FIA to investigate wet-weather software glitch at Malaysian Grand Prix
Several cars lost speed during formation laps after a bug affected engine electrical power. The FIA says the software had not been tested in those specific conditions.
A software bug affecting engine electrical power left several cars struggling during formation laps before the rain-delayed Malaysian Grand Prix. The field order became jumbled, and the FIA reset it to the original grid positions before the race.
The problem was triggered by low engine speeds, low grip and aspects of the circuit layout, according to the report. Lewis Hamilton said his car lost speed and he had to stop and restart it. Max Verstappen and Hamilton compared the cars’ behaviour to a “Lego race”.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, said the software had been tested but not in those specific conditions. He said the governing body would conduct a full investigation and work to prevent the same problem recurring. The FIA had not completed its debrief.
Heavy rain delayed the start by about 90 minutes. Verstappen went on to win, with Hamilton third. George Russell retired with an engine failure.
The incident comes amid wider complaints about the complexity of Formula One’s hybrid engine and energy-management rules. Changes to the rules are planned for next year.
