1 campaign concludes. Sep 30, 2026 8:04am UTC (57 minutes ago) Esteban Ocon has announced that he is to leave Haas at the end of the 2026 campaign, following weeks of speculation over the Frenchman's F1 future. Ocon joined Haas from Alpine for 2025, joining forces with Ferrari-backed rookie Ollie Bearman and continuing alongside the Briton through the current campaign. He has scored 12 points finishes across 39 Grands Prix with the team so far, including a best result of fifth in China last year - his second event at Haas. On Wednesday, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Ocon took to social media to confirm his Haas departure, with no word yet on what he will do next. "My time with Haas F1 Team will come to an end at the end of the 2026 season," read a statement posted by Ocon. "I leave this project with my head held high and proud of my performances in what were not always the easiest of circumstances for various reasons and factors outside of my control. "My immediate focus is the next race weekend. I will continue to work hard with the team, maximise every opportunity, and keep extracting every bit of performance from the car. "There are still many races to go this season and, as always, I will give it my everything behind the wheel for myself and for my team." He signed off: "I am still motivated. I am still hungry. This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career." Following Ocon's post, Haas released a statement of their own, including comments from Team Principal Ayao Komatsu - while noting that they will not be sharing further driver-related news "at this time". "I'd like to thank Esteban for everything he's contributed to the team since joining us in 2025," said Komatsu. "His professionalism and commitment have proved valuable as Formula 1 continue to grow as an organisation. "Together this year Formula 1 tackled the challenge of a major regulation change, where Esteban's driving experience and inputs were significant as Formula 1 has worked hard to develop the VF-26 across the season. "There's still plenty of racing ahead, and our focus remains on working together to maximise every opportunity through to the final race of the year." Ferrari junior and FIA Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara is the favourite to take Ocon's seat, after facing competition from the likes of McLaren reserve driver Leo Fornaroli and Haas reserves Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa.